Avoid the crowds! Complete guide to 3 real-life fairyland secret spots, shoot movie-level masterpieces anytime

Tired of the crowds at popular tourist spots? Want to be the “fairy tale hero” amidst mountains, water, and mist? This Trip.com blockbuster guide selects 3 National Geographic-certified secret spots, avoiding the hustle and bustle of Wangxian Valley and Gexian Village, immersing you in the same fairyland scenery as "The Journey of Flower" and "Black Myth: Wukong." From misty stone bridges to starry ancient temples, every step is poetic. Jinyun Xiandu: The real-life replica of Changliu Fairy Mountain As the prototype of Changliu Fairy Mountain in "The Journey of Flower," the fairy aura of Jinyun Xiandu hides between morning mist and stone pillars. The 200-meter-high Dinghu Peak pierces the clouds like the "world’s tallest bamboo shoot," and the morning scene of the stone bridge at Zhutan Mountain comes with a built-in movie filter. Here, no need to deliberately find angles—every snap is a fairy tale masterpiece. Core activities (1 day is enough) - Zhutan Mountain morning scene: Be sure to arrive before 7 AM! When the morning mist drifts over the creek, old farmers lead cattle across the stone bridge (you can pay 10 yuan for a photo shoot), shoot reflections on the water from a low angle, add a smoke filter, and the fairy aura is instantly maxed out. - Dinghu Peak summit: Take the cable car to the viewing platform, overlook the mountains like ink paintings, and on misty days it feels like a sacred place for immortals; don’t miss Xiandu Temple at the foot of the mountain, its flying eaves framed with Dinghu Peak create an amazing ancient style shot. - Hidden gems: Niweng Cave’s “Chuyang Valley” stone carvings glow in the morning light, like a hermit’s secret training ground; walk the Danxia plank road at Xiaochibi in Hanfu and instantly become a fairy tale hero “walking on flying eaves.” Food, accommodation, and transportation - Transportation: Take the high-speed train to Jinyun West Station, then a 30 yuan taxi directly to the scenic area; self-driving can park at the visitor center for 5 yuan/hour. The scenic shuttle bus costs 20 yuan per person, a must-buy to save time and effort. - Food: Outside the scenic area, try the Jinyun baked flatbread (meigan cai and pork filling, 10 yuan each) and Shuainan glutinous rice (with fried dough bits and minced meat, 12 yuan per serving), the carb aroma is super comforting. - Accommodation: If budget allows, choose Xiandu Resort with peak forest views from your window; for cost-effectiveness, pick a county guesthouse at about 80 yuan per person, where you can also try black rice and stuffed tofu. Lishui Yunhe Terraces: A millennium painting in the clouds The largest terrace group in East China is hidden deep in Yunhe’s mountains, with over 700 layers of ridges winding from the foot to the summit. In the early morning, mist wraps the golden rice waves like a fairy spilling a palette. National Geographic praises it as “combining fairy aura with earthly charm,” perfect for slow travel and shooting masterpieces. Core activities (recommended 1 night stay) - Sunrise golden hour: Arrive before 6:30 AM at the Jiujuyunhuan viewing platform, sunlight spills over the terraces, waves of light and mist intertwine, and a telephoto lens captures excellent layering. - Hiking exploration: Walk down the Baiyin Valley trail through primeval forest to ancient villages, watch old farmers irrigate fields, every shot looks like a “fairy tale retreat.” - Sunset exclusive: The Qixingdun viewing platform offers panoramic terrace views, the sunset dyes the ridges golden red, paired with distant cooking smoke, the atmosphere is perfect. Food, accommodation, and transportation - Transportation: Take the high-speed train to Lishui Station, transfer at the East Bus Station to Yunhe by shuttle (1 hour), then switch to the scenic area shuttle (30 minutes); self-driving takes the mountain road, with the “Cloudy Daji” viewing platform en route for sea-of-clouds shots. - Food: Freshly caught and stewed creek fish (38 yuan per serving), sweet glutinous rice cake (10 yuan per piece), and stir-fried homegrown vegetables are the freshest. - Accommodation: The top choice for terrace guesthouses is “Yunshang Pingtian,” with a terrace perfect for starry terrace shots; budget travelers can stay in Yunhe county for about 100 yuan per person, catching the early bus into the mountains next day. Guizhou Fanjing Mountain: The ultimate fairyland at the sea of clouds’ peak At 2,336 meters, the Red Cloud Golden Summit looks like twin peaks piercing the clouds. When the morning sea of clouds surges, it feels like stepping into Qingyun Mountain from "Jade Dynasty." The strange rocks, ancient temples, and starry sky here hold the purest fairy tale essence. Core activities (1-day highlight route) - Red Cloud Golden Summit challenge: Take the cable car up at 5 AM, climb the “One Line Sky” plank road (steep, wear anti-slip shoes), shoot the sea of clouds sunrise from the summit platform, holding hands and making wishes is very ceremonial. - Mushroom rock blessing: The billion-year-old mushroom rock symbolizes “love’s rock,” legend says wishes made here last long, remember to hang a blessing plaque. - Hidden route: Hike through the cotton wool ridge primeval forest, encounter squirrels, and enjoy the sea of clouds alone at the unmanned viewing platform; shooting Hanfu with a big skirt here is stunning. Food, accommodation, and transportation - Transportation: Take the high-speed train to Tongren South Station, transfer to the scenic direct bus (2 hours, 50 yuan per person); self-driving can park at East Gate parking lot for 10 yuan/day. Scenic area ticket + cable car combo is 210 yuan, book on Trip.com one day in advance to save 20 yuan. - Food: At the foot of the mountain, try Jiangkou rice tofu (with fish mint dipping sauce, 8 yuan per serving) and spicy stir-fried dried beef strips, paired with a bowl of rice wine to warm and stimulate appetite. - Accommodation: Mountain top tents (150 yuan per person) offer starry sky shots but bring thick jackets; at the foot, choose “Fanjing Mountain Academy” guesthouse, quaint and you can borrow Hanfu. Avoid pitfalls & ultimate photo tips 1. Outfit: Choose light-colored Hanfu (moon white, dark blue), accessorize with jade hairpins and sword props; for daily wear, cotton-linen long skirts with light cardigans blend well with the landscape. 2. Gear: Bring a portable tripod for time-lapse sea of clouds shots, have the “Xingtu” app for fairy filters on your phone, and a power bank is a must (shooting big scenes drains battery fast). 3. Timing: Best seasons for Jinyun Xiandu and Yunhe Terraces are spring and autumn (April-May for irrigation, October for golden fields); avoid rainy season (June-August) at Fanjing Mountain; choose sunny or cloudy days for higher sea of clouds chances. These 3 secret spots are not over-commercialized. The stone bridges in morning mist, terraces under starry skies, and golden summit in the sea of clouds are all waiting for you to unlock your exclusive fairy tale story. Save this guide and next trip, become a fairy stepping out of a painting!