Perfect for a short getaway for two! 3 days without rushing
📍Hongcun
Open the window in the early morning, and the mist from South Lake drifts into the room. The whole village hasn't woken up yet; only a few ducks are paddling across the lake, leaving ripples. This is the rhythm a 3-day getaway for two should have—no rushing, just spending time in the morning light of the ancient village, the alleys, and a bowl of hot soup.
Day 1
Start from South Lake, stroll slowly along the lake to the South Lake Academy. The wooden windows in the old schoolhouse let in light, perfect for sitting side-by-side for a while. For lunch, find a small restaurant by Moon Pond, order a serving of hairy tofu and bamboo shoot stewed pork, and sit under the corridor to watch the reflections in the water. In the afternoon, wander through the alleys around Moon Pond; every alley leads to a different old house. In the evening, return to South Lake to watch the sunset. The lake turns pale gold, the ducks return to their nests, and the whole world becomes quiet. Stay at a homestay by South Lake at night; the water view is right outside the window, and you can see the morning mist as soon as you open your eyes the next day.
Day 2
Get up early to see the morning mist at South Lake; it really looks like an ink wash painting. Then walk through the village to Moon Pond. Since tourists haven't arrived yet, you can take photos of the two of you with only white walls, black tiles, and reflections in the background. Spend the morning browsing South Lake Academy and soaking in the atmosphere of how Huizhou scholars studied back in the day. For lunch, have some stinky mandarin fish in the village; it's amazing with rice. In the afternoon, continue walking around Moon Pond, finding those empty little alleys. You might occasionally run into residents washing vegetables or drying cured meat—it's full of local life. In the evening, find a small tavern, order a pot of rice wine, and chat under the moonlight.
Day 3
Don't plan too much for the last day. Just sit on the stone bench by Moon Pond and daydream, watching the koi swim around. Or take another walk around South Lake to capture the corners you missed. For lunch, have a Huizhou Yipin pot; it's steaming hot and perfect for sharing. Before packing up in the afternoon, sit under the old tree at the entrance of South Lake Academy for a while to remember this quiet place. Perfect for couples who love a slow life. The beauty of Hongcun isn't in the attractions, but in your willingness to stop and pause for it.
📍Songyang
Three ancient villages are hidden in the mountains of Songyang, each quieter than the last. 3 days is just enough for two people to walk from the foot of the mountain to the top, then back down to the old street to eat a bowl of hand-pulled noodles.
Day 1
First, arrive at Yangjiatang Village. This village is built on a hillside, with yellow mud walls and black tiles layered on top of each other, as if forgotten by time. Walking up the stone path together, you can see elderly people sunning themselves at their doorways and cats dozing on the walls. For lunch, have some local chicken soup in the village; the broth is incredibly fresh. In the afternoon, go to Chenjiapu Village. This village is higher up and surrounded by clouds and mist. The Librairie Avant-Garde is hidden in an old house; go inside to browse books, and you'll see the mountain view right outside the window. Stay at a homestay in Chenjiapu at night and listen to the insects chirping all night long.
Day 2
Get up early and go to Songzhuang Village. This village is hidden in a valley, and you have to walk a dirt road to get there. A stream flows through the village, with stone bridges, old trees, and drying bamboo shoots—everything is slow and leisurely. You can play in the water by the stream or sit on the rocks and eat snacks you brought. For lunch, return to Songyang Old Street to eat lantern cakes and salt-baked chicken; the snack stalls on the old street are full of local life. Continue exploring the old street in the afternoon and buy some local brown sugar and bamboo shoots to take home. Stay near the old street at night to make it easier to explore again the next day.
Day 3
Go to Songyang Old Street again in the morning. It's less crowded, so you can walk slowly. Find a shop to eat some Qingming dumplings; they are chewy and filled with bamboo shoot dices and meat. Then go back to Yangjiatang Village to take more photos, or take another look at the sea of clouds in Chenjiapu Village. For lunch, have hand-pulled noodles on the old street; the noodles are chewy and the broth is rich. Pack your bags in the afternoon, but don't rush to leave. Finally, sit under the ancient tree at the village entrance to feel the slowness of Songyang. Perfect for couples who love ancient villages and nature. There is no commercialization here, only the most authentic rural life.
📍Jixi
The Huizhou-style ancient villages in Jixi are even quieter than Hongcun. The water street of Longchuan, the old alleys of Renli, and the memorial archways of Shangzhuang are all worth exploring slowly. 3 days is just enough for two people to visit all 4 places without getting tired.
Day 1
First, arrive at Longchuan Scenic Area. As soon as you enter the village, you'll see the water street, with a stream flowing in front of the doors and white walls and black tiles on both sides. Walking along the stream, you can see the Hu Family Ancestral Hall, which has exquisite wood carvings. For lunch, have some Jixi stir-fried vermicelli and hairy tofu in Longchuan. Continue exploring in the afternoon; there is a small bridge at the end of the water street, perfect for taking photos together. Stay at a homestay near Longchuan at night; the sound of the stream outside the window is very hypnotic.
Day 2
Go to Renli Ancient Village in the morning. This village is quieter than Longchuan, with very narrow alleys and moss growing on the walls on both sides. You can walk slowly and find those old gate towers to take photos. For lunch, have a dry-pot stew in Renli; the meat is stewed until tender and goes great with rice. In the afternoon, go to Shangzhuang Scenic Area. Hu Shih's former residence is here, but we're just looking at the architecture, not talking about the people. The memorial archway complex in Shangzhuang is spectacular, perfect for counting archways together. Return to the county town to stay at night, making it convenient to go to Ziyuan on the third day.
Day 3
Go to Jixi Ziyuan in the morning. This is a garden-style ancient architectural complex with ponds, rockeries, and corridors, perfect for a slow stroll for two. For lunch, have Huizhou stinky mandarin fish near Ziyuan, served with rice. In the afternoon, you can go back to Renli Village to wander around, or just find a pavilion in Ziyuan and sit for the afternoon. Perfect for couples who love Huizhou architecture and quiet. Every ancient village in Jixi feels like it's frozen in time; once you walk in, you won't want to leave.
📍Lanxi
Youbu Ancient Town in Lanxi is a paradise for morning tea lovers, Zhuge Bagua Village is a maze, Lanxi Ancient City is full of local life, and Zhiyan Ancient Village is the most pristine. 3 days is enough for two people to eat all the morning tea, walk through the Bagua formation, and get lost in the ancient city.
Day 1
Arrive at Youbu Ancient Town in the morning. The morning tea stalls here start getting busy around 5 or 6 AM. Find a place to sit, order a bowl of meat dumplings, a basket of chicken cakes, and a bowl of soy milk, and watch the elderly people on the old street drinking tea and chatting while you eat. After morning tea, walk around the ancient town; the stone paths, old houses, and vegetable stalls are full of life. For lunch, have some Lanxi beef noodles in the ancient town; the noodles are handmade and the broth is very fresh. In the afternoon, go to Zhuge Bagua Village. The layout of this village is like a Bagua formation; it's fun for two people to find the exit together. Stay at a homestay near Bagua Village at night to experience the night in an ancient village.
Day 2
Continue exploring Zhuge Bagua Village in the morning and visit the corners you missed. The ancestral halls and ponds in the village are all very beautiful. For lunch, have fairy stew in Bagua Village; the chicken is stewed until very tender. In the afternoon, go to Lanxi Ancient City. The ancient city walls, old city gates, and narrow alleys are very charming. You can walk around the ancient city wall together and look at the river view. In the evening, find a small shop in the ancient city and have a Lanxi clay pot; it's steaming hot and perfect for two. Stay near the ancient city to make it convenient to go to Zhiyan the next day.
Day 3
Go to Zhiyan Ancient Village in the morning. This village is the most pristine and has almost no tourists. A stream flows through the village, and vines climb over the old houses, making it very photogenic. You can walk slowly through the village and find those old houses with stories. Return to Youbu Ancient Town for another morning tea at noon and order everything you haven't tried yet. Pack your bags in the afternoon, but don't rush to leave. Go to the riverside in Youbu and sit for a while, watching the boats come and go. Perfect for couples who love morning tea and ancient villages. The 3 days in Lanxi are half eating and half exploring—just right.