Just got back from Yongzhou, and I'm gonna be brutally honest...

The July breeze in Yongzhou carries the poetic charm and lively vibes of Xiaoxiang🌿 Yongzhou, a historic city in southern Hunan where the Xiao and Xiang rivers converge. With average July temperatures around 28°C, it's slightly cooler than Changsha! Here you'll find the Eight Scenes of Yongzhou described by Liu Zongyuan, ancient villages dating back millennia, and wilder southern Hunan delicacies that outshine Changsha's stinky tofu. 📅 Two-day whirlwind itinerary (Xiaoxiang style - leisurely yet addictive) Day1 ☀️ Morning: Head straight to [Liu Zongyuan Temple] to experience the Yongzhou atmosphere depicted by this Tang-Song literary giant (free admission!). The adjacent Yuxi Riverbank is perfect for photos with its lush, cooling shade. 🍜 Lunch: Must-order Yongzhou Blood Duck at "Old Yongzhou Blood Duck Restaurant"! Tender duck meat with fragrant yet mild chili peppers - you'll clean your plate with rice. 🌆 Evening: [Lingling Ancient Town] night views are breathtaking! Cobblestone paths with lanterns make perfect hanfu photo ops, and street-side iced jelly is the ultimate summer cooler. Day2 🌄 Morning: Time-travel at [Shangganling Ancient Village] - the best-preserved Ming-Qing era village where every snapshot looks like a National Geographic spread (free admission!). 🥘 Lunch: Try Yongzhou rice noodles at "Heting Rice Noodles" - handmade noodles with pickled beans in broth so delicious you'll drink it all. 🌃 Evening: Stroll along [Xiao River] enjoying the breeze and finger-licking good crayfish at the night market. Must-visit checklist ✅ Liu Zongyuan Temple: Free millennium-old site for literature lovers ✅ Lingling Ancient Town: Cobblestone streets + hanfu experience, night views surpassing Fenghuang ✅ Shangganling Ancient Village: Free ancient village where every photo looks magazine-worthy ✅ Xiao River Night Market: Crayfish + cold beer - southern Hunan nightlife at its best ✅ Yongzhou Snake Village (not for faint hearts): Unique snake wine/products for the curious 🏨 Accommodation 🔹 Xiaoxiangyi Hotel: Next to Lingling Ancient Town with traditional decor + smart toilets 🔹 Shangganling Homestay: Sleep in a millennium-old village with window views of streams 🚌 Transportation ✔️ High-speed rail + taxi: From Changsha South Station to Yongzhou Station, then 15-min taxi ✔️ Bus: Take Route 13 directly to Liu Zongyuan Temple (drivers are super helpful) 💢 Pain points: July mosquitoes are vicious! Ancient villages lack AC - bring repellent or become human popsicles 💡 Tips ▪️ Bargain for boat rides at Yuxi River near Liu Zongyuan Temple ▪️ Visit Shangganling at dawn for fewer crowds and beautiful light ▪️ Lingling Ancient Town peaks at 8PM - arrive early 🍜 Yongzhou foodie guide 1️⃣ Yongzhou Blood Duck: Tender meat with aromatic chili - 3 bowls of rice guaranteed 2️⃣ Yongzhou Rice Noodles: Handmade noodles with pickled beans in drinkable broth 3️⃣ Iced Jelly: Mint + brown sugar + haw flakes (¥5 summer essential) 4️⃣ Dong'an Chicken: Sour-spicy tender chicken that melts in your mouth 5️⃣ Snake Wine: Adventurous eaters only (allegedly very tonic) 💰 Two-day budget Stay: ¥200/night ×1 Eat: ¥150/day ×2 Activities: Mostly free (boating ~¥30) Extras: Night market snacks ¥80 + drinks ¥50 💸 Total ~¥630: Can go cheaper but don't skimp on food! This city is like iced jelly - seems plain at first but grows on you! Yongzhou in July: ancient village cicadas beat AC rooms, Xiao River breezes with crayfish instantly cure all blues.