[Xichang Anti-Crowd Guide] A Local Friend Taught Me How to Enjoy the May Day Holiday

Recently, many friends have asked me where to go during the May Day holiday to avoid the crowds. Xichang is a small city that is especially suitable for lazy people who don't want to make plans. As a frequent traveler who has been there four times in three years, I'd like to share some real experiences and details. 🌊Relaxing Ways to Play by Qionghai Lake ▫️Don't squeeze onto the main beach at Jinlin Beach to watch the sunset! Enter from the Walnut Village entrance and walk along the wooden boardwalk for 15 minutes to take over the entire coconut grove. The last time I was here, I met a young man playing the guitar, singing "Rice Shop" to the sunset, which was especially atmospheric. Remember to bring a picnic cloth to spread under the tree, and it's super cozy to eat freshly picked strawberries while waiting for the sunset. ▫️There are almost no people on Yinlin Beach before 10am. It's great for taking photos with a folding camping chair. But be aware that the sand is very soft, and your sandals will be filled with it. ▫️Don't squeeze onto the viewing platform at Diaoyutai to watch the sunrise. Walk 200m to the left and there is a stone pier extending into the water. I took a silhouette of a seagull flying over my head here, and the reflection in the water was as beautiful as an oil painting. Remember to bring a thermos with hot milk tea, the lake breeze in the early morning is really biting. 🏯How to Visit the Ancient City and Ancient Towns ▫️The best time to go to Jianchang Ancient City is 5pm, when the sunset turns the city gate tower into a honey color. There is an old shop selling bamboo weaving at the foot of the city wall, and the proprietress taught me how to weave grasshoppers by hand. ▫️Lingying Temple in Dashiban Village has a pottery workshop hidden in the side alley. The master craftsman taught me how to make Yi-style teacups by hand. He didn't mind the mud splashing on my apron, but said, "It's worth taking some mud back with you as a souvenir." ⛰️Private Spots Hidden by Locals ▫️Don't rush down the mountain after getting off the Lushan cable car. Walk 200m towards Guangfu Temple and there is a wild path. I met a little squirrel gnawing on a pine cone here. It wasn't afraid of people at all, and squatted on a rock and stared at me for half a minute. ▫️It is recommended to go to Xingyue Lake on a cloudy day. The gray sky makes the palm trees look more cinematic. Remember to wear bright clothes. My last time's daffodil yellow shirt stood out especially well in the photos. 🍢Food Recommendations ▫️To eat barbecue, go to the mobile stalls in the old residential area, and look for the charcoal stoves with Yi patterns. Follow the aroma to find a tricycle stall, and the grilled small intestines are only fragrant when they are charred and bubbling with oil. ▫️Liangshan burgers are actually grilled potatoes from roadside stalls. Ask the aunt to add more Houttuynia cordata and homemade chili sauce. The pushcart stall you meet at the entrance of Moon Valley Winery is the most delicious. The potatoes are grilled until the skin is wrinkled and especially flavorful. 🚴♀️Transportation Tips ▫️Choose an electric scooter that can run 80 km, it's so free to stop and take pictures along the lake. Once I got lost in the Wetland Park, and I only found my way out by following an old woman riding a grocery shopping bike. The most comfortable thing here is not having to rush to scenic spots. Wake up in the morning by the sunshine and go to Qionghai Lake for a walk, watching the old men practicing calligraphy with brushes dipped in lake water. In the afternoon, tease the cats in the ancient town's teahouse. The orange cat raised by the owner will take the initiative to jump on your lap and purr. Before returning, I made a special detour to the vegetable market and bought two pounds of cherries with morning dew. The child sitting next to me on the high-speed train stared at them eagerly, so I gave her a handful. The mother thanked me repeatedly and said, "We'll go to Xichang next time too." Suddenly, I felt that perhaps the best souvenir of a trip is being able to bring this leisurely mood home.