Traveling is a necessity for me. I love traveling, and I also like recording. Traveling can make us temporarily get rid of the trivial things in life, see the outside world, and see the magic and power of nature. At a certain moment, our mood will suddenly broaden a lot, and we will find that the original trivial things are nothing at all.
This is a trip that belongs to both of us. It is not easy to facilitate this trip. My husband is busy with work and it is difficult to coordinate time. The summer in Wuhan is as innocent as a stove. I heard that Shennongjia is a summer resort, and it catches up with Hubei scenic spot for free tickets, so we decided here happily. Originally planned for a five-day trip, there was an episode in the middle and it turned into seven days. Because of this, the whole trip was more relaxed and some unexpected surprises were gained.
Day 1: Wuhan, a green expressway surrounded by mountains
Shennongjia is more than 411 kilometers away from Wuhan, and there is no direct high-speed rail. Self-driving is the best choice, and the driving time is nearly 6 hours. After passing through the plain areas such as Xiaogan Xiantao along the Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway, it gradually entered the mountainous area, with the mountains getting higher and higher and the air getting better and better. The rolling mountains show a indigo color, much like a high-definition eye-protection wallpaper. There was a sudden rain, and soon the white fog in the mountains began to spread. Looking at the eyeful of green, I feel inexplicably comfortable.
The first destination of our trip is Zhaojun Village, which is located in Xingshan County, Yichang City, and it is also the only way to Shennongjia. The first night's accommodation was booked in Zhaojun Villa, Xingshan County, which is said to be the best hotel in this county, but the environment is average and the facilities are very old. At night, a huge bug was found on the wall, which made me nervous.
Day 2: the most beautiful water highway, Zhaojun's hometown
I punched out the beef steamed stuffed bun with good comments from the county town the next morning. It was really delicious and super affordable.
After breakfast, drive to Zhaojun Village, which is very close to Xingshan County. You can also go to Shennongjia without going back. On the way, I passed the most beautiful water highway, which seems to be a punch-in spot in online celebrity. On the roadside, I specially built the best viewing platform with a parking lot, and many tourists stopped to take photos. This is a highway completely built on the water, also known as Guzhao Highway, probably named after Zhaojun. The green hills on both sides of the river are reflected in the water, and the road twists and turns in an S-shape, which is really beautiful when standing on the observation deck and looking down.
having taken enough photos, we continued our journey to zhaojun village. The village is located on the banks of Xiangxi River. Because of the beauty of "sinking fish and falling geese", Wang Zhaojun grew up here and was named Zhaojun Village. The village is located halfway up the mountain, built by the mountain, picturesque and beautiful. There are many exhibitions about ancient Chinese culture and cultural relics in the scenic spot. It is probably one of the meanings of traveling to visit a place and learn about its history and customs.
The scenic spot is not very big, but we have been shopping for a long time. When we are tired of shopping, we will find a gazebo to sit down and have a rest, so we don't have to hurry. It is very comfortable. At about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, I set off for Shennongjia. Go straight along National Highway 347. It is said that this is the only road from Xingshan to Shennongjia. The mountain road is not fast, so you can enjoy the scenery all the way. It didn't take long to reach a place called Yixiantian. There are cliffs on both sides, and only a small line is exposed in the sky. There are two observation decks on the roadside, and there are many food stalls. The lower barbecue stall also plays "Dried Wine If Not Sold". The sound echoes throughout the valley and is mixed with the gurgling water. Although lively, it is not noisy. There is a cool wind blowing in the mountains, and I don't want to go. It's probably the feeling of a paradise. Seeing many children playing in the water, we also went down and felt it. It was super cold, and the cold air formed a fog on the water surface, which was illusory.
after a short stay, move on. An hour later, it has entered the Shennongjia boundary. There are fewer people and cars along the way, the terrain is getting higher and higher, the temperature is getting lower and lower, and you will feel a little cold without turning on the air conditioner. Shennongjia is really a super place suitable for go on road trip, with scenery all the way and many small viewing platforms for parking. If you are not in a hurry, you can slow down and stop all the way.
We arrived at Muyu Town at about 5 pm, and most people who came to Shennongjia stayed here. After a short rest in the hotel, I began to go out for food. The town is very lively. It is said that it is named Muyu Town because its shape resembles Muyu, which is similar to the origin of Lushan Niuzhen. We went to the potherb source at the TOP1 of the public comment list, and ordered the most distinctive alpine cold-water fish hot pot in the local area. The fish was tender and fresh, and the method was very common. We didn't feel the amazing TOP1, and the price was expensive, which was acceptable in the scenic spot.
Day 3: Shennongding, Shennonggu, seeing the mountains in the fog
On the third day, after breakfast, pack your bags and check out, continue along National Highway 347, go to Shennongding, and stay in Dipingqian ancient town where Dajiuhu Scenic Area is located at night. Another advantage of go on road trip is that you can change your place every day near the scenic spots without worrying about your luggage.
Shennongding is more than 3,111 meters above sea level, and the mountain road winds up. There are many small scenic spots and observation platforms along the way, so you can stop and watch. Shennongying is a place where starry sky lovers gather. In order to capture the most beautiful starry sky, many photographers camp here. Shennongying reached the watchtower not far up, known as "the first whistle in Central China", with a wide view. There was a big parking lot at the top of the mountain, and I once thought that place was Shennongding, because it was the highest place in the whole journey. Later, I learned that the real Shennongding is higher and more dangerous. It stands opposite the watchtower and is not open to ordinary tourists. It needs professional mountaineers to climb.
Another scenic spot that must be mentioned is Shennong Valley. The entrance is near the watchtower, at the entrance to the top of the mountain. All the way down the wooden plank road to the bottom of the valley and back to the top of the mountain, the route is U-shaped, and there is no cable car going up and down. The steps of more than 4,111 meters all depend on your legs. There are many tourists taking pictures at the entrance. One of them told us that it would take four hours to complete the whole journey. Some of them gave up taking pictures, while others went back the same way after a short walk. The way down the mountain is really cool, because every time you go to a platform, you will feel that the scenery below is more beautiful and you want to continue walking down. Clouds freely shuttle between peaks, changing various shapes at the speed visible to the naked eye, with a tragic and suffocating beauty.
Many parents brought their children to experience it, and the children danced happily down the steps. A father told the children that every step you are going down now should be returned later, um ... indeed, and it is double. I walked for about an hour and looked at the signs on the roadside. I only walked a quarter. I met a tourist friend who came back from the trip and said that it would take another three hours to look at the time. Moreover, I really couldn't walk any further, so I decided to go back the same way. Going up the mountain is much more difficult than going down the mountain. Even walking and climbing, like pouring lead into the calf, every step is very difficult.
Not far from the entrance of Shennong Valley is the entrance of the Secret Valley of Big Footprint, the legendary savage haunt, but it should all be a publicity stunt. The valley bottom is connected with Shennong Valley, forming a U-shaped line. The whole process is a wooden plank road step, built on a cliff, winding along the cliff, sometimes steep and sometimes flat.
After visiting Shennong Valley, I began to go down the mountain in another direction. The first one on the way down the mountain was Tianjiling. It's just a viewing platform with a wide view, nothing special.
Continue down the mountain, pass the charming trip, and come to Banbiyan, where the stone forest stands, which is said to be the place where Emperor Yan of Shennong set up a scaffold to collect medicines.
The last stop of Shennongding Scenic Area is Taiziya. It is said that Tang Zhongzong Li Xian traveled here when he was a prince, hence the name. There is a three-province TV station next to it. On a clear day, you can see Hubei, Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces. This scenic spot belongs to the plank road in the forest, which I prefer. The forest is lush with trees, lush vegetation, cool temperature and fresh air. It is a natural oxygen bar, and the route is relatively flat, the whole journey is 1.5 kilometers, so it will not be very tired.
After visiting Taiziya, we went all the way down the mountain, out of Shennongding Scenic Area, and came to Qianping Ancient Town, a small town at the foot of the mountain. The town is very lively, near the evening, brightly lit, and the whole street is full of food and accommodation. People here basically rely on tourism for a living, close to Dajiu Lake, which is the only place to stay, and there are many tourists in the peak season.
Day 4: Dajiu Lake, Hulunbeier, Hubei
We have plenty of time this time, and we are lazy every day. We wake up naturally and even the breakfast shop is closed. Finally, I found a stall to buy breakfast, only soy milk and pasta were left. The proprietress said that she opened the door at four o'clock every morning to do business. Many tourists came to eat breakfast early in order to watch the morning fog. Counting the business hours of their breakfast was actually five or six hours. We just ate some dry food to deal with it, and then set off for Dajiu Lake.
Private cars are not allowed to enter Dajiu Lake, so you have to transfer to the scenic bus. Tickets need to be purchased separately, and the two people need to transfer to the scenic train after entering the scenic spot. Before coming, I may think that Dajiu Lake is a big lake. After entering, I found that it is surrounded by mountains and towering into the sky, forming a natural barrier, and Dajiu Lake is an alpine plain in this barrier, with the reputation of "Hulunbeier in Hubei". Nine small lakes are connected in series by a stream above the plain. The route of the small train runs along the lakes from one to nine in sequence, and you can get off at any scenic spot for sightseeing. Lake No.1 has not been officially opened yet. We started to get off from Lake No.2 and walk around, taking photos while walking along the wooden plank road until we reached Lake No.6..
There's a deer park further on Lake No.6. As long as you spend 11 yuan to buy a bag of corn kernels, you can get in close contact with sika deer and take photos. Many people who bring children to play go straight here. There are too many people, so we don't go in.
No.7, No.8 and No.9 lakes are far away from the previous lakes, and there is no walking path to reach them, so you need to continue to take a small train. These three lakes are close to the hillside, and some of them have dried up. The lakes are covered with long weeds, and it is impossible to tell whether they are swamps or the ground. Similarly, a wooden plank road was built along the lake. There are many small scenic spots along the road, such as the ancient tombs of the Tang Dynasty, the dead trees meet the spring, the water holes, the beauty trees and so on. Seeing that there was still enough time, we strolled all the way. There was shade and a small wind blowing on the side of the mountain, and there were not many people, so it was very comfortable to walk.
In fact, the nine lakes in Dajiu Lake are not as big as the East Lake. As a city with the largest number of lakes in the city, Wuhan has long been used to seeing it, so it doesn't feel particularly amazing. I have read many comments on the Internet before, saying that the beauty of Dajiu Lake is like a fairyland, but we didn't feel it. Haha, it is said that the morning fog and sunset glow of Dajiu Lake are also a must, but because we can't get up early and don't live in it at night, we don't know how. However, this is really a special place for filming. The lake under the lens is sparkling and clear as a mirror, and the mountains and clouds in the distance are reflected on the spotless water, which feels a little like the sky.
After visiting Dajiu Lake, I continued to take the scenic bus back to Qianping Ancient Town, where I stayed for two nights. I booked the Tianhu Villa B&B, and the accommodation conditions were average. The hardware facilities of this kind of B&B inn were poor and the hygiene was average. Online evaluation of their food is delicious, and every night the meal is full of guests, and many tourists from other inns come here. We also tried it for fame, which is very homely.
Day 5: Tiansheng Bridge, a stone stream with light and shadow
On the fifth day, I still got up at 9 o'clock in the morning, set off at 11 o'clock and returned to Muyu Town. There is only one road between Muyu Town and Qianping Ancient Town, which must pass through Shennongding Scenic Area. In this way, we went to Shennongding again. This morning, the clouds were thick, the fog was heavy, and it was another scenery with a unique charm, which was also an unexpected surprise.
It's nearly two hours' drive to Muyu Town, and it's almost noon, so I plan to have a rest first, then have lunch before going to the next scenic spot. Because the itinerary for the next two days was temporarily increased, we didn't book accommodation in advance. With the experience of staying in a hotel a few days ago, we chose to stay in a hotel this time. Sure enough, in this place, the hotel is more reliable. According to the online recommendation, we chose Shengjing Yijia, with much better facilities and convenient parking.
In the afternoon, I came to Tianshengqiao Scenic Area, which is 11 kilometers away from Muyu Town. Looking at this name, I didn't really have much hope before, but it really surprised me. It was rated as the best scenic spot in this trip by both of us. It seems that I am superficial and should not speculate based on the name.
Tiansheng Bridge is located in Caiqi Village at the foot of Laojun Mountain in Shennongjia. The scenic spot is small, very casual and cool. The flying waterfalls and natural stone bridges can be seen everywhere in it. With the looming light and shadow between branches, they are all very eye-catching. I feel that the photos can no longer bear the spectacular sight. We also took many small videos.
Day 6: Xiangxiyuan, Guanmen Mountain and Shennongtan
On the sixth day, Xiangxiyuan, Guanmen Mountain and Shennongtan Scenic Area are all near Muyu Town. Originally, we planned to visit the first day together with Tianshengqiao Scenic Area. Because we didn't make an appointment for tickets, we put them in the next two days. Xiangxiyuan, from the name, my intuition is that it should be a beautiful place, with scenery similar to Tiansheng Bridge, stone bridges, waterfalls, and a miniature version of Tiansheng Bridge. The water source is very clear, which is the local drinking water source. It is said that Wang Zhaojun once washed his face here, and Shennong Yandi washed his medicine here.
Guanmen Mountain is the least interesting scenic spot in my trip. I thought it was a mountain climbing, but I didn't expect it to be an ecological popular science scenic spot integrating botanical garden, zoo and museum. In the past, it seems that private cars were not allowed to enter, so you need to change to a free bus. Probably, after free tickets, the bus was changed to a charging item, and private cars were allowed to enter. We directly skipped many small scenic spots along the way. The first stop came to the bee garden, and many small beehives were hung on the vertical cliff, which was quite spectacular. Then there is a panda house, where there is a lonely panda, only one, sleeping lazily. Then we also visited the Geomorphology Hall, geological museum, the herbarium area and the underground river. Others found it boring and went back.
Shennong altar is a sacrificial scenic spot, where the ancestor of the Yellow Emperor, Yandi Shennong, is sacrificed. The long stone steps show the sincerity of tourists in offering sacrifices. It was noon when I arrived at Shennong altar, and I was already a little tired. I looked up and climbed up for glad you came's sake.
The main building of the altar is a human statue of Shennong's giant bull's head, which is 21 meters high and symbolizes the prosperity of the Chinese nation in the 21th century. Its width is 35 meters, which adds up to 56, which symbolizes the unity of 56 ethnic groups. There are circular and square patterns on the ground of the sacrificial area, representing heaven and earth respectively, and the square is divided into five colors, representing Jin Mu fire, water and soil respectively. These are all told by the tour guide nearby, and tourists are also asked to step on them separately, and step on everything if they are missing or don't know what they are missing. Of course I don't believe this, but it's interesting to listen.
Shennongjia is the last scenic spot of this trip, and it's still early to finish the tour. Considering that it's tiring to drive for more than six hours to return the next day, we decided to go out of Shennongjia first, stay in Xingshan for one night, and then return the next day. The accommodation and catering in Xingshan are better than those in Shennongjia, and it is also the only place to go to Shennongjia. It is a good choice to rest here. I booked Xingshan at night.