Chuzhou Summer Travel Guide | A Poetic Rendezvous with Mountains and Waters in July-August!
"Surrounded by mountains on all sides"—Chuzhou, as depicted by Ouyang Xiu, hides a vibrant landscape painting of the Yangtze River Delta🌳! In July and August, the mountains are lush with greenery, the Langya Stream murmurs, and the Flying Eaves of the Zuiweng Pavilion catch the summer rain (adding poetic charm). The ancient post road's bluestone slabs reflect tree shadows, every step feeling like stepping into a thousand-year-old poem. Here, you'll find the essence of Tang and Song dynasties, Ming Dynasty stone carvings, and karst landscapes. Come summer, toast with the mountains and waters, and immerse yourself in ancient charm✨!
➤ Reasons to Visit Chuzhou in Summer
✅ Exploding Greenery: In July-August, Langya Mountain's vegetation coverage exceeds 90%, with ancient pavilions nestled in dense shade and trails like green tunnels~
✅ Seasonal Elegance: Langya Mountain Lotus Exhibition (July), Zuiweng Pavilion Poetry Recitals (weekends), Ming Imperial Mausoleum Hanfu Parade (August)—a delight for traditional culture lovers💫!
✅ Local Flavors: Iced Chuzhou Chrysanthemum Tea to refresh, Guanba Beef with Baked Flatbread, Qinlan Braised Goose as a perfect drink pairing—all for just ¥30 per person, stuffed with culture~
➤ Attraction Recommendations
❶ 【Langya Mountain Scenic Area (5A)】
📍 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌟 Highlights: Birthplace of *The Record of the Zuiweng Pavilion*! A living "landscape museum"—stone inscriptions of "Ouyang Xiu's prose and Su Shi's calligraphy" at Zuiweng Pavilion, Tang Dynasty Langya Temple, and sunrise over clouds at South Heaven Gate. Summer brings stone frogs leaping into pools, cicadas harmonizing with temple bells, and moss-covered thousand-year-old stone steps~
🕒 Hours: 8:00-17:30 (last entry 17:00)
💰 Ticket: ¥80 (covers core sites; students/elders half-price)
✨ Tips: Enter at dawn from Yefang Garden to see mist swirling around the "Twelve Scenes of Chuzhou" carvings, then head straight to Zuiweng Pavilion to read the original text. Lunch on vegetarian noodles (¥15) at Langya Temple. Hike Tongle Garden Trail to South Heaven Gate for a city view (on clear days), and photograph sunset at Shenxiu Lake. Bring Chuzhou chrysanthemum tea as a souvenir🌼~
❷ 【Ming Imperial Mausoleum】
📍 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌟 Highlights: The "First Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty" built by Zhu Yuanzhang for his parents! A 32-pair procession of 6-meter-tall stone statues lines the Sacred Way, with intricate details of officials, generals, and horses. Surrounded by cornfields and pine forests in summer, the play of light and shadow tells 600 years of history—perfect for Hanfu photography📸!
🕒 Hours: 8:30-17:00 (last entry 16:30)
💰 Ticket: ¥50 (students/elders half-price)
✨ Tips: Start at the Sacred Way entrance, following the sequence "Stone Pillars → Stone Beasts → Stone Figures." Capture details like generals' armor and horses' muscles. Try Fengyang Stuffed Tofu (a favorite of Zhu Yuanzhang) for lunch. At dusk, watch sunset elongate the statues' shadows for a cinematic vibe~
❸ 【Wolf Alley Maze Valley】
📍 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌟 Highlights: A wild karst labyrinth in East China! Formed by limestone over eons, it features narrow alleys (squeeze through the tightest spots), crevices, and streams. Summer blooms with wild roses, and cool droplets cling to rock walls~
🕒 Hours: 8:00-17:30 (last entry 16:30)
💰 Ticket: ¥80 (students/elders half-price)
✨ Tips: Wear anti-slip shoes! First tackle Wolf Tooth Alley (steady yourself against walls), then navigate the Labyrinth (follow arrows). Lunch on Di Guo Ji (stewed chicken with cornbread) at the valley entrance. In the afternoon, visit Turtle Rock and take the slide down (¥30) for a breezy descent~
❹ 【Jiushan Cave】
📍 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌟 Highlights: The "No.1 Karst Cave North of the Yangtze"! Stretching 5,000 meters, its stalactites resemble waterfalls and lotuses, glowing like colored glass under lights. Summer temperatures inside are just right—boat through the Nine-Turn Bridge as stone reflections create an underwater starry sky🌌~
🕒 Hours: 8:30-17:00 (last entry 16:00)
💰 Ticket: ¥60 (includes boat ride; students/elders half-price)
✨ Tips: Morning boat ride (10 mins) to see the "Sea-Calming Needle," then walk to Jade Emperor Palace to touch millennia-old stalagmites (for luck). Lunch outside on Jiushan Tofu (made with cave spring water, ultra-tender). Spot wild pigeons at the cave exit and take home Jiushan vermicelli as a souvenir~
❺ 【Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall】
📍 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌟 Highlights: Former residence of *The Scholars*' author! Qing Dynasty architecture houses manuscripts, imperial exam papers, and *Fan Jin Passes the Exam* comics. Summer pomegranate flowers bloom in the courtyard—sit on bamboo chairs in Wenmu Hall as sunlight illuminates woodblock prints, evoking the author's sigh: "Wealth and rank are but fleeting clouds."
🕒 Hours: 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays)
💰 Ticket: Free (ID required)
✨ Tips: Morning exhibits cover Wu's life (from rich heir to poor scholar) and his works (various *The Scholars* editions). Lunch on Quanjiao Braised Duck. Afternoon free calligraphy session (try writing "The joy of the drunkard lies not in the wine"). Snap courtyard photos captioned "Stealing a half-day of leisure"~
🗺️ 3-Day Itinerary
🌅 Day 1: Langya Mountain’s Ancient Charms
• Morning: Arrive in Chuzhou, head straight to Langya Mountain—explore Zuiweng Pavilion’s inscriptions, collect spring water from Niang Spring, and hear tales of Ouyang Xiu’s feasts.
• Noon: Nearby, pair Langya Crisp Candy with Chuzhou Chrysanthemum Tea to recharge.
• Afternoon: Summit South Heaven Gate for panoramic views, visit Tang Dynasty bronze Buddha at Langya Temple, feed koi at Shenxiu Lake.
• Evening: Stay downtown, stroll lantern-lit old streets~
🌞 Day 2: Mausoleum & Maze Adventure
• Morning: Tour Ming Imperial Mausoleum, photograph Hanfu looks along the Sacred Way, study Zhu Yuanzhang’s stele.
• Noon: In Fengyang Town, savor stuffed tofu and plum fish hotpot—divinely fresh.
• Afternoon: Conquer Wolf Alley Maze Valley’s crevices and puzzles, then slide downhill.
• Evening: Stay in a valley lodge, listen to insects and stargaze in mountain serenity~
🌿 Day 3: Cave Wonders & Literary Legacy
• Morning: Explore Jiushan Cave by boat, touch ancient stalagmites, photograph crystal "curtains."
• Noon: Feast on Jiushan Tofu Banquet, spiced up with chili sauce.
• Afternoon: Visit Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall, browse manuscripts, try calligraphy, buy thread-bound books. Depart with landscapes and literature in your luggage~
➤ Food Recs
❶ Chuzhou Iced Chrysanthemum Tea: Floral and sweet🍵
❷ Guanba Beef: Braised tender, sliced with garlic sauce and flatbread🥩
❸ Fengyang Stuffed Tofu: Meat-filled tofu steamed to juicy perfection🫘
❹ Qinlan Braised Goose: Crispy skin, tender meat, subtly sweet marinade🦢
❺ Langya Crisp Candy: Multi-layered sesame delight, melts with tea🍬
➤ Lodging
❶ Langya Mountain B&Bs: Wake to mountain views and birdsong, 5 mins to scenic area~
❷ Downtown Hotels: Near old streets for nightlife and snacks~
❸ Fengyang Inns: Budget-friendly, close to mausoleum and maze, with farmhouse meals~
🚇 Transport
✈️ Airport: Nanjing Lukou (1.5-hour taxi)~
🚄 Rail: Chuzhou Station/North Station—20 mins to Nanjing, 1 hour to Hefei by high-speed rail~
🚗 Drive: 1.5 hrs from Nanjing, 2 hrs from Hefei; parking ~¥5/hour downtown~