Jiande: The Most Underrated Place I Visited This Year! I'm Afraid It'll Get Too Popular

Hey, everyone! You won't believe it! Jiande is a seriously underrated travel destination! 🌿 Picturesque scenery, tons of delicious food, and only a 40-minute high-speed train ride away, perfect for a weekend getaway! Save this super comprehensive guide 👇! 🚄 Transportation Guide ✈️ Travelers from other places can fly to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, then take a 40-minute high-speed train directly to Jiande Station! 🚄 Super convenient for those departing from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai! High-speed trains go directly from Hangzhou/Shanghai/Nanjing. A 20-minute taxi ride from the station will get you to the city center. 🚗 Road trip lovers, go for it! The scenery along the way is stunning, and you can stop to take photos anytime 📸! 🌟 Must-See Attractions 1️⃣ Yanzhou Ancient City 🆓: The romance of a thousand-year-old prefecture! Ancient Ming and Qing streets, blue bricks and black tiles, it's like traveling back to ancient times. Watch the "Prefectural Governor's Parade" during the day👑. In the evening, climb Chenqing Gate to overlook the confluence of the three rivers🌊. At night, the lights come on, and the light show + Song Dynasty market are so beautiful you'll cry! 2️⃣ Daci Rock Hanging Temple 🎫: The "Hanging Temple of Jiangnan" with 700 years of history! Half embedded in the cliff, half hanging in the air, it's super impressive! In autumn, the ancient ginkgo trees turn golden yellow🍂, creating a fairy-tale filter for your photos! Take the cable car up the mountain, visit the Tianshi Hall and the Hanging Plank Road. Even those afraid of heights can do it! 3️⃣ Lingxi Cave 🎫: The ceiling of karst caves! Crystal stones and stalactites sparkle. In summer, the cave is only 17℃❄️, making it a great place to escape the heat! The newly added Journey to the West-themed magic carpet and slide are super fun, a delight for those with kids! After exiting the cave, you can have a cup of coffee at the "Village Cafe" and enjoy the mountain view ☕. 4️⃣ Jiande Aviation Town 🛩️: The first skydiving base in East China! Experience the thrill of overlooking the green hills and rivers from high altitude! There are also helicopter tours, an industrial-style train hotel, and an airplane-themed restaurant. Your photos will blow up on social media! Go-karting and hot air balloon rides are also perfect for couples/besties. 🍜 Food Guide 🔥 The three giants of Yanzhou snacks: • Dried Plum Cake: CNY 3 each! The freshly baked crust is crispy. One bite and the meat juice + dried plum aroma will make you stomp your feet! • Spicy Tofu Buns: The "bowl bigger than the pot" in Xin'anjiang and the "Yuankou Buns" in Shouchang are must-tries! Thin skin and plenty of filling, one bite is so spicy you'll breathe fire, but you can't stop 🌶️. • Corn Cake: Crispy on the outside and "stinky" on the inside! Stinky tofu filling with spicy sauce, a soul food that locals have eaten since childhood! 🍢 Late-Night Snack Scene: At Lanzhen Fried Food Shop and Sister Fried Rice Noodles on Zhongshan Road Food Street, you can eat your fill for an average of CNY 20! The spare ribs and grilled chicken feet at Genglou Huang'ao Barbecue are addictively spicy, perfect with an ice-cold beer! 🍨 Hidden Menu: DIY cold drinks in the ancient town for CNY 10! Crystal jelly + yellow peach + coconut jelly, a spicy reliever! Old Man Fried Chicken at the farmers market has a crispy, flaky crust and juicy, tender meat, worth the wait! 📌 Useful Tips ✅ The attractions are scattered, so it's recommended to take a taxi/drive. Taxi rides within the city usually don't exceed CNY 30. ✅ Accommodation recommendations: The train hotel in Aviation Town (CNY 300/night) has a great atmosphere; the B&Bs in Yanzhou Ancient City (from CNY 150) offer views of the ancient streets right outside your window! Book one week in advance! ✅ Money-saving tips for tickets: Buy a combo ticket for Daci Rock + Lingxi Cave and save CNY 20! Snake-zodiac visitors get free admission to Yunshui Yaotai with their ID card. ✅ Sunscreen + mosquito repellent! The UV rays are strong during the day, and there are many mosquitoes at night, so remember to protect yourself! Jiande's scenery, down-to-earth vibe, and niche experiences... every aspect is healing me! Come on, everyone, escape the crowds and embark on a heavenly journey!