Jiangnan Secret Realm|Lishui 3 Days 2 Nights In-depth Tour of Mountains, Rivers, and Culture
🗺️Route Plan: A Journey to the Green Wilderness Starting from the High-Speed Rail Station
🔹Day 1: Jinyun Xiandu → Guyan Painting Village (A Collision of Immortal Fantasy and Everyday Life)
• Transportation Options:
◦ 🚄High-speed Rail: Shanghai/Hangzhou → Lishui Station (about 2-3 hours), then take K202 bus (3 RMB/person, 50 minutes) directly to Guyan Painting Village
◦ 🚗Self-driving: Navigate to "Guyan Painting Village No.1 Parking Lot," parking fee 10 RMB/day, 3-minute walk to the scenic area entrance
• Core Experiences:
◦ 🌅Jinyun Xiandu: Arrive at Zhutan Mountain before 6:30 AM to capture the classic "Old Man Leading the Ox" scene in the morning mist (weekends and holidays only), climb Dinghu Peak for a panoramic view (ticket 110 RMB including shuttle bus)
◦ 🎨Guyan Painting Village: Stroll along the thousand-year-old Tongji Weir in the afternoon, watch painters sketch at "Painting Village No.1 Art Zone," enjoy a sunset boat ride on the Ou River in the evening (ticket + boat 50 RMB)
• Recommended Overnight Stay:
◦ 🏨Guzhang Shuijiao Homestay: Next to the thousand-year-old camphor tree inside the scenic area, open the window to see the mist over the stream, offers free shuttle service (from 400 RMB/night)
🔹Day 2: Songyang Ancient Village → Yunhe Terraces (A Symphony of Secret Realm and Countryside)
• Charter Car Guide:
◦ 🚖Charter: Guyan Painting Village → Songyang (about 1 hour, 200 RMB/car) → Yunhe Terraces (1.5 hours, 300 RMB/car), carpool for 4 people at 150 RMB/person/day
• Songyang Activities:
◦ 📜Yangjiatang Village: Shoot the "Golden Potala Palace" against the light in the afternoon, enjoy a coffee at "Pioneer Bookstore" overlooking the terraces
◦ 🍜Songyang Old Street: Try Baixian Noodle House’s fermented rice large intestine noodles and Dengzhanpan (radish-filled fried cake, 5 RMB each)
• Yunhe Terraces:
◦ 🌄Qixingdun Viewing Platform: Arrive before 6:00 PM to capture terraces and sea of clouds together, stay in a tent room at "Guiye Yunhai Camp" (from 600 RMB/night)
🔹Day 3: Baiyin Valley → Return Trip (Dialogue Between Canyon and Farming)
• Canyon Exploration:
◦ 🌿Baiyin Valley: Early morning hike through the kilometer-long canyon, see the stream flowing through the village, check in at "Kenggen Shizhai" ancient mine cave ruins (free)
• Return Tips:
◦ 🚌Scenic Shuttle: Yunhe Terraces → Lishui Station (depart at 14:00, 2 hours per trip, ticket 30 RMB)
◦ 🚖Carpool: Carpool from scenic area entrance to Lishui Station about 150 RMB/car, suitable for large luggage
🏨Accommodation Recommendations: Poetic Residences Nestled in Mountains and Water
1. Guyan Painting Village:
◦ 🏯“Guzhang Shuijiao Homestay”: Filming location of "A Little Forest for Two," rooms overlook the thousand-year-old camphor tree, includes Ou River fishing fire photography guidance (from 400 RMB/night)
◦ 🌙“Hidden Painting Village Courtyard Hotel”: Republic of China style architecture, riverside duplex loft with terrace, includes hand-drawn map (from 680 RMB/night)
2. Yunhe Terraces:
◦ 🏡“Yunshang 5 Days”: Glass house at the highest point of the terraces, watch the sunrise from bed, includes terrace shuttle service (from 800 RMB/night)
3. Songyang:
◦ 🌿“Feijiaoji”: Popular cliffside homestay with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows facing bamboo forest, includes handmade tea experience (from 1200 RMB/night)
🍜Food Map: Flavors of Ou Yue on the Tongue
• Must-Try List:
◦ 🍜Jinyun Shaobing: Yongning Road main store, preserved vegetable and meat filling + freshly baked charcoal aroma, 5 RMB each
◦ 🦆Songyang Salt-Baked Chicken: Small stall beside Baixian Noodle House on Old Street, wrapped in coarse salt and roasted, 68 RMB each
◦ 🌾Yunhe Terraces Rice Cake: Freshly steamed at Baiyin Valley village entrance, served with osmanthus honey, 10 RMB per serving
• Hidden City Favorites:
◦ 🌶️Yulei Road Food Street: Qingtian Mountain powder egg noodles (38 RMB/bowl), Lulubingwu preserved vegetable cake (3 RMB each)
• Avoidance Tips:
◦ ❌Mineral water in scenic area costs 8 RMB/bottle, recommend bringing your own water bottle (hot water available at visitor center)
◦ ❌Reject "Intangible Cultural Heritage Silverware" recommended by rickshaw drivers, mostly wholesale souvenirs from Yiwu
📸Photo Tips: Light and Shadow Secrets of 10 Iconic Spots
1. Jinyun Xiandu · Zhutan Mountain📍:
◦ Tip: Secure a spot before 6:30 AM, use ND filter for long exposure to capture mist on water, rent Hanfu (50 RMB/hour) for better shots
2. Guyan Painting Village · Tongji Weir📍:
◦ Tip: Shoot low angle of ancient stone box and camphor tree roots, capture sailboats passing under the arched bridge in evening light
3. Songyang Yangjiatang Village📍:
◦ Tip: Shoot backlit yellow stepped walls after 4 PM, use telephoto lens to compress space and highlight layers
4. Yunhe Terraces · Qixingdun📍:
◦ Tip: Check weather forecast in advance, sea of clouds often appears the day after rain, use wide-angle lens to capture terrace curves
5. Yandang Study Room📍:
◦ Tip: Shoot stone cave bookshelf with side light, wear dark clothes to contrast industrial style architecture, closed on Mondays
⚠️Pitfall Avoidance Guide: Avoid 99% of Tourist Traps
1. Transportation Traps:
◦ 🚕Taxi from Lishui Station to Guyan Painting Village costs about 80 RMB, refuse drivers’ "20 RMB carpool" offers (actually a ploy to bring you to overpriced homestays)
2. Spending Warnings:
◦ 💴Bring cash! Some small shops on Songyang Old Street only accept cash, scenic area supports Alipay
◦ 🛍️Reject overpriced "Lishui Three Treasures": same celadon tea cup outside scenic area costs only 50 RMB, inside marked 298 RMB
3. Gear Tips:
◦ 👟Wear non-slip shoes! Terrace stone paths are slippery after rain, 5 RMB shoe covers outside scenic area are ineffective
◦ 🌂Bring a sun and rain umbrella: rainy season in July-August, umbrella rental in scenic area 20 RMB/hour
4. Cultural Respect:
◦ 📸Ask permission before photographing She ethnic elders, avoid disturbing indigenous life
📍Nearby Highlights: Hidden Gems of Lishui
1. Suichang Gold Mine: 1-hour drive, experience gold panning (ticket 100 RMB), wear miner’s hat for vintage photos
2. Jingning She Ethnic Window: 1.5-hour drive, participate in March 3rd singing contest (special summer events in July)
3. Qingyuan Baishanzu: 2-hour drive, hike in primeval forest, chance to spot wild South China tiger (very rare)
📝Summary: Slow Down in the Last Secret Realm of Jiangnan
The beauty of Lishui lies in its perfect blend of millennia-old farming civilization and modern aesthetics. When you stand at Qixingdun viewing platform watching clouds flow through terraces; when you sit in a Songyang old teahouse listening to craftsmen tell ancient papermaking stories, you suddenly understand: poetry is nothing but the tenderness time has deposited here.
✅Pre-trip Checklist:
• Documents: ID card + student ID (ticket discount)
• Gear: Sun hat + sunglasses + power bank (shared power banks in scenic area 5 RMB/hour)
• Medicine: Mosquito repellent (many insects in bamboo forest) + stomach medicine (for spicy food)
🌍Civic Commitment:
• Do not pick terrace crops or damage ancient village buildings
• Take your trash with you; exchange at exit for "Lishui Guardian" commemorative badge
May you find your own mountain and river poem in this Jiangnan secret realm.🌄