Explore the Eastern Hubei Forest Oxygen Bar
Today, we have carefully crafted a 1-day, 1-night light outdoor micro-vacation guide for you at 🌲Zhaoshan Forest Park: "Hidden in the Woods · Whispering Oxygen Bar" 📍Eastern Hubei’s green lung|Natural oxygen bar|Wuhan’s “backyard” level secluded forest 💰 **Total budget controlled within 1000 RMB (per person)**, suitable for couples, families with children, students, and hiking enthusiasts! 📌Zhaoshan is not an ordinary suburban park—it is **an ecological gem in Liangzi Lake District, Ezhou City**, surrounded by lake on three sides, with over 90% forest coverage. The air negative ion concentration ranks among the top in Hubei all year round, known as "**the quietest mountain wilderness within a 1-hour circle of Wuhan**." Spend a day and a night with us to: ✅ hike primitive forest trails listening to birdsong and pine waves ✅ climb to the main peak of Zhaoshan to overlook the lush mountains ✅ stay overnight in a mountain homestay to watch the starry sky ✅ morning yoga/meditation to awaken body and mind ✅ taste authentic farmhouse dishes and enjoy a true “mountain flavor” The pace is relaxed and close to nature, completing a **low-cost, highly healing** forest therapy trip within a thousand-yuan budget.
📍
Destination Introduction - **Zhaoshan Forest Park**: Located in Zhaoshan Town, Liangzi Lake District, Ezhou City, Hubei Province - Provincial-level forest park|Free admission|Non-commercial scenic area - Core highlights: ✅ Main peak altitude about 400 meters, with panoramic views of the vast Liangzi Lake ✅ Ancient trees, streams, bamboo paths, and rich wild flora and fauna in the forest ✅ At the foot of the mountain, thousands of acres of rapeseed flower fields (spring) and lotus ponds (summer) ✅ Several eco-friendly farmhouses and boutique homestays nearby ✅ Only **80 km from Wuhan city center, about 1.5 hours by car** 📅 Best travel time: **All year round** - Spring (March–April): rapeseed flowers bloom, picturesque mountain scenery - Summer (May–August): shady and cool, perfect for escaping the heat - Autumn (September–November): colorful forests, pleasant climate - Winter (December–February): fewer people, quiet and suitable for solitude and reflection
🚗 Travel Suggestions|Economical and Efficient · Self-driving Preferred, Public Transport Alternative
✅ Recommended Transportation Options:
Plan One (Recommended): Self-driving - Wuhan → Zhaoshan Forest Park: about 80 km, highway + provincial road, **1.5 hours** - Round-trip toll fee about **60 RMB** - Estimated fuel cost (7L per 100 km): **100 RMB** - Free parking: available at the park entrance and some homestays ✅ Total self-driving cost: **160 RMB**
Plan Two (Public Transport): - Wuchang Railway Station → Taxi to [Gedian South Station] (High-speed rail station): about 20 RMB - Gedian South Station → High-speed train to [Ezhou Station]: ¥13, 15 minutes - Ezhou Station → Taxi to Zhaoshan Forest Park: about 60 RMB (no direct bus, requires carpool or arranged pickup) ❌ Total public transport cost: **about 93 RMB**, but time-consuming and inconvenient transfers, **not recommended**
📌 Blogger’s advice: **Strongly recommend self-driving** for flexibility, freedom, and ease of carrying luggage
🏡 Accommodation Recommendations|Stay Among the Woods · High Cost-Performance Choices
✅ Recommended: **Zhaoshan Yunqi Mountain Lodge Homestay** - Located halfway up the mountain, with forest views from the window and insect sounds at night - Host is a retired forestry engineer, offering free guided tours and forest knowledge sharing - Twin room with breakfast: **368 RMB/night** - Offers bonfire parties (weekends), outdoor movies, and a tea room reading area
💡 Alternative (More Budget-Friendly): - **Farmhouse near Liangzi Lake (at the foot of the mountain)**: standard room about **228 RMB/night**, simple but clean
📌 Blogger’s advice: Choose a **mountain homestay** for a stronger immersive experience and direct morning hiking access
📅 Itinerary|Leisurely Pace · Forest Therapy + Food + Mindfulness Experience
---
🌿 Day 1: First Encounter with Zhaoshan · Enter the Forest for Serenity
**🌅 Morning: 9:00 Depart Wuhan → Self-drive to [Zhaoshan Forest Park]**
- Recommended route: Qingzheng Expressway → Huyu Expressway → S239 Provincial Road → Zhaoshan Town
- Stop briefly at service areas along the way
🚶 Before noon: First stop|Start the [Zhaoshan Loop Hike] (highlight route)
Recommended route:
Park East Gate → Forest trail → Viewing platform → Main peak → descend west slope (about 5 km, 2.5 hours walking)
- Free admission! No ticket required
- Must-visit spots:
✅ **Listening to Wind Ridge**: pine waves rustling, close your eyes to feel the mountain breeze whisper
✅ **Ancient Camphor Tree King**: over 300 years old, gnarled branches
✅ **Viewing Platform**: overlook Liangzi Lake tributaries and pastoral scenery
✅ **Main Peak Summit**: stone stele “Zhaoshan Summit,” sea of clouds visible on clear days
📷 Blogger tips:
- Wear non-slip sports shoes! Some sections are slippery
- Bring your own water bottle and light snacks (no shops on the mountain)
- Download offline maps; some areas have no signal
🍽 Lunch: Second stop|Dine at [Old Zhaoshan Farmhouse] at the foot of the mountain
- Recommended dishes:
- Free-range chicken soup with chestnuts
- Braised reservoir fish (from nearby small reservoir)
- Stir-fried cured meat with wild bamboo shoots (spring seasonal)
- Handmade sweet potato noodles
✅ Per person: **50 RMB**
📌 Fun fact: Local ingredients are mostly home-grown and raised, truly “from farm to table.”
🌄 Afternoon: Third stop|Free activities (choose one)
✅ **Recommended A: Homestay tea room for reading or meditation**
- Free tea provided (honeysuckle tea, wild berry tea)
- Perfect for zoning out, journaling, or reading
✅ **Recommended B: Visit lotus ponds or rapeseed flower fields at the foot of the mountain** (seasonal)
- Golden flower seas in spring, lush green leaves in summer
- Great for photos
✅ **Recommended C: Cycling on surrounding rural roads**
- Homestay provides 2 free bicycles
- Leisurely ride along village roads to experience Eastern Hubei’s pastoral life
🍻 Dinner: Fourth stop|Homestay owner’s private feast
- Yunqi Mountain Lodge offers customized dinner:
- Braised mountain bamboo shoots with pork, firewood tofu pot, steamed glutinous rice lotus root
✅ Per person: **60 RMB**
🌌 Evening: Fifth stop|Bonfire party or stargazing night talk
- Bonfire area open on weekends for gathering and chatting around the fire
- Or sit alone on the terrace and gaze at the star-filled sky
- Very low light pollution in the mountains, Milky Way clearly visible
📸 Day 2: Morning Light Collection · Journey Home
**🌅 Early morning: 6:00 Wake up → Sixth stop|Morning exercise/yoga/photography on the mountain top**
- Recommended spots: Main peak viewing platform or Listening to Wind Ridge platform
- Early morning mist lingers, sunlight filters through the forest like a fairyland
- Do morning stretches or meditation to awaken your energy
🛍 Morning: Seventh stop|Buy souvenirs + Check out and return
🎁 Must-buy specialty list:
| Product | Recommended place | Price |
|------|----------|------|
| Wild honey (farmhouse produced) | Village homes at the foot of the mountain | 60 RMB/bottle |
| Dried wild bamboo shoots (vacuum packed) | Farmhouse | 35 RMB/bag |
| Handmade sweet potato noodles | Village entrance shop | 20 RMB/pack |
| Liangzi Lake lotus seeds | Specialty stalls | 25 RMB/can |
✅ Total spending controlled within: **100 RMB**
**🚗 Check out before 10:30 → Self-drive back to Wuhan**
💰 Total Budget Breakdown (per person)
| Item | Cost |
|------|------|
| Round-trip fuel + toll fees | 160 RMB |
| Accommodation (1 night mountain homestay) | 368 RMB |
| Meals (2 dinners, 1 breakfast + snacks) | 130 RMB |
| Emergency/insurance/souvenirs | 50 RMB |
| Souvenir shopping | 100 RMB |
| **Total** | **≈808 RMB** |
✅ Actual cost only **808 RMB**, leaving **192 RMB surplus** that can be used for:
- Upgrading dinner with a lake delicacy dish
- Buying an extra bottle of honey as a gift for elders
- Or joining the homestay’s herbal hiking activity next time
📸 Blogger Tips (Experienced Traveler Secrets):
- 📅 Best photo times: early morning 5:30–6:30|evening 17:00–18:00
- 🎒 Essentials: ID card, power bank, mosquito repellent (summer must-have!), headlamp (for night walks), sun hat, lightweight backpack
- ❤️ Couples must-do: Write a heartfelt message to each other at the main peak summit and bury it in a “time capsule” (service provided by homestay)
- 🧘♀️ Recommended experience: Join the homestay’s “forest meditation class” at 6:30 AM (free)
**True relaxation is not escaping the city, but entering a forest where no one disturbs you, letting the wind mess your hair, letting the soil stick to your shoes. When you hear a bird singing on a branch, you will understand what it means that ‘all things are silent like a mystery,’ and finally know why we always need a mountain to rest our weary souls.**