Xinyu Fairy Lake | The Back Garden of the Seven Fairies, 1-Day/2-Day Romantic Lazy Travel Guide
Hidden in Xinyu, Jiangxi, is a real-life fairyland 🌊! With 99 islands scattered like stars, vast blue waves reflecting green mountains, morning mist drifting over the lake, and golden sunsets spreading across the water in the evening, every snapshot looks like a wallpaper. Known as the "Hometown of the Legend of the Seven Fairies in China," this place offers both romantic love culture and healing lake and mountain scenery. With high-speed rail direct access and easy boat rides, even lazy travelers can effortlessly enjoy this fairyland experience~
🚄 Transportation Guide | Direct routes from Chongqing and other cities, easy access to the fairyland
High-Speed Rail Travel (Recommended)
✅ Chongqing West/East → Xinyu North ≈ 6.5 hours, 💰 starting from about 520 RMB per person
✅ Xinyu North → Fairy Lake Scenic Area: Taxi about 37 minutes (19 km), or take the high-speed rail shuttle bus/Route 503 bus directly, super convenient
✅ Other cities: Nanchang/Changsha → Xinyu North ≈ 1 hour, easy round trip on weekends
Other Transportation Options
· Regular Train: Chongqing North 16:08 → Pingxiang 10:57 ≈ 19 hours, 💰 starting from about 141.5 RMB per person, then transfer to Xinyu
· Self-Driving: Navigate to "Fairy Lake Visitor Center," the scenic area has a large parking lot, worry-free parking
🎫 Tickets & Boat Rides | Must-know info and tips to avoid pitfalls
Combined ticket for entrance and boat: 145 RMB per person (latest price for 2026, includes entrance + boat ticket, valid for 48 hours)
⚠️ Important: You must take the boat to tour Fairy Lake! Without a boat ticket, you cannot enter the core scenic area, don’t miss out
⏰ Boat schedule: From 8:40 AM in summer, boats depart every 50-60 minutes; you must land on the island before 3 PM, missing the return boat will be troublesome
✅ Money-saving tips: Students and veterans get half-price tickets with ID; police officers and blood donors in the province enter free with valid ID
📅 Itinerary | 1-Day Easy Tour, 2-Day In-Depth Experience
1-Day Lazy Version (Highlights, easy on the legs)
✅ 9:00 Arrive at Fairy Lake Visitor Center, take the free shuttle to the dock
✅ 9:30 Boat departure → Love Island (1 hour) → Dragon King Island (1.5 hours) → Return trip
✅ 15:00 Stroll Qixi Old Street, enjoy local delicacies
✅ 16:30 Return trip, perfectly ending the fairyland journey
2-Day Romantic Version (Immersive experience, perfect for couples)
Day 1: First Encounter at Fairy Lake → Romantic Islands → Qixi Old Street
✅ Morning: Arrive at the scenic area, take a boat tour, check in at Love Island + Qixi Island
Love Island: Heart sculpture, pure white church, love lock bridge, every photo looks like a romantic couple’s movie scene; sitting by the lake at sunset is super romantic
Qixi Island: Experience Hanfu dress-up, live fairy descent performances (free daily at 10:30 AM/2:30 PM), immerse yourself in the culture of the Seven Fairies
✅ Afternoon: Visit Feather Fairy Island to see tropical plants, climb Dragon King Island for panoramic views
Dragon King Island: The highest island in Fairy Lake, hike a short trail to Dragon King Pavilion, below is continuous lake water, distant islands look like emeralds scattered on green silk; on cloudy days see mist swirling around the island, on sunny days see sparkling waves, every phone shot is wallpaper-worthy
✅ Evening: Explore Qixi Old Street (Hui-style architecture with white walls and black tiles), enjoy Fairy Lake organic fish head soup, stay at nearby guesthouses
Day 2: Morning Mist Fairyland → Deep Experience → Return Trip
✅ Early morning: Wake up at 5:30 AM, take the early boat to see Fairy Lake in the morning mist, the lake is shrouded in fog, like a fairyland, best lighting for photos
✅ Morning: Pray at Shengji Temple (30 RMB entrance fee), or enjoy cycling around the lake (15 km greenway, 30 RMB/hour), surrounded by flower fields, very healing
✅ Noon: Eat local specialties like Shuibei tofu and Xinyu spicy duck, then head back fully satisfied
🌟 Must-Visit Spots | Perfect for photos, super romantic
1. Dragon King Island (TOP1)
The highest point of Fairy Lake, glass plank road overlooking lake and mountain scenery, layers of distant mountains and clouds, like a landscape painting. The view changes as you climb the stairs, and the summit opens up spectacularly, definitely worth the climb
2. Love Island (A must for couples)
Giant heart installation, white church, magpie bridge; wear a light-colored long dress and shoot from behind, instantly looking like the heroine of a fairy tale drama. At sunset, the golden light on the lake and the breeze feel sweet
3. Houhe Dream Back to Luling? No! This is even more magical
Boat rides on Houhe River show light shows at night, Fairy Lake is a daytime fairyland, with morning mist drifting over the lake and golden sunset spreading across the water, every shot looks like wallpaper
4. Qixi Old Street
Hui-style architecture filled with lively atmosphere, browse creative shops, enjoy local snacks, and the lantern-lit street at night is full of ambiance
🍜 Food Recommendations | Taste of Fairy Lake, a feast for the palate
1. Fairy Lake Organic Fish Head Soup: Milky white and fragrant, fish meat tender and melts in your mouth, a must-try at Fairy Lake!
2. One Fish Seven Ways: Pepper blue fish scales, cold fish skin salad, braised fish tail, etc., experience the ultimate freshness of Fairy Lake fish
3. Shuibei Tofu: Incredibly tender, rich bean aroma, light and nutritious
4. Xinyu Spicy Duck: Spicy and satisfying, firm meat texture, perfect with rice
5. Specialty Snacks: Frozen rice candy, glutinous rice cakes, and lihao cakes, sweet but not greasy, full of local flavor
🏨 Accommodation Options | From fairy tale treehouses to lake view hotels
1. Fairy Lake Tree Frog Village (Popular choice)
Stay in mushroom or butterfly treehouses, like stepping into a fairy tale world, fall asleep to the sound of insects at night, very cozy
2. Xinyu Weijing Longhua Hotel (Convenient choice)
Located at the new dock in the scenic area, fully equipped, attentive service, you can catch the boat right after stepping out in the morning
3. Lake View Guesthouses (Cost-effective)
Many unique guesthouses around Qixi Old Street, affordable prices, and you can enjoy the old street night view in the evening
💡 Blogger’s Thoughtful Tips
1. Outfit suggestions: Wear light-colored long dresses or Hanfu for super fairy-like photos; bring a light jacket as it can be windy by the lake with big temperature differences between morning and evening
2. Photography tips: Avoid harsh noon sunlight; morning or evening light is softest and best for photos; shoot from behind on the white bridge at Love Island facing the lake, and capture panoramic views from Dragon King Pavilion
3. Play order: For average stamina, prioritize Love Island + Dragon King Island, these are the highlights; for a deeper tour, add Qixi Island + Feather Fairy Island
4. Essentials: Sunscreen, power bank, sunglasses; it’s windy on the boat, so protect yourself; bring some snacks as island supplies are pricey
5. Couple must-dos: Lock love locks on Love Island, watch live performances on Qixi Island, watch the sunset on Dragon King Island, max out the romance
Blogger’s Ramble
Although I didn’t find many earth-shattering delicacies, the slow pace and stunning lake and mountain scenery of Fairy Lake are truly unforgettable. As the "Hometown of the Legend of the Seven Fairies in China," the romantic atmosphere here is strong, making couples feel incredibly happy. Next time, I want to stay in the mushroom house at Tree Frog Village and experience living in a fairy tale world~
Local friends, if you know any hidden authentic eateries or unique fun spots tucked in alleys, please enthusiastically recommend them in the comments. I’ll definitely check them all out when I have the chance~