You can avoid the crowds during holidays and visit relatively unpopular attractions in Liuzhou

While tourist buses carrying noisy crowds rushed to Ma'anshan, we found another way to explore Liuzhou along the clear waves of Liujiang River. At nine o'clock in the morning, I jumped on the silver hairpin-like water bus. The moment it docked at the pier of Yaobu ​​Ancient Town, the rhythm of the whole city was suddenly adjusted to 0.5 times the speed. Strolling along the riverside trail shaded by weeping willows, the artificial waterfalls shake off silver in the morning light, and the greenery of Panlong Mountain Park flows over the stone steps. After passing the curtain of aerial roots of the 23rd banyan tree, the vermilion screen wall suddenly comes into view - the Liujiang Confucian Temple stands quietly here, like a thread-bound book soaked by river water, quietly continuing the Confucian tradition during the reconstruction project in 2010. Although it is not an ancient building, the flying eaves and pointed corners contain hidden codes: the auspicious cloud pattern on the caisson of the Dacheng Hall hides the scale of Lu Ban's ruler, and the bronze bell in front of the Minglun Hall recites "The Analects of Confucius" in the river breeze. At noon, leaning against the white marble railing, you can see the cruise ships creating ripples on the river surface as Confucius gazed at it. In the distance, the viewing pavilion on the top of Jiahe Mountain perfectly frames the eaves and walls of the entire building complex. It is best to climb up to the observation deck on the west side of the Confucian Temple when dusk falls. When the lights on both sides of the river light up one after another, the golden glazed tiles of the Dacheng Hall cast a halo on the dark blue river surface, like a castle suspended in the sky. Now I understand why people in Liuzhou prefer to pray for literary fortune here - when the moonlight shines over the 128 coiled dragon pillars, even the river breeze carries the echo of bookish air. Tips: It is recommended to combine the Confucian Temple with Panlongshan Park and Yaobu ​​Ancient Town into a full-day slow tour route. Water bus line 3 goes directly to Yaobu ​​Pier (operating hours: 6:30-18:00), the Confucian Temple lights up from about 19:00 to 22:00, and it takes 15 minutes to climb the mountain to reach the Jiahe Mountain Observation Deck.