3h direct from Shanghai! Early winter adventure in Hualong Village, encounter waterfall terraces and healing in the ancient Zhejiang East trail

Early winter in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai hides a stunning hiking secret—Hualong Village, Fenghua, Ningbo. Here, bluestone paths run through the village, Longtan Waterfall sprays like pearls and jade, layered terraces stretch as far as the eye can see, and the bamboo forest sanctuary is quiet and healing. The 6-km easy hiking route is super friendly for beginners! If you want to escape the city and immerse yourself in mountain romance for a day, keep this practical guide! --- 📍 Transportation Plan: Multiple options, easy to reach · Self-driving (recommended): Navigate directly to "Hualong Village Visitor Center." About 3 hours from Shanghai, free parking at the village entrance, start hiking right after parking. About 2 hours from Hangzhou, about 2.5 hours from Suzhou. · High-speed train + bus: From Shanghai, take the high-speed train to "Fenghua Station," then transfer to bus "Fenghua Route 230," which goes directly to Hualong Village stop. --- 🚶‍♀️ Hiking Route: 6 km loop, no pressure for beginners · Route overview: About 6 km total, hiking takes about 3 hours (including photo breaks), moderate difficulty, no steep slopes, clear path, very suitable for beginner hikers, families with children, and photography enthusiasts. · Highlights along the way: · Ancient village exploration: Walk on the bluestone-paved Zhejiang East ancient village, feel the time-honored Ming and Qing architecture and millennium-old trees. · Longtan Waterfall: Enjoy the 20-meter drop waterfall, the sound of water flowing, full of negative ions, a perfect photo spot. · Terrace viewing: Reach the mountaintop viewing platform, overlook the layered terraces, early winter light and shadow interplay, every shot is wallpaper-worthy. · Bamboo forest sanctuary: Pass through a bamboo forest, the wind moves the leaves, naturally noise-cancelling, calming and healing your mood. --- 💰 Budget Details (per person in RMB) · Transportation costs: · Self-driving: Fuel + toll about 250 RMB (split among 4 people per car, about 63 RMB per person) · High-speed train + bus: Round trip Shanghai to Fenghua high-speed train about 200 RMB, bus about 10 RMB · Food and drink: 50 RMB (no shops inside Hualong Village, bring your own drinking water and energy snacks, recommend at least 1.5L water per person) · Equipment cost: 0 RMB (basic sports shoes and a light backpack suffice, no entrance fee) · Total per person: about 120-260 RMB (depending on transportation choice, excellent cost performance!) --- 💡 Helpful Tips 1. Safety first: Some stone steps may be mossy, be sure to wear non-slip hiking shoes for safety. 2. Supply reminder: No shops in the village, bring enough drinking water (recommend at least 1.5L per person) and energy snacks (such as nuts, energy bars). 3. Eco-friendly travel: Please bring your own trash bags, practice leave-no-trace hiking, and help protect this rustic sanctuary. 4. Best season: Early winter from October to November is a great time to visit Hualong Village to enjoy unique mountain scenery. --- 📸 Recommended photo spots · In front of Longtan Waterfall: Use slow shutter to capture silky water flow effect, great atmosphere for photos with the waterfall. · Terrace viewing platform: Use the layered terraces as background for silhouette portraits or scenic views. · Bamboo forest path: Capture dappled light through bamboo leaves, creating a tranquil atmosphere. · Bluestone ancient path: Low-angle shots of walking feet highlight the historical charm of the ancient path. "The 6-km mountain trail connects the natural texture and farming civilization of Zhejiang East, walking the thousand-year-old path, seeing waterfall terraces, leaving worries behind step by step." This early winter, bring this guide and head to Hualong Village to unlock a healing hiking journey!