Things to do in Jiangshan

For those coming from Quzhou, a half-day trip is enough. It's a beautiful place, and you don't need to climb many mountains; there's transportation available. Overall, it's a pretty good experience and worth a visit.

The ancient town was quite quiet, with not many tourists. The architecture was very distinctive, and we hired a guide to explain things, which helped us learn a lot about its historical heritage. The town isn't large; you can explore it in about two hours.

Ershibadu Ancient Town is located at the junction of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces, known as "one foot in three provinces." Its architectural style blends Huizhou style with characteristics of the three provinces, featuring white walls, black tiles, and exquisite wood carvings. Recommended tour route: Entrance → Agricultural Museum → North Gate → Military Official's Office → Wenchang Palace → Dialect Surname Celebrity Hall → Military Intelligence Bureau Female Agent Exhibition Hall → Longxing Money Exchange, approximately 2 hours in total. Highlights include the well-preserved Wenchang Pavilion, the Dialect Hall, and the Qing Dynasty-style wood carvings on the money exchange's gate tower. The area is relatively uncommercialized. The scenic area is small. If time permits, it can be combined with visits to nearby Xianxia Pass or Qingyang Mao Clan Cultural Village. Overall, it is suitable for tourists who enjoy history and culture and a leisurely pace. Driving is recommended as parking is convenient.

Worth a visit. But it's very tiring on the legs. "One man can hold off ten thousand," no wonder it held off the common people in the past. The ancient stone path is nestled deep in the bamboo forest and mountains, with four passes rising one after another. Touching the mottled stone walls, the phrase "Key to Southeast China, Throat of Fujian" isn't just a slogan, it truly carries weight. The mountain breeze, bamboo groves, inscribed steles, and gate towers make for a comfortable stroll. But don't expect it to be a trendy tourist spot—the stone steps are steep, slippery after rain, and climbing is exhausting. For those with children or elderly people, it's best to turn back at the first or second pass. In short: it's not a stunningly beautiful attraction, but it's the kind that grows more charming the more you explore. Wear non-slip shoes, allow half a day, and take your time.

Fugai Mountain is a unique mountain in Jiangshan area. It is not high and has a regular hiking trail and an adventure cave route. The latter is the best route to climb Fugai Mountain, but the cave was very slippery today, so it was not suitable. In the end, we could only take the regular trail. The scenery at the top of the mountain is still very good, but the fun is greatly reduced. It is better to come in spring or autumn. You must wear very non-slip shoes.

Qingyang Mao Clan Cultural Village is an ancient village scenic spot. It's the birthplace of the Mao clan in Jiangnan, historically producing many notable figures, especially eight ministers from the Song and Ming dynasties. While some tourists say it's a bit of a publicity stunt, it is, after all, the ancestral home of Chairman Mao, making it a reasonable site for commemoration. The tour route is simple: Mao Clan Ancestral Hall ~ Lotus Pond ~ Mao Zedong Statue Memorial Hall ~ Qingyang Ancestral Residence ~ Mao Zishui's Former Residence ~ Shangshu Academy ~ General's Hall. These six paid attractions are visited sequentially without backtracking. There is also the Qingyang Ancient Pagoda, but it's quite far from the main scenic area. The Mao Clan Ancestral Hall is a modern reconstruction; it's quite large and consists of the Mao Clan Celebrity Hall and the Mao Zedong Exhibition Hall. This is also the most time-consuming part. The Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, Qingyang Ancestral Home, and Mao Zishui's Former Residence are all located on the main street opposite the Lotus Pond. The General's Hall and the Academy are also in the same area. The scenic area's route signs are very clear, so it's not easy to get lost. The exhibition halls are not large, but they are all old Hui-style buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It's easy to take great photos of the ancient buildings here, especially from the Lotus Pond, where the scenery is most charming (last photo). The residents of Qingyang Mao Family Cultural Village still live a very simple life, completely untouched by commercialization, making it a veritable paradise. It's about a ten-minute walk from Jianglang Mountain, so it can be combined with other attractions for a day trip.

Quzhou's ancient city has many photo spots; it's too hot during the day, so go out at night and you might encounter many NPCs. The streets are clean, and the food options depend on your preferences. There are also many exhibition halls, all of which close at 9 PM, which is very convenient.

We visited a much better tourist attraction than we had imagined. The air was fresh, the natural environment was pristine, the vegetation was lush, and there were waterfalls and streams. Most importantly, there were few people, making for a wonderful experience. We saw adorable monkeys, walked across the glass walkway, and rode the glass zipline – a truly immersive and fun experience. The hike was easy, perfect for families with children like us. We chatted and laughed, enjoying the journey at our own pace.

I originally just wanted a place to rest and relax, but I unexpectedly found the Junlan Hotel in Sanqingshan to be surprisingly comfortable. The hotel is nestled beside the mountains, with fresh, clean air, and an evening stroll through the park was incredibly therapeutic. The room was very clean and tidy, the hot water came quickly, and the bed was very comfortable; after hiking, lying down there instantly made me feel refreshed. The staff were all very friendly and easy to talk to, without any awkwardness. The breakfast was light and delicious, perfect for a satisfying meal before heading up the mountain. Parking was convenient for those driving, and the road to the scenic area was easy to navigate. Overall, the hotel didn't feel overly commercialized; it was quiet, simple, and perfect for those looking for a slow-paced vacation. I highly recommend it.

My second visit to West Lake was great; the boat tour was excellent. The dock was easy to find, the staff were very friendly, provided clear explanations, and helped with any issues. There were also sightseeing buses, which were nice but a bit pricey. Taking the boat tour and then walking around was both perfectly fine.