Tianzu Mountain Forest Park Travel Diary

🌿 A Healing Day in Xiamen's Little Jiuzhaigou Today I finally visited Tianzu Mountain Forest Park, known as "Xiamen's Jiuzhaigou"! The mountains, forests, and lakes under the clear sky were breathtakingly beautiful. Every casual photo looks like a filtered "life photo." I must record this immersive travel guide! 🏨 Recommended Accommodation: Jinjiang Inn Plus Xiamen North Railway Station Jimei University Town Hotel - Location: The hotel is adjacent to Xiamen North Railway Station and Jimei University Town. It's only a 30-minute drive to Tianzu Mountain Forest Park, or you can take Metro Line 1 and transfer to Bus 805 (about 1 hour total), making transportation super convenient! - Stay Experience: ✅ Modern minimalist style rooms equipped with smart toilets, USB charging ports, and other thoughtful amenities. Lying in the soft bed after a tiring day is incredibly therapeutic. ✅ Daily breakfast includes Minnan specialties like Satay Noodles and Peanut Soup, perfect for fueling up before heading out! - Thoughtful Services: Free shuttle to Xiamen North Station, luggage storage, and travel route consultation - so tourist-friendly! 🌄 Itinerary: Enter from West Gate → Hike the Highlights 📍Starting Point: Tianzu Mountain West Gate - Transportation Tips: From the hotel, drive to "Tianzu Mountain West Gate Parking Lot" (free). Depart at 7:30 AM to arrive before 8:00 AM to avoid traffic. Public transportation option: take the bus directly from the hotel to "Tianzu Mountain Station." - Tip: Entering from the West Gate allows you to start the "light hiking + lake viewing" mode, perfect for those who want to take photos without getting too tired! 1. First Stop: Haoyue Lake - Just a 5-minute walk from the West Gate, the lake is like a jade embedded in the mountains, with sunlight sparkling on the ripples like scattered diamonds. - Photo Spots: ✅ Lakeside bench (wear light-colored clothes, with mountain reflections in the background for a great atmosphere!) ✅ End of the wooden walkway (look sideways toward the lake, capture the moment when your hair is blown by the wind). - Hidden Activity: Rent a transparent boat to float on the lake (30 yuan/30 minutes) for "person in a painting" style photos! 2. Second Stop: Epoxy Boardwalk - Walk along the lake to the boardwalk entrance, about 3 kilometers total, gentle and easy to walk, with dense forests and streams along the way. - Photo Spots: ✅ Boardwalk curves (use S-shaped composition, with the person standing in the middle against layers of greenery); ✅ Shallow stream (take off your shoes to wade in the water, capture jumping or splashing moments for dynamic photos!). - Surprise Encounter: Wild bayberry trees along the boardwalk (bearing fruit in June), remember to bring a small basket to pick a few! 🍃 Outfit and Equipment Recommendations - Outfit: Light-colored dresses/denim shorts + white T-shirt (contrasts beautifully with the green background), straw hat and canvas bag as accessories for better photos; - Shoes: Sneakers/sandals (the boardwalk is flat, but you need non-slip footwear for wading); - Essentials: Sun hat, sunglasses, small fan (it's shady in the forest, but midday sun is still strong), power bank (taking photos drains battery quickly!). - Hotel Tip: You can borrow folding cushions (for resting on the boardwalk) and mosquito repellent (forest essential) from the front desk! 🍽️ Lunch Arrangement: Local Flavors at the Foot of the Mountain & Dinner Recommendations - Lunch: Tianzu Mountain Forest Family Restaurant - Must-order dishes: Chicken pot (tender and flavorful), stir-fried dried bamboo shoots with meat (fresh mountain bamboo shoots are super tender), sweet potato leaves (fresh and crisp); - Average cost: About 60 yuan per person, enjoy your meal in the courtyard with cicada songs in the background! - Dinner: Visit Jimei University Town on your way back - 10-minute walk from the hotel to Dragon Boat Pool, recommended to try: ✔️ "Ajie Five Spice" on Shigu Road (crispy outside, tender inside Minnan snacks); ✔️ "Dashe Stage Satay Noodles" (rich broth with customizable toppings). 📌 Practical Tips Summary 1. Itinerary Options: - One-day tour: Check out from hotel → Spend the whole day at Tianzu Mountain → Return to hotel for luggage in the evening → Return via North Station; - Two-day tour recommendation: Day 1 Check in → Explore Jimei University Town + Dragon Boat Pool sunset; Day 2 In-depth tour of Tianzu Mountain. 2. Hotel Special Benefit: Get a "Tianzu Mountain Forest Park Parking Discount Voucher" when you check in (for self-driving guests only)! 3. Responsible Tourism: Trash bins are available along the streams. Please don't litter to protect the purity of "Xiamen's Little Jiuzhaigou"! 💫 Afterword Sitting in the return vehicle looking through photos, each frame seems to have captured spring's oxygen in the album. Staying at Jinjiang Inn Plus Xiamen North Railway Station Jimei University Town Hotel allowed me to quickly travel to and from the scenic area while immersing myself in Jiageng architecture and Minnan local culture - a perfect experience! Next time I want to try coming on a rainy day to see if Tianzu Mountain shrouded in clouds and mist looks even more like a fairyland. 📸 Today's life photos have been saved. Time to start planning your spring hiking + comfortable stay!