In Lishui, I found a secret realm forgotten by time

Shaoxing Self-Drive Journey to Southern Zhejiang: Every "Accidental Encounter" Is a Surprise from the Mountains and Waters Driving south from Shaoxing, I stepped into the landscape painting of southern Zhejiang. What I thought would be a routine trip was instead filled with surprises at every turn. On the first day, I arrived in Songyang County and wandered casually, only to accidentally discover the Shimenwei Covered Bridge. Standing by the bridge, the majestic yet tranquil atmosphere instantly enveloped me. The fatigue from the drive seemed to be quietly carried away by the flowing water beneath the bridge, leaving only a heart full of relaxation. On the second day, I made a special trip to the "Last Secret Realm of Jiangnan." Although the sky didn’t clear, the overcast weather gave this place a unique gentleness. In Yangjiatang Village, my fingertips brushed the time-worn texture of the yellow earth walls; in Songzhuang Village, leaning against an ancient bridge watching the creek flow slowly, time seemed to pause, leaving only the original peace and harmony, making it hard to break the silence. At dusk, I drove straight to Yunhe Terraces, first experiencing the ancient village charm at Kenggen Shizhai, then gazing at the mountain scenery from Qixingdun, and finally staying at a guesthouse beside the terraces, eagerly anticipating the morning light. At 5 a.m. on the third day, the moment I opened the guesthouse door, I was stunned—above me was the vast Milky Way, countless stars filling the night sky. Even my phone could clearly capture this romance, undoubtedly the greatest surprise of the trip. A 5-minute drive took me to the Jiuchu Yunhuan parking lot. I climbed a 15-minute trail to the viewing platform, and before the sunrise, I was amused by the "camera array" set up by photography enthusiasts. Originally hoping for the sunrise, I unexpectedly encountered a sea of clouds: mist swirling, villages appearing and disappearing like a secluded fairyland. The rolling sea of clouds and the thousand-year-old terraces echoed each other, playing a magnificent yet gentle symphony. Later, as the clouds dispersed, the entire scenic area was shrouded in thick fog, adding a touch of hazy beauty. Along this journey, from the lively ancient villages to the otherworldly terraced cloud seas, every unexpected "accidental encounter" became the perfect arrangement for this trip to southern Zhejiang.