In Guangxi, hidden in the village is a paradise

Hidden in the village is a paradise. There is always an indescribable feeling towards ancient cities and streets, perhaps because the impression left by the overly commercialized so-called ancient cities is not good. Among the ancient cities in many ethnic autonomous counties, it is rare to find a place where commercialization is not annoying, yet one can truly experience the pastoral and local customs. 🛖🛖🛖 Guangxi's northern Sanjiang County (belonging to Liuzhou), connected to Hunan and Guizhou, is home to Chengyang's 'Eight Villages', a paradise hidden away, accessible only by a wind and rain bridge. After entering the scenic area, shuttle vehicles are available, but upon reaching the Chengyang Bridge area, which connects to the outside, you can only walk into the village. 👉🏻Must-visit recommendations→ 🔹Chengyang Yongji Bridge, a cultural heritage that has been built for a hundred years, with mortise and tenon structure, ingeniously designed. It reflects the crystallization of the wisdom of the laboring people at that time. 🔹Dong Painting Museum, a museum well worth a visit. The life scenes of the Dong people are vividly recorded through colorful Dong paintings. 🔹Yanzhai Drum Tower, one of the larger drum towers here. There is also a big stage where you can watch song and dance performances at night. Spending 80 yuan on a 'Hundred Family Banquet' here allows you to taste all the special dishes of Sanjiang, which is really worth the ticket price. At night, the Yanzhai Drum Tower is brightly lit, like a star in this place. 🔹Tea Garden, where aunties carry bamboo baskets on their backs every day to pick fresh leaves in the tea garden, experiencing the work of tea farmers up close. 🔹Yanlong Ridge, a mountain hiking trail. Climbing the mountain offers a panoramic view of Chengyang's Eight Villages, and following the signs, you can walk back to Ping Village. 📸About photography There are several ethnic clothing shops in the scenic area that rent out costumes for tourists to take photos. It's about 60 yuan per day, and you can experience being a Dong girl (or Dong boy) for a day. 🍲About food: There are many noodle shops in the scenic area, with snail noodles costing about 10 yuan per bowl, and some small restaurants where stir-fried dishes range from 20 to 80 yuan, depending on what you choose. At the head of the wind and rain bridge, Dong grandmothers sell their homemade glutinous rice cakes, glutinous rice, and snacks, which are also a few yuan per serving. Their local pork is really fragrant, the kind that melts in your mouth, highly recommended→❗ 📌Tips: You cannot buy tickets for the sightseeing bus on the bus itself; you need to purchase them at the entrance of the scenic area. Or you can buy a package ticket online and redeem it at the self-service machine on-site. Without a sightseeing bus ticket voucher, you cannot take the sightseeing bus. 📍Location: Chengyang Eight Villages, Sanjiang 🎫Ticket: 90 yuan/person (including sightseeing bus inside the scenic area) 🏠About accommodation: I stayed in a homestay within the scenic area, with prices ranging from 80 to 300 yuan on weekdays, and prices increase during holidays. Yanzhai is more lively, while Ping Village is quieter. You can book a homestay according to your personal preferences. 🚌About transportation: The high-speed train goes directly to Sanjiang South Station, and shortly after exiting the station, you can see a signboard that says 'Scenic Area Shuttle' which can take us directly into the scenic area. After entering the scenic area, you can take the sightseeing bus, and there are stops in the village where you can get on and off. The stops also provide a phone number, so if you are in a hurry, you can call directly. 🚐Tourist shuttle line: Chengyang Eight Villages Scenic Area — Sanjiang South Station Tourist Distribution Point Departure times: 8:50 11:10 13:50 15:50 Sanjiang South Station Tourist Distribution Point — Chengyang Eight Villages Scenic Area Departure times: 10:00 12:10 14:50 17:40 Ticket: 15 yuan/person (one-way) Travel time is about 50 minutes