You Can't Miss Chenzhou!
My 3-Day Chenzhou Adventure: A Fantastical Journey Through Danxia Landscapes and Emerald Waters
**Day 1: Crimson Cliffs & Ancient Alleys**
At dawn, I rushed to Chenzhou’s wildest heartbeat—**Gao Yi Ridge**. Driving through the mountains, the first glimpse of crimson cliffs embracing jade-green lakes felt like the earth baring its fiery soul. **Must-visit! The Dragon’s Back Trail** clings to sheer cliffs, with red rocks blazing underfoot and tranquil waters shimmering like dragon scales. At its narrowest point, the ridge barely fits one foot, while mountain winds howl through the valley, syncing with your pounding heartbeat. From the summit, Lizard Lake resembles a green gem embedded in a red crown—especially breathtaking when mist rises after rain, evoking a dragon emerging from the sea! **Pro tip:** Wear **anti-slip hiking shoes**! The gravelly rocks are treacherous; I saw sandal-clad tourists struggling. Avoid midday heat—the rocks reflect scorching glare. Sunset, however, turns cliffs molten gold, worth every effort.
By dusk, I wandered **Yuhou Street**, its flagstone paths glowing under lanterns, fragrant with "Fat Lady’s Tied Duck." **Must-visit! Savor flavors by the Chen River**—a bowl of Qifengdu fish noodles, spicy and soul-warming, as if drinking in Chenzhou’s essence. Leaning on the railing, the poet Qin Guan’s line—“How fortunate the Chen River embraces Chenzhou’s hills”—suddenly felt alive. **Pro tip:** Skip generic "internet-famous" snacks (like bamboo-tube milk tea) and focus on local flavors.
**Day 2: Misty Wonderland & Peaks in the Clouds**
**The trip’s highlight!** At 5 AM, I waited by **Foggy Little East River**. By 6, milky mist unfurled like celestial ribbons. A lone fishing boat emerged, its net cast against golden dawn—**No. 2 Viewing Platform** erupted with camera clicks. A scene so divine, it’s rare on earth! **Must-visit! Arrive early** (before 5:30), or miss the magic as crowds and fading fog turn wonderland into chaos.
Post-noon, I ascended **Mang Mountain’s Five-Finger Peak** via the "Sky Dragon" cable car—a 7.5 km ride unveiling panoramic grandeur. **Must-visit! The cliffside barrier-free walkway**, a ribbon tied to sheer rock faces. At "Golden Whip Pillar," jagged rocks mimic gods’ battle formations; the glass platform induces vertigo yet thrills. Best was riding the **Skyscraper Elevator**—70 seconds to the clouds, with peaks rolling like waves below. That night, soaking in Mang Mountain’s cliffside hot spring, stars dissolving into the pool, I understood "plucking stars from the sky" wasn’t hyperbole. **Pro tip:** Mang’s weather is fickle—I nearly froze without a **windproof jacket**. Opt for cable cars if stamina is limited; hiking is grueling.
**Day 3: Pastoral Dreams & Grassland Poetry**
The finale belonged to **Yangtian Lake Grassland**, a southern Shangri-La. Winding roads parted clouds to reveal endless emerald hills dotted with windmills, Hobbit huts, and grazing livestock—straight from a Miyazaki film. **Must-visit! Gallop across hilltops**, wind filling your sleeves, surveying ink-washed mountains—true "viewing all peaks as small." Tobogganing down slopes, laughter merged with rustling grass. **Pro tip:** UV rays here are **invisible blades**—I returned with sunburned arms. Hire a **seasoned driver**; the roads are perilous. Time permitting, visit **Zhiqing Art Village** for bamboo-shaded coffee—a cultured epilogue.
**My Packing Insights:**
* **Unforgettable moments:** Mist-shrouded boats on Little East River, Gao Yi Ridge’s red-and-green drama, Mang Mountain’s elevator piercing clouds, galloping freely at Yangtian Lake.
* **Avoidable pitfalls:** Slippery shoes at Gao Yi Ridge, tardiness at Little East River, Mang’s icy winds, Yangtian’s harsh sun.
* **Must-try bites:** Qifengdu fish noodles (spicy revival), Fat Lady’s Tied Duck (fall-off-the-bone rich), Mang Mountain’s smoked bacon (soul-stirring).
Three days were fleeting, yet Chenzhou carved a 3D landscape scroll in my heart—its danxia bones, misty riversoul, and grassy dreams. Was it worth it? The foggy Little East River and cloud-sea memories clutched tight on my journey home betrayed the answer.