Yixing Slow Travelogue | Poetic Dwelling Amidst Mountains and Rivers, A Healing Weekend Trip

This small city embraced by Taihu Lake truly captivated my aesthetic! Bamboo forests, caves, ancient temples, and the everyday life filled with the aroma of Zisha teapots – a two-day, one-night weekend trip perfectly planned! 🌿Must-visit attractions: ▫️Shanjuan Cave (Zhangzhu Town, Yixing City): It's like stepping into an ancient fantasy world. The 1.5-million-year-old stalactites are especially dreamy under the lights. Remember to bring a jacket, as it's quite cool inside the cave. ▫️Longbeishan Forest Park (Yicheng Town, Yixing City): After reaching the summit, you can overlook the entire city. The tea plantation on the mountainside is incredibly photogenic. ▫️Dongpo Academy (Dingshu Town, Yixing City): The site where Su Dongpo bought land to plant oranges, where the spirit of literati is hidden amidst the black tiles and grey bricks. ▫️Yunhu Scenic Area (Xizhu Town, Yixing City): The egrets returning to their nests in the evening are truly spectacular! It's recommended to check the bird-watching times in advance. 🏺Special experiences: ▪️Learn to make Zisha teapots with a master craftsman on Shushan Ancient South Street (Ancient South Street, Dingshu Town). For 200 yuan, you can experience throwing clay. ▪️Pick tea leaves by hand at Yangxian Tea Plantation (Hufu Town). If you come in April, you can also catch the Tea Picking Festival. ▪️Eat Haitang Gao (crabapple cake) in Zhoutie Ancient Town (Zhoutie Town Old Street). The freshly made sesame filling by the old lady will burst in your mouth. 🍵Food recommendations: ▫️Zhou Zhen Wontons (Jiefang East Road, Yixing City): Thin-skinned, generously filled "bubble" wontons served with duck blood vermicelli soup. ▫️Black Rice (various farmhouses): Steamed glutinous rice dyed black with Nanzhu leaves, incredibly fragrant. ▫️Xushe Crispy Candy (Xushe Town Old Street): Decades-old traditional craftsmanship, absolutely perfect with Yangxian Xueya tea. 🚗Transportation Tips: High-speed rail from Shanghai/Nanjing takes 1.5 hours directly. It's recommended to take a taxi between attractions (most can be reached within 30 minutes). If you stay in Dingshu Town, you can even see the wisps of smoke from the kiln factories firing Zisha in the morning and evening.