[2025 Ningbo Attraction] Travel Guide for Jiulongyuan Sceneic Area (Updated Oct)

“Jiulong Lake Ecological Park | In the green wilderness of western Hangzhou, encounter a lake of clear water, a thousand-year-old ancient path, and the breath of the forest”--- > “It’s not in Qiandao Lake, nor in Jiuzhaigou, > but hidden deep in the mountains at the border of Yuhang and Lin’an in Hangzhou— > a lake lying like a dragon, winding through nine bends, > water so clear it reflects the clouds, > when the wind blows, the whole forest whispers.” **Jiulong Lake Ecological Park** (also known as "**Phoenix Lake · Jiulongyuan Scenic Area**") is located in Huanghu Town, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, about 60 kilometers from downtown Hangzhou. It is a hidden oasis integrating **pristine lakes, stream canyons, bamboo forest ancient paths, and wild flora and fauna**. Here, there is no commercial hustle, no glass walkways, and no crowded crowds, only: ✅ 9.8 square kilometers of pure water area ✅ 20 kilometers of hiking loops ✅ thousand-year-old Wu-Yue ancient path remains ✅ records of the nationally protected second-class animal, the Silver Pheasant. It is the “back garden” privately treasured by Hangzhou locals and the “Little Jiuzhaigou of Jiangnan” in the hearts of urban escapees.--- 🕰 Suitable for: - Hiking & light adventure enthusiasts 🥾 - Nature observers (bird watching/insect watching/plant identification) 🦉🌿 - Photographers (morning mist over the lake, forest light and shadow) 📷 - Families with children (nature education) 👨‍👩‍👧 - Meditation and healing seekers (sit quietly listening to the wind, forest bathing) 🧘 ⚠️ Not recommended: elderly, young children, or those with weak physical strength to challenge the core wild trail sections 🗓 Best travel time: | Season | Recommendation | Features | |------|--------------|----------| |✅ **Spring (March–May)** |⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐| New green sprouts, azaleas bloom, abundant streams | |✅ **Autumn (September–November)** |⭐⭐⭐⭐☆| Clear skies, colorful forests, pleasant climate | |⚠️ **Summer (June–August)** |⭐⭐⭐| Good for cooling off and water play, but many mosquitoes and occasional thunderstorms | |❌ **Winter (December–February)** |⭐⭐| Some sections slippery and closed, scenery monotonous | 📌 Suggested itinerary: **One-day light hike (4–6 hours) or half-day leisure tour**--- 🚗 How to get there? Self-driving (highly recommended) - Navigate to: "**Jiulong Lake Ecological Park Entrance**" or "Qingshan Village, Huanghu Town" - Route example: Hangzhou departure → Hangchang Expressway → exit at Pingyao → turn to S207 provincial road → Huanghu Town → Qingshan Village direction - About 1.5 hours total, winding mountain roads, please drive carefully 🅿️ Parking info: - Main parking lot next to **Qingshan Village Visitor Center**, fee ¥10 per visit - Parking spaces are tight on holidays, recommend arriving before 8:00 AM Public transportation (less convenient) - Metro Line 16 to [Yuhang Road Station] → taxi about 30 minutes to Qingshan Village (around ¥40) - Or take Yuhang Bus Route 451 to "Huanghu Bus Station" → transfer to local minivan into the village (no fixed schedule) 🏞 Core activities | Four must-experience natural adventures 1. 【Walk the “Jiulong Lake Loop Trail” · Stroll above the clear waves】🚶‍♂️ - About **8 kilometers** total, 3–4 hours, moderate difficulty - Divided into three sections: 🔹 **Starting section (Qingshan Village entrance – First Bay)**: flat wooden boardwalk, family-friendly 🔹 **Middle section (Longjiling – Lake Viewing Platform)**: stone steps uphill, wide views 🔹 **Final section (Dense forest crossing – return)**: original dirt path, full of wild charm 🎯 Photo spots recommended: - Lake heart peninsula reflections (best on windless mornings) - Bamboo forest light and shadow tunnel (afternoon sunlight slanting) - High-altitude viewing platform overlooking the whole lake (shaped like a “Z” dragon body) 📸 Photography tips: - Use a polarizing filter to reduce water surface glare - Drone photography must comply with no-fly zone regulations (some areas restricted)--- 2. 【Explore the “Thousand-Year Wu-Yue Ancient Path” · Follow the footsteps of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms】👣 - Said to be created by King Qian Liu of the Wu-Yue Kingdom, with a history of a thousand years - Existing bluestone path about 3 kilometers long, mossy and entwined with vines 🔥 Cultural trivia: - This was once a branch of the “Hanghui Ancient Road,” connecting Hangzhou and Anhui - Along the way, remnants of Song Dynasty cliff inscriptions can be seen (guide recommended) 📌 Tips: - Recommended to enter with local villagers (for safety and cultural explanation) - Do not rub or touch cultural relics without permission--- 3. 【Experience a “Forest Blind Listening” · Close your eyes and listen to nature’s symphony】🎧 This was my most unforgettable experience at Jiulong Lake—find a clean rock to sit on, put on a blindfold, and listen quietly for ten minutes: 🔊 What did I hear? - The rustling of wind through bamboo leaves - The tinkling of distant streams hitting stones - The calls of silver-eared mesia in the treetops - The light sound of squirrels jumping over dry branches - My own breathing and heartbeat > “True tranquility is not the absence of sound, > but that you finally choose to stop and listen.” --- 4. 【Check in at “Qingshan Art Village” · The collision of contemporary aesthetics and local culture】🎨 - Located at the park entrance, **Qingshan Village** is China’s first “Natural Good Neighbor” pilot village - The **Integrated Design Library**, converted from an abandoned primary school, houses thousands of traditional Chinese materials - The village has several designer guesthouses, handmade workshops, and organic cafes ✨ Must-visit landmarks: | Name | Feature | |------|---------| | **Qingshan Living Room** | Community public space, tea and reading available | | **LOKAL Coffee** | Yunnan beans brewed with mountain spring water, aromatic | | **Nature School** | Offers parent-child nature courses (reservation required) | | **Bamboo Weaving Workshop** | Experience intangible cultural heritage bamboo craft | 📌 Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed Mondays)--- 🍽 Dining guide | Taste the authentic flavors from the wild Since there are no large restaurants inside the park, it is recommended to choose from the following options: ✅ Recommended ways: 1. **Bring your own picnic**: enjoy on designated lawn areas (please take your trash with you) 2. **Farmhouse experience**: - "**Qingshan Renjia**": specializes in native chicken stew, dried bamboo shoots with pork, wild vegetable omelets - "**Streamside Bistro**": built by the stream, dine while watching the flowing water 3. **Light meals and snacks**: - LOKAL Coffee offers sandwiches, bagels, handmade cakes 💰 Reference prices: - Farmhouse main meals ¥60–80 per person - Café light meals ¥30–50 per serving--- 🏡 Accommodation recommendations | Spend a gentle night in the mountains For a deeper experience, stay overnight at nearby boutique guesthouses: | Name | Style | Features | Price Range | |------|-------|----------|-------------| | **Qingshan Pusu** | Minimalist wabi-sabi style | Floor-to-ceiling windows facing mountains, private hot spring bath | ¥900–1300/night | | **Inside Outside Village** | Old house renovation | Retains rammed earth walls, strong artistic atmosphere | ¥600–800/night | | **Between Streams and Mountains** | Mountain wooden house | Window views of bamboo forest, excellent soundproofing | From ¥700/night | **Linked travel suggestions**: - **Jingshan Temple** (40-minute drive): Zen ancestral temple, tea culture holy site - **Shuangxi Rafting** (50 minutes): cool summer choice - **Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins Park** (1 hour): explore 5,000 years of civilization--- > Sit quietly at Jiulong Lake at dusk, > and you will suddenly understand: > Ecological means > not to be far from humans, > but to teach us to humbly > enter the life rhythm of this land. > When you see a leaf drifting away with the current, > hear a bird flying over the treetops, > at that moment, > you are no longer a conqueror, > but a gentle passerby > in this vast green expanse. --- I am Deepseek, a nature wanderer who always believes “the best scenery is often hidden where navigation can’t reach.” 🌲 Once in a lifetime, may you stand on the viewing platform at the end of the lake bay one morning, watch the mist slowly rise, hear the first ray of sunlight fall on the water’s surface, and at that moment, you finally understand: healing is nothing more than — giving yourself back to nature and letting the wind tell you that you are still alive, and living so vividly. Jiulong is silent, yet it tells the secrets of the earth. In the northwest corner of Hangzhou, there lies a breathing green land.

⛱️Must-visit spots: Xiangshan Teaching Temple, Sidie Waterfall 🌄Travel guide: Start from Xiangshan Teaching Temple, hike uphill through bamboo forests, pass by Fojisi Temple, then descend past Shangyao Pond and Sidie Waterfall to reach Jiulongyuan Visitor Center. 🏨Accommodation tips: Depart from Shanghai in the evening and stay at Cixi Guanhaiwei New Century Hotel. It's a 40-minute drive to Xiangshan Teaching Temple. 💗Other tips: The mountain hike is about 5 kilometers, and the bamboo forest paths can be quite slippery.

Transportation • Self-driving: Use your mobile phone navigation to the parking lot of Ningbo Jiulong Lake Tourist Resort Visitor Service Center, which is about 40 minutes’ drive from the city center. • Bus: Take bus lines 379, 965, 381, 384, 385, etc. to Jiulonghu Bus Station and walk to the destination after getting off. Attractions • Jiulongyuan Scenic Area: It is the source of the water of Jiulong Lake. It mainly features waterfalls and streams, and has attractions such as the "Source" cliff carving, Jiulongyuan Stele Building, and Jiulong Four-fold Waterfall. • Monkey Island: It takes about 10 minutes to get there by boat from Jiulong Lake Cruise Terminal. There are many naughty and cute monkeys on the island. • Dome Theater: Built with high-tech equipment, it allows the audience to experience the wonderful scene effects such as the stars in the universe, natural landscapes, etc. • Lakeside Scenic Area: The lakeside scenic area is built on the mountain, with a total length of 5.8 kilometers. Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains as well as the surrounding cultural landscapes. • Xiangshan Temple: Located at the junction of Ningbo Zhenhai and Cixi, with its back against Dapeng Mountain and facing Jiulong Lake, the temple is built in the Tang Dynasty style. There are not many tourists. You can burn incense and pray in front of the Yuantong Hall. Food Recommendations • Fried rice cake with crab: a Ningbo specialty, the crab meat is fresh and tender, and the rice cake is soft and glutinous, the two complement each other. • Yellow croaker wrapped in bean curd skin: Debone the fresh yellow croaker, wrap it in bean curd skin and deep-fry it. The skin is crispy and the fish meat is tender and juicy. • Snow vegetable and yellow croaker: The salty fragrance of snow vegetable and the deliciousness of yellow croaker blend together. The fish meat is tender and the soup is rich, which goes well with rice. Accommodation options • New Century Ningbo Jiulong Lake Resort: Beautiful environment, complete facilities, spacious and comfortable rooms, beautiful mountain and water views, and a variety of entertainment activities such as swimming, singing, chess and cards. Tour route planning • One-day tour route: Arrive at Jiulong Lake Tourist Resort in the morning, first go to the lakeside scenic area and enjoy the lake and mountain scenery along the lakeside road; taste local food nearby at noon; visit Jiulongyuan Scenic Area in the afternoon to experience the natural scenery; go to Xiangshan Temple in the evening to feel the tranquil atmosphere in the ancient temple and enjoy the beautiful sunset. • Two-day tour route: After arriving in the morning of the first day, visit Monkey Island and the Dome Theater. In the afternoon, enjoy leisure time at the resort, such as swimming, fitness, etc.; in the evening, taste delicious food at the resort and participate in activities such as bonfire parties. On the second day, we followed the one-day tour route to visit the lakeside scenic area, Jiulongyuan scenic area and Xiangshan Temple.

Navigation: Jiulong Lake Xiangshan Teaching Temple, there is free parking on both sides of the intersection, and there are some free areas inside the scenic spot A small loop, a leisure experience Impressions of this place: The cicadas are noisy in the forest, yet it is tranquil, and the birdsong makes the mountains even more serene The summer style is exceptionally cool! Jiulong Lake Scenic Area is located within the territory of Jiulong Lake Town, Zhenhai District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, south of Dapeng Mountain. It includes four reservoirs: Jiulong Lake Reservoir, Xiaodongao Reservoir, Langjiaping Reservoir, and Sanshendian Reservoir, which are the drinking water sources for Zhenhai District and a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The surrounding peaks are like eyebrows, and the green ridges wind; the lake's azure waves are like a mirror, with the misty shadows hanging upside down. The sparkling blue sky blends with the green trees and tall bamboo, creating an extremely charming scenery. On the north side of the lake, Jiulong Mountain stands tall and upright, with nine peaks and nine ridges side by side, resembling nine dragons lying on the ground, stretching for miles. The names of Jiulong Mountain and Jiulong Lake both derive from this. There is a poem that describes the scenery of Jiulong Mountain and Jiulong Lake: 'Nine dragons coil around the green mountains, with pine and bamboo reflecting the azure waves.' To the northeast of the lake is Dapeng Mountain, also known as Dapeng Mountain, with an altitude of 315 meters. The mountain is rugged, with precipitous cliffs and rocks, and from the summit, one can overlook the East Sea. The whole journey is about 6 kilometers and takes approximately 2 hours

The total length of the scenic walking trails is about 2.5 kilometers. It features several attractions including the 'Yuan' character cliff carving, Jiulongyuan Stele Pavilion, Taiping Bridge, Jiulong Four-tiered Waterfall, Upper and Lower Yao Pools, Dragon Vein, Divine Bell Rock, Immortal's Ancient Path, Golden Toad Listening to Buddha, Vajra Platform, and Lower Buddha's Trace.