Exploring Xianju Mountain in Shifang | A Hidden Hiking Paradise Near Chengdu

🤗 Hey, girls! I just got back from Xianju Mountain in Shifang and I can't wait to share my experience! I discovered an amazing hiking trail! Few people, many flowers, and it's free. Plus, it's only a 1.5-hour drive away, perfect for lazy people like me! It's a spring treasure!! 🌸 Here are the highlights: 1️⃣ Wild cherry blossoms are in full bloom all over the mountain!!! Pink and white petals flutter down in the ancient tea forest. I got goosebumps while walking (happy ones!). 2️⃣ I stumbled upon a 300-year-old tea tree king 🌳. Its trunk is thicker than my waist. Standing under it felt like traveling through time. 3️⃣ The viewing platform at the summit is incredible!! It happened to be a clear day, and I could see the snow-capped mountain peaks rising above the sea of clouds 🏔️. I screamed on the spot. 4️⃣ Great for families with kids! There are the remains of Li Bing's water management project. My kid kept asking me, "Mommy, is the Yuzui Dam a shark's mouth?" 😂 🚗 Directions for lazy people: ▫️ Navigate directly to "Shifang Yangcun Ancient Village" (free parking!). ▫️ The 7km loop trail brings you right back to the starting point. It's super friendly for beginners/families with kids. I completed it in canvas shoes 👟. 💡 Helpful tips: ✨ There's a grandma selling fried potatoes at the foot of the mountain! 5 yuan for a big bowl. It's super satisfying to have some before hiking 🥔. ✨ Wait for the clouds to clear at the viewing platform for photos! We waited for 20 minutes, and it was worth it when we saw the snowy mountains (remember to bring a jacket, it's windy up there!). ✨ There are no restrooms on the trail! But there are restrooms at the starting point in the ancient village and at the study center at the end 🚾. I checked, and they're clean. ✨ The cherry blossoms will last until the end of March, so this weekend is the perfect time to go!! 👣 My personal route: Yangcun Ancient Village → Hike up the mountain under a shower of cherry blossoms → Breathe in the fresh air of the ancient tea garden → Visit the century-old pear trees at Li'erping → Take photos of the snowy mountains from Yunying Ancient Road → Look for squirrels in the Wild Boar Forest → Learn about history at the Li Bing Memorial Hall (4 hours in total, including sightseeing and photo ops). ⚠️ Lessons learned: ❌ Don't wear light-colored shoes! The last 1km in the Wild Boar Forest is a muddy path (don't ask me how I know 😭). ❌ There's no cell service on the mountain! Download the trail map in advance on "Liang Bu Lu." Search for "Xianju Mountain Loop." ✅ Bring hiking poles! Some of the stone paths are mossy. My friend almost slipped. 🎁 Hidden surprise: Check in at 5 spots at the study center on weekends to get a small gift! We got a Li Bing water management postcard, and my kid treasured it 😂. Trust me, girls!! This place is so much better than crowded tourist spots. We only saw 3 other groups of people on the weekend. We had the entire mountaintop, cherry blossoms, and tea fragrance to ourselves. We were saying "wow" the whole time!! Save this guide and go before it gets popular!! 🌸👭🏻