2025 Zhengning Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)

Ziwuling Autumn Travel Guide: Encounter the Golden Secret of the Loess Plateau Ziwuling, spanning Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, is a rare original secondary forest area on the Loess Plateau. Every autumn, the forests are dyed in layers of color, with red leaves like fire and yellow leaves like gold, resembling a natural oil painting. If you plan to visit this secret place in autumn, this guide will help you enjoy the most beautiful autumn scenery of Ziwuling! 📅 Best Time to Enjoy Autumn Mid-October to early November (depending on the climate each year). During this period, the deciduous broadleaf forests of Ziwuling (such as birch, maple, and oak) reach their peak viewing time, with vibrant colors and rich autumn atmosphere. 🚗 Recommended Itinerary (2-3 days) 🌄 Day 1: Zhengning Diaolingguan Forest Park (Qin Straight Road Hiking + Autumn Photography) Morning: Arrive at Diaolingguan Forest Park, the core scenic area of Ziwuling, where the autumn colors are most spectacular. Afternoon: Hike the Qin Straight Road (an ancient military route), where golden birch forests, fiery red maples, and lush pines intertwine—every shot is a masterpiece. Evening: Stay at a forest homestay or return to Zhengning County town to enjoy local farmhouse dishes (recommended: Longdong native chicken, buckwheat noodles). 🏞 Day 2: Huachi Shuangta Forest Park (Ancient Tower Autumn Charm + Forest Walk) Morning: Head to Shuangta Forest Park to explore the Song Dynasty stone twin towers. Climb up for a panoramic view of Ziwuling’s autumn scenery. Afternoon: Stroll along forest trails and immerse yourself in the poetic scene of “every tree is autumn-colored, every mountain bathed in sunset glow.” Evening: Return or venture deeper into Ziwuling’s heartland (such as Lianjiabian or Wutingzi Village). ⛺ Day 3 (Optional): Camping and Stargazing at Ziwuling Main Peak If time permits, camp at Ziwuling’s main peak to enjoy the highland starry sky at night and watch the sea of clouds sunrise in the morning. 📸 Must-Visit Autumn Spots Diaolingguan Qin Straight Road — Golden birch forests alongside the ancient road blend history with autumn colors. Shuangta Autumn Charm — Song Dynasty ancient towers nestled among red leaves, full of ancient style. Wutingzi Village — A primitive village where you can experience farmhouse autumn drying (corn, chili peppers, etc.) during harvest season. Lianjiabian Forest Farm — Less crowded and beautiful scenery, perfect for deep hiking. 🍁 Autumn Travel Tips ✅ Clothing Guide: Around 10-15℃, with large temperature differences between morning and evening. It is recommended to wear a windproof jacket plus warm inner layers. ✅ Photography Tips: Early morning and dusk light are best; drone aerial shots are even more stunning. ✅ Transportation: Self-driving (recommended): About 4-5 hours from Lanzhou or Xi’an. Public transport: Take a bus to Zhengning or Huachi, then charter a car to the scenic spots. ✅ Accommodation: Forest homestays near Diaolingguan, county hotels in Zhengning or Huachi. ✅ Food Recommendations: Longdong hot pot, buckwheat noodles, wild vegetables, native honey. 🎯 Nearby Autumn Excursions Qingyang Beishiku Temple (World Cultural Heritage, autumn colors complement the grottoes) Nanliang Revolutionary Memorial Hall (red tourism + autumn scenery) Zhouzu Mausoleum Forest Park (Qingyang’s “Little Huashan,” pleasant autumn colors) 📌 Conclusion Autumn in Ziwuling is the most splendid season on the Loess Plateau. Whether hiking ancient roads, photographing autumn colors, or experiencing farmhouse life, here you can escape the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in nature’s gifts. 🍂 This autumn, let’s go to Ziwuling and encounter the most beautiful golden secret!

🌲 Mist shrouds Ziwu Ridge, encountering a fairy-tale autumn morning in Zhengning, Gansu! 【Must-Visit Reasons】 A secret wilderness! Nordic forest vibes wrapped in rain and mist 🍂 📍 Address: Ziwu Ridge Forest Farm, Zhengning County, Qingyang City, Gansu Province 🚗 Travel Tips: Drive yourself and navigate to "Ziwu Ridge Forest Park," about a 2-hour drive from Qingyang Hiring a local driver is recommended (road conditions are rough, ordinary cars should proceed with caution) 【Divine Route】 1️⃣ Yunhai Viewing Platform at the forest farm entrance Arrive before sunrise! The morning mist flowing through the coniferous forest looks just like a scene from "The Lord of the Rings" 📸 Tips: Secure your spot before 6:30 AM, use a telephoto lens to capture the mist and light beams 2️⃣ Millennium Ancient Oak Tree Group A collective transformation of 300+ year-old Liaodong oaks, with golden-red fallen leaves forming a natural carpet ⚠️ Note: The slope is slippery after rain, wearing non-slip shoes is recommended 3️⃣ Qin Straight Road Ruins Section The "Qin Shi Huang Expressway," comparable to modern highways, with stunning remaining rammed earth layers 🍂 Bonus: Wild sea buckthorn berries can be picked along the way (sour and astringent but packed with vitamin C) 【Avoid Pitfalls Guide】 • October is the best viewing period (colors deepen after frost) • Only one farmhouse at the foot of the mountain, bring your own snacks and thermos • Drones must be reported in advance (within the Ziwu Ridge protected area)

📸 Lobby: The lobby is exquisitely decorated and spacious, with a high ceiling and a dazzling chandelier. The atmosphere is amazing, and any photo you take will look luxurious. 🌳 Hotel garden: If the hotel has an outdoor garden, the plants are arranged in a staggered pattern. Take photos by the flowers or on the path for a fresh spring vibe or a romantic autumn vibe. 🏙 Guest room balcony: Some guest rooms have balconies, where you can overlook the city streets or the unique scenery of the hotel. It's perfect for taking artistic photos. 🍷 Restaurant: The elegant dining environment, exquisite tableware, and delicious food make for a great photo with a sense of ceremony. It's especially great for taking close-ups of food and photos that combine the food with the environment. 📚 Lounge: The comfortable sofa and soft lighting make it a great place to read a book or strike a pose for a photo. It's a great photo spot.

The Luochuan Township in Zhengning County, Gansu is now very desolate, and it is the old county seat. The original Chenghuang Temple gate preserved the iron flagpole cast in the 26th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1846), with a height of 11m. It was the first person in Zhengning County, Qingyang Prefecture, Gansu in the Qing Dynasty, Peng Bixiao, Zhao Yuanli, etc., dedicated to Luochuan Chenghuang Temple. The inscription contains the craftsman "Fuxing Furnace Gold Fire Craftsman Li Fukai" and others in Fuping County, Shaanxi. The flagpole is thin and thick, with double dragons flying on the upper part, and the bottom is inserted in the back and abdomen of the iron lion, and the two iron lions have round eyes. There is a iron crane at the top of the iron flagpole, each carrying the "sun and moon", and one side is written with two characters. There is a small plaque under the iron crane, which reads "Seven Kingdoms Defense" and "Ten Thousand Nations Screen". There are two square buckets under the flag, and small iron flags are erected at the four corners of the square bucket, and small wind chimes are hung under the square bucket. According to records, Zhongnanshan in the Qing Dynasty was the iron production base in Guanzhong, so the gold and fire industries in Fuping, Tongzhou (Dali County) and other places were very developed. The gold and fire craftsmen not only served locally, but also often crossed provinces to work. This iron flagpole in Zhengning County, Gansu is an example.

The Ning Shou Temple Pagoda has a square plan and is constructed entirely of blue bricks and yellow mud mortar. It has no base and consists of five stories of pavilion-style architecture, with a single hollow wall and a total height of 21.2 meters. The first floor has a side length of 6 meters, with an arched door on the south side that is 2.2 meters high and 1.8 meters wide. The central chamber has a side length of 2 meters. The wooden staircase inside has been destroyed, leaving only the wooden frame. Each level of the pagoda body features a hidden purlin at the upper part, with two sets of bracket sets on each side. The eaves of the pagoda are made in imitation of wooden structures, with two sets of bracket arms on each side, one arm with three sets of brackets. Above the bracket arms, 14 layers of bricks are stacked to form the overhanging eaves, with imitation wooden square rafters, lookout boards, and hooked tile boards underneath. The eaves above are made with an inverted layering method. From the second to the fifth floor, the body of the pagoda gradually tapers, with the eave lines being essentially straight. On the second and fourth floors, arched doors are alternately set on the east and west sides, and on the third and fifth floors, on the south and north sides. The second, third, and fifth floors of the pagoda have flat seats, with five sets of bracket arms below and hidden balustrades above. The form of the bracket arms and balustrades retains characteristics of the Five Dynasties period, with the fifth floor's balustrade panels made in a hook-shaped pattern.

4 square meters. In 1962, the Gansu Provincial People's Government announced Luochuan Zhao's Stone Archway as a provincial cultural relic protection unit. In May 2006, the State Council announced Luochuan Zhao's Stone Archway as the sixth batch of national key cultural relic protection units. The Luochuan Zhao Family Stone Archway was built to honor the character of Zhao Bangqing, an upright official of his generation. It consists of three stone archways, namely, Qingguan Archway, Tianguan Archway and Enchong Archway, which were built successively on the east-west streets of Luochuan Community. Qingguan Archway was built on December 12, the 42nd year of the Wanli reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty (1614 AD); Tianguan Archway was built on April 15, the 43rd year of the Wanli reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty (1615 AD). Both archways are of four-pillar, three-room, two-story pavilion style, both are 8.4 meters high and 8.2 meters wide. They were erected by Qingyang Prefecture of Shaanxi Province and Zhenning County in the Ming Dynasty to commemorate Zhao Bangqing, a doctor of the Ministry of Personnel of the Ming Dynasty. Both are archways of famous officials. Enchong Archway was built by Zhao Bangqing on the third day of July in the forty-fifth year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1617 AD) to publicize the imperial decree of Emperor Wanli and to commemorate the grace of his parents in raising him. It is a three-story pavilion with four pillars, three rooms, 9.7 meters high and 8.35 meters wide. It was used to praise merits or commend chastity and is an archway for chaste women. The Zhao's Stone Archways in Luochuan all have hip roofs with brackets and are made of red sandstone. They have spectacular shapes and unique structures. They are carved with vivid images of people, mountains, water, clouds, trees, flowers, birds and animals. The carvings are delicate and lifelike, demonstrating superb architectural art. They are a perfect combination of ancient Chinese architectural modeling art and carving art. It contains rich historical and cultural information and is an important carrier of ancient folk customs. In addition, the Three Purities Stele and the Insist on Integrity Stele are important relics of Zhao Bangqing's clean officialdom and important representatives of ancient anti-corruption culture. They have important inspiration and educational effects on contemporary officials.