Daqi Village Two-Day One-Night Travel Guide

Explore the Secret of Mindong’s Peach Blossom Land: The Complete Two-Day One-Night Guide to Daqi Village, Encountering the “Cloud Fairy Residence” Hidden Deep in the Mountains If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of commercial ancient towns and want to find a truly “isolated” primitive village, then Daqi Village in the deep mountains of Pingnan County, Ningde, Fujian, is your next destination. There are no ticket offices, no chain stores here, only ancient covered bridges from the Tang and Song dynasties, thousand-year-old yew trees, layered terraced fields, and simple, honest smiles. As your exclusive travel blogger, this private guide will help you unlock this secret place unknown to 99% of tourists. Highlights of the Trip at a Glance A “Walking Bridge Museum”: Walk across Qiancheng Bridge, one of the longest wooden arch covered bridges in China, and experience ancient wisdom without a single nail or bolt. Immersive Farming Experience: Follow villagers down to the terraces and learn how to transplant rice seedlings and catch rice flower fish in the most traditional way. A Feast of Starry Sky and Sea of Clouds: At the viewing platform behind the village, encounter the purest starry sky in East China and the magnificent sea of clouds sunrise. Mountain Delicacies on the Tongue: Taste freshly picked bamboo shoots at dawn, mountain stream fish, and exclusive Wunian rice, experiencing zero-distance from field to table. Itinerary: Two Days and One Night of Slow Living Day 1: Cross the Covered Bridge, Stay in the Clouds Morning: Arrival and Initial Exploration Charter a car from Ningde city or Pingnan county town (about 1.5-2 hours, winding mountain roads, it’s recommended to contact a local driver in advance). The scenery along the way is picturesque with high mountain bamboo forests. Upon arrival at the village entrance, the first sight is the magnificent Qiancheng Bridge. Don’t rush to cross it; first, walk along the creek trail and take photos of this national treasure covered bridge and the reflection of green mountains and clear water from different angles. Afternoon: Stroll Through the Ancient Village and Handmade Experience Cross the bridge into the village, where the ground is paved with cobblestones forming the “Yellow Wine Alley” (rumored to have countless wine jars buried underneath). Wander freely and admire the old houses with yellow walls and gray tiles from the Ming and Qing dynasties, many door lintels still exquisitely carved. Visit the village’s handmade straw raincoat workshop (not a shop, requires a villager’s introduction). The master craftsman will teach you to weave a small piece of palm straw raincoat, the best travel souvenir. Rest at the old supply and marketing cooperative in the village center (now converted into a teahouse), drink a cup of local wild red tea brewed with mountain spring water, and chat with the elderly basking in the sun. Evening: Sunset and Starry Sky Head to the **“Wangxiantai”** on the west side of the village, the best spot to watch the sunset and the silhouette of distant mountains. If the weather is good, after dinner (there is almost no light pollution at night in the village), look up to see the Milky Way stretching across the sky, an incredibly stunning sight. Overnight: Recommended to stay at the village’s guesthouses converted from old houses, **“Yunqi Mountain Lodge” or “Langqiao Renjia”**. The conditions are simple but clean; open the window to see terraced fields and hear the sound of streams and frogs. Day 2: Sea of Clouds and Farming, Return Fully Loaded Early Morning: Sea of Clouds Sunrise (weather permitting) If it rained the day before, there is a high chance to see the sea of clouds early the next morning. Get up at 5 a.m. and go to the viewing platform on the mountain behind the village to watch the mist flood the valley like a sea, leaving only the peaks like islands, then the morning sun breaks through the clouds, shining brilliantly. Morning: Terraced Field Farming Experience After a simple farmhouse breakfast at the guesthouse (sweet potato porridge, homemade pickles, native eggs), contact the host to follow villagers to the terraces for hands-on experience. Activities vary by season: rice transplanting in spring, weeding in summer, harvesting in autumn, bamboo shoot digging in winter. This time we participated in releasing rice flower fish, barefoot in the cool paddy water, full of fun. Noon: Mountain Flavor Farewell Feast Be sure to try the local **“Eel and Wild Bitter Vegetable Soup”** (mountain stream eel with wild bitter vegetables, refreshing and detoxifying) and **“Wunian Leaf Glutinous Rice”** (steamed with juice from wild Wunian tree leaves, fragrant, soft, and purple). All ingredients are freshly picked that day, incredibly delicious. Afternoon: Leisurely Return Before leaving, visit the village’s small market (only open on weekend mornings) to buy dried bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, red yeast rice, and other mountain products at reasonable prices. Carrying a heart full of peace and a bag of mountain freshness, set off home satisfied. Travel Tips and Pitfall Avoidance Guide Transportation: Self-driving is the best choice; navigate to “Pingnan County Daqi Village.” If not driving, take a bus to Pingnan county town or Daixi town, then charter a car (one-way about 100-150 RMB). Mountain roads are winding; beginners should be cautious. Accommodation: The village has limited guesthouses (about 10), book 3-5 days in advance, and even earlier during peak seasons (May Day, National Day, summer weekends). Dining: There are no formal restaurants in the village; meals are usually provided by the guesthouse (about 60-80 RMB/person/day, reservation required). You can also bring some snacks. Gear: Mountain climate is changeable; bring a light jacket, rain gear, non-slip shoes, mosquito repellent, and flashlight. Photographers should bring a tripod and wide-angle lens. Respect and Environmental Protection: Most villagers are elderly; please be patient in communication. Take your trash with you to protect this pure land. Best Seasons: April to June (terraces filled with water like mirrors, azaleas bloom), September to October (golden rice, crisp autumn air). Winter is cold but offers the spectacular sight of snow on the covered bridge. Network: Mobile signal is decent, China Telecom is weaker; guesthouses generally have Wi-Fi, but be prepared for “semi-offline” and enjoy a true escape. Blogger’s Private Words Daqi Village is not a place for “checking in” but for “living a few days.” Here, time slows down so much that you can clearly see the changes of a cloud and hear the different segments of the stream. It may not have five-star comfort, but it will give you five-star emotions. When you leave, you take away not only photos but a memory of soil, starry sky, and human warmth. Final Reminder: After entering the village, try putting down your phone for a while and record with your eyes and heart. You will find the most beautiful scenery is not in the lens but in the moment you deeply resonate with this land.