The author has compiled a budget-friendly 3-day, 2-night Chenzhou travel guide for you. With this guide in hand, you can embark on your journey anytime!
Day 1:
Misty Xiaodongjiang
- Best time to view the mist: 05:30-08:00; 17:30-20:30
- Best spot to view the mist: No. 2 Viewing Platform
- Recommended food: Of course, you have to eat sliced meat noodles in the morning!
If it’s your first time in Chenzhou, you must go to Xiaodongjiang to see the mist!
The Xiaodongjiang mist viewing boardwalk is about 5-6 kilometers long, mainly focusing on mist viewing and fishermen casting nets. There are also various small check-in points along the way. It takes about 2 hours to walk and stop.
Fishermen cast their nets approximately every 15 minutes. If conditions permit, you can bring a telephoto lens. You can find a good spot to take photos in advance.
Buy tickets in advance! There are 4 viewing platforms throughout Xiaodongjiang. The shuttle bus will stop at each station. After purchasing tickets, you can take the scenic shuttle bus at fixed locations in the scenic area.
After viewing the mist, you can eat sliced meat noodles in Dongjiang. You can buy meat and have the store process it for a processing fee. For simplicity, you can also directly order noodles in the store.
Friendly reminder: It is recommended that you pay attention to the weather. The probability of mist on a sunny day will be higher. Light-colored outfits are more photogenic!
Gaoyiling Scenic Area
- Time required: 2.5-3 hours
- Best check-in points: Glass Plank Road, Megalith Array
The saying “No matter how high the mountain or how far the road, there will always be someone who comes for you” probably refers to Gaoyiling!
Gaoyiling is a typical Danxia landform. Its beauty is not only reflected in the integration of mountains and rivers but also in the combination of trees and stones, and the interlocking mountain formations.
The tour route in Gaoyiling Scenic Area is a loop, and the entire tour takes about 2.5-3 hours. As long as it’s not under the scorching sun, basically, people of all ages can complete the walk with stops along the way.
There are also additional paid projects in the scenic area, such as cable cars, cliff swings, and air bicycles. Thrill-seeking friends can experience them.
Downtown Beihu Park
- Specialty food: There are large shopping malls such as Youa and Xintiandi, as well as snacks on the pedestrian street
- Time required: Watch the light show at 20:30, arrange time freely
- Best check-in points: Beihu Shuiyuezhou, Beihu Park North Square
“Chenzhou at half-past eight, the brightest night sky” Beihu Sleepless Night Water Curtain Light and Shadow Show is a public welfare performance that perfectly combines technology, creativity, and traditional culture.
Beihu Park is always the liveliest place in Chenzhou at night. There are two of Chenzhou’s largest shopping malls and a food street. Eating and shopping around the area, you can experience the lively atmosphere of Chenzhou in one night.
Day 2:
Suxianling
- Specialty food: pickled radish
- Time required: about 2 hours
- Best check-in point: the top of the mountain! Overlooking the panoramic view of Chenzhou
“A mountain is famous not for its height, but for its immortals.” This immortal is Su Xian. The legend of Su Xian has been included in the national intangible cultural heritage list. Suxianling is not only the place where Su Dan became an immortal but also a place of exile for celebrities.
In addition to legends, Suxianling is pleasing to the eye both day and night. Now the tickets are free. If you don’t want to tire your legs, take the cable car and enjoy a different scenery!
There are two hiking routes in Suxianling, a large road, and a small road. The large road is relatively flat but a bit roundabout. Most of the small roads are stair trails. Although they are closer, they are still a bit tiring to climb. It is recommended that you choose the route according to your physical strength.
There are a total of three stores selling snacks on the mountain. When you see the first one, you have climbed nearly half of the way. The last store means you have reached the top. The pickled radish in the store is also a specialty of Chenzhou. It’s 50 cents a piece, which is very affordable.
Yangtianhu Grassland
- Specialty food: Yao ethnic group’s Nine Bowls
- Play time: about 3 hours
- Best check-in points: Hobbit House, Pet Paradise
Towering mountains, clouds of various shapes, crystal-clear lake water, and rolling grasslands, this is Yangtianhu Grassland. A piece of natural wilderness makes people feel as if they are in a fairy tale world, and the dreamy beautiful scenery makes people linger.
Yangtianhu mainly focuses on taking photos and checking in. There are many internet celebrity check-in points in the scenic area. Check the weather before setting off. The blue sky and white clouds are really photogenic.
It is recommended to wear light-colored clothing for photos, which is most suitable for taking Japanese-style photos. Basically, you can directly use filters! However, the ultraviolet rays in Yangtianhu are very high, so you must take good sun protection measures!!!
There are limited dining options within the scenic area. If you are traveling with a large group, it is recommended to visit a nearby farmhouse to enjoy the Yao ethnic group’s “Nine Big Bowls,” which is a local specialty. If you have a smaller group and cannot finish the entire set, ordering a few dishes at the farmhouse is also a great choice!
In the evening, head to Yuhou Street, known for its wide array of late-night snack shops. Plan to spend around 2 hours exploring the area, and don’t forget to snap some photos at the best photo spots, such as the Wind and Rain Bridge and Suxian Bridge.
Food is always the main theme of holidays. Among the countless delicacies in the world, carbohydrates make up a significant portion, and the joy brought by consuming them is unparalleled. How can “food-minded” individuals not visit Yuhou Street to taste the authentic Chenzhou cuisine?
Day 3:
Mangshan Five Finger Peak
- Special local food: Pteridium pancakes, Taro Lotus Duck
- Recommended visiting time: Around 3 hours
- Best photo spots: Motian Ridge Elevator, Jinbian God Pillar
The sea of clouds is undoubtedly the most famous scenery of Mangshan Five Finger Peak. With verdant mountains and surging clouds, the sea of clouds at Mangshan Five Finger Peak has been featured on CCTV multiple times. Especially last winter, the space elevator, which was the same as the one in “The Wandering Earth 2,” attracted countless fans to Mangshan Five Finger Peak!
It is truly suitable for families with people of all ages. There is no need to climb the entire mountain, as cable cars, escalators, and elevators are available throughout the journey. You can easily reach the top by walking, stopping, and taking photos along the way. Climbing the Five Finger Peak is not tiring at all!
After entering the scenic area, there is only one restaurant. It takes about 2 hours to complete the entire tour, so it is recommended that travelers bring their own food to ensure sufficient energy supply.
Moreover, in May, the exclusive high-mountain rhododendrons are in full bloom. Various wild rhododendrons grow in the mountains, along the plank roads, and on the rocks, adorning the beautiful Mangshan with the most brilliant flowers in pink, white, and red.
When you come to Yizhang, don’t miss out on the local specialties like Pteridium pancakes and Taro Lotus Duck!
After concluding your busy workdays, do you want to experience a different kind of holiday? The Chenzhou version of the “backpacker-style tourism” guide is now available, and it’s time to challenge your efficiency and physical strength!
