There is no snow in Shijiazhuang, but there is in Xinzhou

Including this time, I have been to Xinzhou three times. When spring came and flowers bloomed, I saw the solemnity and tranquility of Foguang Temple, and also learned about Luya Mountain, which feels like a paradise on earth. I was looking forward to going there again in summer or autumn, but I didn’t expect that the next time I went to Luya Mountain was in winter. [SnowFlake] Luya Mountain I saw several hiking routes across Luya Mountain and thought about giving it a try. But I didn't know much about the road conditions and hiking conditions there, and there were no guides, so I just tried it myself. I originally wanted to start hiking from Qiuqiangou Village or Madigou Village, but after entering Luya Mountain, the road surface of Xinwu Line starting from Zhiguoshi is covered with ice and snow. Ordinary cars are not allowed to try, and you will have to call for rescue if you slip. We stopped at Chashang Village and happened to meet a friend who was driving a Fangchengbao from Wuzhai County. He said that ordinary cars could not go forward because the snow was too thick. Fortunately, there is deep snow near Chashang Village, and the Fen River is in a glacial state, so you can get off the car and play for a while. As a result, I felt like I was freezing after playing for only 10 minutes. With this level of cold resistance, I still have to cross the Swing Ditch and go deep into the forest to step on the leg-covered powder snow. Hahahaha, I really overestimate myself. Luya Mountain is particularly beautiful in summer and autumn. There is a primeval forest and the scenic area is open. If you don't go into the scenic area, it's quite beautiful to just walk along the Wuba Line and Xinwu Line. There are rivers, forests, cattle, sheep, farmland and scattered villages along the road, some of which are no longer inhabited. Wuba Line: Wuzhai County - Bamenkou Village Xinwu Line: Xinzhou - Wuzhai County The starting point of Figures 2 and 3 is Wuzhai County, where accommodation and dining are relatively convenient. Dongzhai County in the middle of Luya Mountain Scenic Area is also relatively prosperous. You can stay in these two places in the summer. If you want to visit the ancient city, Yanmen Pass and Dai County, you can also stay in the ancient city. The map of our snow-playing is shown in Figure 4. We don’t know the road conditions on the Wuba Line, but we would always open the windows of the drivers we met on the road and tell them not to go any further, as the snow would get thicker and more difficult to drive on as we got closer to Wuzhai County. [SnowFlake]Fenhe Guancen Mountain and Luya Mountain are interconnected. The source of Fen River is in Guancen Mountain. Some scenic spots in Luya Mountain Scenic Area belong to Guancen Mountain, and some belong to Luya Mountain. A section of the Xinwu Line and Ningbai Line runs along the Fen River, and it must be even more beautiful in the summer. Near the ancient city of Ninghua, there is a gap (under repair) through which you can get a close view of the Fen River in winter (Figure 5). The upper reaches are all ice, and under the ice is a dark moving river. Near the ancient city of Ninghua, the water flow becomes stronger. On sunny days, the water is clear and green. My eldest brother said it is a bit like Xitaijinaier Lake. [SnowFlake] Xinzhou Ancient City This time there is a bit of New Year's flavor, especially the "hangings" on every restaurant outlet, which suddenly give me a childhood feeling. This is how we hung things during the Chinese New Year in our village decades ago, and it added a festive atmosphere. There are also paid lantern shows (on the city walls) and iron flower shows in Xinzhou Ancient City. We didn’t go to see them. If you want to go, it’s cheaper to buy tickets online in advance. There are also some light shows in the ancient city, and just strolling around will satisfy our needs. There aren’t many people, less than at the Zhengding city gate. There is also an interesting toy in Xinzhou Ancient City, the colored glass crackle. We bought one last time and it exploded and one came to life.