A Fairyland Accessible by a Two-Hour High-Speed Train
A Fairyland Accessible by a Two-Hour High-Speed Train
Weekend warriors in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai can't keep this a secret any longer! Say no to crowded popular attractions. We've unearthed 3 hidden gems directly accessible by a 2-hour high-speed train from Shanghai, where the landscapes are poetic, and the culture is rich. The best part is, it's uncrowded and peaceful, a healing utopia for the working class. Your spontaneous trip can start now! ~
Yunhe | Lishui, Zhejiang. Jiangnan's Erhai Lake in the Misty She Ethnic Region
Transportation: Shanghai Hongqiao → Lishui Station (1.5-hour high-speed train), then transfer to a 1-hour mountain road ride directly to Pingyanggang She Ethnic Village. The entire journey takes less than 2 hours. One-way ticket price: 150-180 RMB.
Key Activities:
- Immersive She Ethnic Village Experience: As the only pure She ethnic village in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, wake up to mountain folk songs in the morning. You can participate in the "She Ethnic Culture Hall Public Class," learn to sing the three-line toast song, enjoy free black rice, drink homemade red yeast rice wine from the host, and from the first to the third day of the lunar month, there's a special black rice feast;
- Cloud-level Lake View Check-in: Stay at "Yingzhe Qiansu · Shihuayunhe." Open the window to the misty Yunhe Lake, which looks like a crumpled silver mirror. Even a drone flying 300 meters high won't capture other tourists, making it feel like you've stumbled into "Jiangnan's Erhai Lake";
- Slow Time in the Ancient Village: Stroll along the bluestone paths, watch She ethnic elders weave colorful ribbons and make silver ornaments. The ancient camphor tree at the village entrance provides vast shade, and sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled light and shadow like the flow of time.
Culinary Delights: She family cured meat stir-fried with dried bamboo shoots is fragrant and perfect with rice. Dried river fish stewed with tofu is incredibly fresh. There's also black rice mochi dipped in brown sugar, soft, sticky, sweet, and a direct hit to the taste buds~
Photo Tips: Wear a light-colored cotton and linen dress and stand on the lakeside boardwalk, with the morning mist as a backdrop for atmospheric blockbusters; or borrow traditional clothing at the She Ethnic Culture Hall and pose with the ancient village, instantly becoming the star of a folk-style photoshoot.
Jiulongkou | Yancheng, Jiangsu. An Intangible Cultural Heritage Fairyland Amidst Wetland Fireworks
Transportation: Shanghai Hongqiao → Yancheng Station (1.8-hour high-speed train), then a 30-minute taxi ride directly to Huaiju Town. One-way ticket price: 120-150 RMB.
Key Activities:
- Water Iron Flower Performance Extravaganza: From New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival, intangible cultural heritage iron flower performances are staged on the lake. High-temperature molten iron is splashed into the night sky, and sparks fall onto the river surface like falling stars, accompanied by a "horse" character light show formed by drones, even more spectacular than Disney fireworks;
- Wetland Intangible Cultural Heritage Roam: During the day, watch a Huaiju opera performance, similar to those featured on CCTV's "Intangible Cultural Heritage in China," with actors singing "The Pearl Pagoda" right beside you, immersing yourself in the charm of traditional art; take a sculling boat tour of Jiulongkou Wetland, watch the reeds sway in the wind, and occasionally spot egrets flying by;
- Slow Stroll Through the Ancient Town: Huaiju Town, with its black tiles and white walls, is built along the water, with lanterns hanging throughout the streets. In the afternoon, order a cup of green tea at an old teahouse and listen to locals recount tales of salt merchants. Time slows down just right.
Culinary Delights: Lotus root starch balls are soft, chewy, and filled with sesame, sweet but not greasy; Yancheng's local dish "taro stewed pork" is fragrant and flavorful. You can eat your fill for an average of 30 RMB, and also get a 3 million consumer voucher for instant discounts by scanning a QR code.
Photo Tips: Book a lake-view B&B on the 3rd floor or higher for an unobstructed panoramic view of the iron flower performance; at dusk, stand on the ancient bridge and use a 0.5x wide-angle lens to capture the lanterns, ancient bridge, and lake reflections for maximum atmosphere.
Shen'ao Ancient Village | Tonglu, Zhejiang. A Ming and Qing Dynasty Secret Realm in Fuchun Mountain Residence
Transportation: Shanghai Hongqiao → Tonglu Station (1.5-hour high-speed train), then a 20-minute taxi ride directly. One-way ticket price: 130-160 RMB.
Key Activities:
- Explore Ancient Houses: The Ming Dynasty archway at the village entrance is carved with the characters "Shen'ao." Well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty ancient buildings are found throughout the village. The "Twenty-Four Room Horse-Head Wall Building" features carved beams and painted rafters, bluestone paths wind and turn, and moss on the walls tells centuries-old stories;
- Roam Fuchun Mountains and Waters: Hike in the surrounding mountains and fields. In spring, see vast fields of rapeseed flowers covering the mountains; in autumn, admire rolling rice waves. After rain, the area is shrouded in mist, like a real-life replica of "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains";
- Thrilling Amusement Park Fun: A glass slide extends deep into the ancient village. At night, when the lights come on, sliding down feels like traveling through a time tunnel, with screams amplified by the alleys, unlocking a new way to experience the ancient village.
Culinary Delights: The cured meat cooked in a wood-fired stove at the ancient house banquet is thicker than an iPhone. Dried bamboo shoots stewed with chicken are incredibly fresh. There's also handmade mochi, dipped in soybean powder, filling your mouth with the aroma of rice.
Photo Tips: Photograph the Huizhou-style horse-head walls after snow, with white walls and black tiles covered in a thin layer of snow, creating a stunning artistic mood; in the early morning, stake out a spot in the ancient village alleys, where sunlight passes through the horse-head walls, creating bright and dark shadows. Any casual shot will be a classic ancient-style masterpiece.
2-Day, 1-Night Fairyland Roaming Plan
Day 1: Yunhe → Jiulongkou
Morning: Take an early high-speed train to Yunhe, visit Pingyanggang She Ethnic Village, learn to sing She ethnic folk songs, and have a black rice feast for lunch;
Afternoon: Take a 1.5-hour high-speed train to Jiulongkou, enjoy a night tour of Huaiju Town, watch the water iron flower performance, and stay in a lake-view B&B.
Day 2: Jiulongkou → Shen'ao Ancient Village
Morning: Visit Jiulongkou Wetland, watch a Huaiju opera performance, and try lotus root starch balls and taro stewed pork for lunch;
Afternoon: Take a 1-hour high-speed train to Shen'ao Ancient Village, explore the Ming and Qing ancient houses, experience the glass slide, and buy handmade mochi as a souvenir before returning.
Travel Tips
1. High-speed train tickets: Tickets for early trains on weekends and holidays are in high demand. It's recommended to book tickets on 12306 seven days in advance. Traveling during off-peak hours will be smoother;
2. Attire: In Yunhe, bring a light jacket + non-slip shoes (it can be misty in the mountains). In Jiulongkou, wear Hanfu or Qipao for photos in the intangible cultural heritage scenes. In Shen'ao Ancient Village, cotton and linen clothing + a straw hat suit the ancient aesthetic;
3. Avoid pitfalls: In Yunhe, the She ethnic ancestral worship from 9-11 AM on the first day of the lunar month is not open to the public; you can enter the village after 11:30 AM. B&Bs within the Jiulongkou scenic area are overpriced by 30%; staying in Yancheng city offers better value. For the glass slide in Shen'ao Ancient Village, wear long pants to avoid scrapes.
No need to travel thousands of miles in search of poetry and distant lands. This fairyland is hidden within a 2-hour high-speed train radius of Shanghai. Whether it's the misty She ethnic village, the wetland fireworks, or the secret ancient village, you can temporarily escape the hustle and bustle of the city and heal your mind and body amidst the mountains, waters, and culture. While it's uncrowded and beautiful, quickly pack your bags and embark on this spontaneous fairyland journey! ~