I Discovered the Perfect Small Town Near Xi'an for Qingming Festival

Xi'an residents are in for a treat! With Qingming Festival approaching, I'd like to recommend a hidden gem near Xi'an - Zhouzhi County 🌈 ~ I just returned from there, and discovered 🌿3 incredibly scenic driving routes🌿, perfect for a day trip or a two to three-day adventure. ~ ❤️Guanzhong Ring Road (Apricot blossoms in Hufen Village, plum blossoms and magnolias in Qinling National Botanical Garden) The Guanzhong Ring Road (Provincial Road 107), particularly the section near the Qinling Mountains, is locally known as the "Mountain Ring Road." 🔹Hufen Village Apricot Blossoms: At the Gengyu entrance of Qinling Mountains, Hufen Village is in full spring bloom, with clusters of apricot blossoms resembling pink and white clouds adorning the branches. 🔹Qinling National Botanical Garden's Plum Blossoms and Magnolias: As China's first national botanical garden, this is the perfect spot to see a variety of flowers in bloom. ~ ❤️Zhouyuan Road (Plum blossoms in Longyang Valley) Zhouzhi's most beautiful mountain road - "Zhouyuan Road" extends over 40 kilometers, connecting multiple Qinling valleys including Xinkou Valley, Huyu Valley, Xiluo Valley, Zhuyu Valley, and Niyu Valley. Along the way, you'll find Luoyu Reservoir, cafes, guesthouses, ancient temples, and the entrance to the ancient Tangluo Path. 🔹"Longyang Valley Plum Garden": The garden primarily features pink and white plum blossoms that stretch as far as the eye can see. The plum trees are scattered from the valley floor up to the mountain ridge, creating a "plum blossom paradise." ~ ❤️National Highway 108 (Cornus officinalis flower sea in Huaerping Village, Houzhenzi Town, and the thousand-year-old Magnolia King in Yinjiapin) National Highway 108 is renowned as one of the most beautiful drives through the Qinling Mountains. Heading deep into the mountains, you'll find Heihe National Forest Park, and crossing the Qinling range leads to Foping County in Hanzhong. 🔹Huaerping Village, Houzhenzi Town: Located 76 kilometers from Xianyou Temple at the valley entrance (about 2 hours by car), this is a pristine area at the source of the Heihe River. More than just a village, it's a "Cornus Valley" with mountains covered in Cornus officinalis trees and flowers. 🔹Magnolia King in Yinjiapin Village: Located on the ancient Tangluo Path, Yinjiapin Village is home to a 1,200-year-old "Magnolia King." It's not only the "Qinling Magnolia King" but also listed as one of China's most beautiful ancient trees. Due to lower temperatures this year, blooming is delayed, and there's a good chance to catch peak magnolia blooms during Qingming Festival. ~ ✅Admission: Qinling National Botanical Garden CNY 45, Heihe National Forest Park (including Huaerping Village and Magnolia King) CNY 50, Longyang Valley Plum Garden CNY 15, others are free ✅To see everything, plan for an overnight stay. Recommended accommodation is in Huaerping Village within Heihe National Forest Park, where there are many farmstays and guesthouses 🔹Day 1: Huyu Valley entrance - Qinling National Botanical Garden - Longyang Valley Plum Garden - Xiluo Reservoir - Xianyou Temple - Heihe National Forest Park (with free Huli Valley nearby) - Huaerping Village 🔹Accommodation: Huaerping Village 🔹Day 2: Explore Huaerping Village's Cornus officinalis flower sea - Visit the thousand-year-old Magnolia King in Yinjiapin - Return journey