【Guyuan In-Depth Travel Guide|The Millennium Elegance of the Northwest Secret Realm】
🌄【Guyuan In-Depth Travel Guide|The Millennium Elegance of the Northwest Secret Realm】🌄
📍 Itinerary Overview
Guyuan, an ancient Silk Road city embraced by the Liupan Mountains, combines Danxia secret landscapes, grotto art, and the charm of Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall. A recommended 3-day, 2-night itinerary connects cultural and natural highlights:
🌅 Day 1: Grotto Buddhist Chants · Ancient City Life
In the morning, visit the "Xumishan Grottoes," where Northern Wei period Buddha niches are carved into the mountain, and the flying apsaras murals on red sandstone remain vivid after a thousand years. It’s best to arrive early to avoid crowds and stroll along the wooden plank road through 162 caves to experience the fusion of Silk Road civilizations.
At noon, enjoy "Jingyuan Steamed Chicken" at a farmhouse near the scenic area, where local chicken and potatoes are steamed together, and the meat juice seeps into the flatbread, giving off a fresh and fragrant aroma. In the afternoon, drive back to the city center for a free visit to the "Guyuan Museum," whose treasure, a gilded silver kettle, tells the legend of the ancient Persian kingdom.
In the evening, take a leisurely walk on "Dongyue Mountain," a famous Taoist mountain, to overlook the ancient city panorama. The sunset glow on the flying eaves and dougong brackets feels like a journey through time.
🏞️ Day 2: Danxia Secret Realm · Geological Wonders
Spend the whole day immersed in "Huoshizhai National Geopark," taking a sightseeing bus through the red peak forest. Challenge your courage on the Yuntai Mountain Glass Suspension Bridge (118 meters high), and snap photos in the white birch forest of Lover’s Valley. The deep autumn red leaves and Danxia cliffs create a picturesque scene, while summer offers cool shade and refreshing air.
For lunch, try "Yan Mian Rou Rou" inside the park, buckwheat noodles mixed with a sour and spicy sauce, paired with chive segments for a refreshing and appetizing taste. In the afternoon, explore the "Saozhuling Grottoes," where cliffside Buddha niches blend naturally with the Danxia landforms, showcasing the ancient wisdom of carving temples into mountains.
🌿 Day 3: Liupan Mountain Scenery · Canyon Seclusion
Early morning, drive to "Liupan Mountain National Forest Park" and hike along the 10-kilometer canyon trail. The streams in Xiaonanchuan are crystal clear, and the primeval forest in Liangdian Gorge is rich in negative oxygen ions. It’s recommended to experience the "Forest Oxygen Bar" plank road, listen to the pine waves and bird songs, and encounter wild forest musk deer.
In the afternoon, head to "Yanzhi Gorge," a 45-kilometer-long canyon with cascading waterfalls and hanging pines. In autumn, the red leaves stain the gorge like rouge, while summer offers creek tracing to cool off. Before heading back, don’t forget to pack "Longde Hot Pot," a homestyle flavor stewed with radish, vermicelli, and pork belly, warming both stomach and heart.
🍜 Food Map
- Must-try TOP 3: Hand-pulled lamb (served with onions to cut the grease), Yan Mian Rou Rou (sour and spicy with a chewy texture), Shengcuan Noodles (rich meatball broth).
- Hidden delicacy: Find a bowl of "Jiangshui Noodles" on "Guyuan Food Street," sour and appetizing, perfectly paired with fried dough sticks.
🏨 Accommodation Recommendations
- Quality Choice: Atour Hotel near Guyuan Museum (adjacent to the scenic area, with a full view of Guyan Mountain).
- Cost-effective Choice: Home Inn Business Hotel (convenient underground parking, walking distance to Food Street).
- Unique Experience: Farmhouse stays in Jingyuan County (mountain views from the window, authentic farmhouse cuisine).
⚠️ Pre-trip Tips
1. Climate: Average temperature in August is 15-25°C, with large temperature differences between day and night. Bring a light jacket and sun hat.
2. Transportation: Attractions are scattered; car rental or self-driving is recommended (navigation is accurate, but mountain roads require caution).
3. Culture: Pork is prohibited in Hui ethnic areas; remove shoes before entering mosques and ask permission before taking photos.
4. Tickets: Students and seniors enjoy half-price with ID; tickets for Xumishan and Huoshizhai include museum admission.
Guyuan, a city favored by time, holds stories in every brick and stone, and poetry flows in every mountain and river. Bring a heart of exploration and embark on a millennia-spanning journey through its landscapes! ✨