https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/shaodong/best-things-to-do/10071365900000
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do near Shaodong [2025]
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Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park
4.6
/5
37653 reviews
9.5
From AU$ 60.01
Based on 1,371 reviews
Tianmenshan Cableway/Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park | >100 km from downtown
Phone 0744-8366666
Address: Tianmenshan National Forest Park, Tianmenshan Cableway, Dayong Road, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Glass Walkway with a panoramic view of the valley
197 ft glass walkway on cliffside
Saved by 3914 users27430 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Tour guide A Yang was incredibly kind. I had a few special circumstances, but he took care of me throughout the entire trip, constantly checking to see if I could complete the itinerary. I was so touched! He was professional and attentive, explaining every little attraction thoroughly! The forest park has unique landforms, and Yang's explanations were detailed and the service was excellent. We covered the highlights of the route in one day!
Of all the scenic spots in Zhangjiajie, only Tianmen Mountain has the best experience. The scenic area is not overly commercial and the overall order is relatively good. Taking Line B is the best choice, otherwise the queue will be so long that you will feel hopeless.
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Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
4.5
/5
29280 reviews
9.1
From AU$ 49.00
Based on 2,344 reviews
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park/Wulingyuan | >100 km from downtown
Phone 0744-5959888
Address: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 days
Highlights:
Watercolor views from Tianzi Mountain Viewing Platform
Avatar's stunning stone peaks
Saved by 4822 users18048 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is well worth a visit. The scenery at Yuanjiajie and Huangshizhai is stunning, and Golden Whip Stream is full of monkeys. The entire area is full of foreigners and Koreans. Some of these foreigners are quite polite, picking up litter they see – a lesson worth learning from and applauding.
The No. 1 Ladder in the World is very fast, and it teleports from the top of the mountain to the bottom in a flash. I avoided the crowds and watched a large number of tourists flocking in from the opposite direction. Haha, some of them had to wait in line!
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Hunan Museum
4.8
/5
13663 reviews
8.8
Based on 135 reviews
Hunan Museum/Beichen Delta | >100 km from downtown
Phone 0731-84415833
Address: No. 50, Dongfeng Road, Kaifu District, Changsha City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-6 hours
Highlights:
Ancient life virtual reality experience
VR experience: ancient life scenes
Saved by 458 users12605 positive reviews
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The Mawangdui exhibits are very interesting. The large tombs and remains from the Han Dynasty are very impressive. The civet cats are very cute. The food in the restaurant is quite delicious and hygienic, but there are too few seats. You have to wait for a long time to get a seat.
We lined up outside the museum half an hour in advance waiting for it to open. The weather was too hot, so we gathered at the designated location shortly after entering. The teacher was knowledgeable and the explanation was easy to understand, which made people listen with great interest. The only drawback was that there were too many people visiting and the environment was a bit noisy!
No.
4
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Orange Island
4.6
/5
12475 reviews
8.8
Based on 433 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone 073188882152
Address: Orange Island Beach Park, Yuelu District, Changsha City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
One of the first national red tourism classic attractions
Xiangjiang fireworks & music show
Saved by 866 users5957 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
The Orange Island Scenic Area is the most popular scenic area in Changsha. It is crowded and the weather is hot. It is recommended to take a small train for sightseeing. The cost-effectiveness of the boat tour is not high. It is my personal interest. The portrait of the young Chairman Mao is still lifelike. Overall, it is okay!
Teacher Xiao Peng is very professional and responsible. He explained everything clearly and took good care of the group members. This trip gave us a deeper understanding of Changsha and was worth the trip. Thank you, Teacher Xiao Peng. It's really great. 👍🏻 Super awesome. 👍🏻 I will definitely look for Teacher Xiao Peng when I travel.
No.
5
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Du Fu Pavilion
4.6
/5
7698 reviews
8.6
From AU$ 3.89
Wu Yi Square/IFS | >100 km from downtown
Phone 0731-82298545(游客中心)
Address: No.108, Xiangjiang Middle Road, Tianxin District, Changsha
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Watch the Orange Isle Light Show Across the River
360° view of Xiangjiang city
Saved by 506 users6817 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
You absolutely have to visit Du Fu Jiangge at night. It looks quite ordinary during the day, but at night, it's a completely different experience. The lights come on and the atmosphere becomes truly captivating. Many influencers livestream their singing below, which is truly delightful to listen to. Across from it is Chairman Mao's statue at Orange Island, where you can take photos. But don't go too late at night, as the lights seem to be turned off at 10:30 p.m. Another plus is that the river breeze is so pleasant at night, otherwise Changsha's summer heat is unbearable.
It's worth it. I've been here so many times and I always feel the service is very good. This time I bought a box of snail noodles and it only cost 8 yuan to mail it. I booked two or three rooms and each room was given a bottle of water. I feel the service is really good.
No.
6
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Two Rivers and Four Lakes
4.4
/5
15370 reviews
8.5
Based on 549 reviews
Downtown/Elephant Trunk Hill/Two Rivers And Four Lakes | >100 km from downtown
Phone 0773-8980066
Address: Wenchang Bridge Wharf, Liangjiang Four Lakes Scenic Area, Xiangshan District, Guilin City, Liberation Bridge, Six Horses Wharf, Riyuewan Wharf, Zhiyintai Wharf
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Underwater aquarium between twin towers
Osprey fishing & Yao performances
Saved by 1010 users5200 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Guilin's Two Rivers, Four Lakes, and Elephant Mountain Scenic Area comprises the "Two Rivers" (Li River and Taohua River), the "Four Lakes" (Gui Lake, Rong Lake, Shan Lake, and Mulong Lake), and the "Three Mountains" (Elephant Mountain, Diecai Mountain, and Fubo Mountain). Its unique character is characterized by the saying, "Thousands of peaks stand in the wilderness, a river flows around the city." The scenery is within the city, and the city is within the scenery.
The Two Rivers, Four Lakes, and Elephant Mountain Scenic Area integrates natural scenery with historical culture.
Elephant Mountain, resembling an elephant drinking from the Li River, serves as Guilin's city emblem.
Fubo Mountain, a beautiful peak in Guilin, is named after General Ma Yuan, who was stationed there during the Han Dynasty and practiced sword-cutting.
Diecai Mountain, known as "the place where rivers and mountains meet," offers panoramic views of Guilin's landscape.
The waterways of the Two Rivers and Four Lakes form a water system around the city that rivals the beauty of Venice. Take a nighttime boat tour of the Two Rivers and Four Lakes • Xiangshan Scenic Area. Enveloped in dazzling lights, the mountains, waters, gardens, and cityscape evoke a dreamlike, ethereal, and elegant atmosphere.
Here, you can savor the breathtaking beauty of "Guilin's landscapes are the best in the world" and experience the sentiment, "I'd rather be a Guilin resident than a god."
Guilin "Two Rivers and Four Lakes" scenic area is a classic water system landscape in the downtown area of Guilin. It connects the Lijiang River, Taohua River and Mulong Lake, Guihu Lake, Wuhu Lake and Shanhu Lake, forming a city-circle water system, known as "Venice of the East". The following comments are made from multiple angles: ###🌟 Core highlights 1. **Night view**When the Hualantern first came on, the Sun and Moon Twin Towers (Shanhu Lake), Crystal Bridge (Wuhu Lake) and other buildings reflected the water under the lights, and the night tour by boat was particularly shocking, which was the essence of Guilin's night view. 2. **Humanities and nature blend** - Along the way, you can see the ancient city wall of the Song Dynasty (Mulong Lake), the millennium ancient temple (Wuhu) and other historical relics - modern landscapes such as glass bridges (Wuhu) and traditional landscapes are interesting 3. **Variety of tour methods** -**Cruise boat** (recommended night tour): The whole journey is about 90 minutes, there is an explanation -**Hiking/cycling**: The trail around the lake is free and open, suitable for deep exploration -**Sun and Moon Twin Towers climb**: 35 yuan/person, overlooking the panoramic view of the city###⚠️ Note-**Commercialization is obvious**: some regional shops Dense, night cruise tickets are slightly more expensive (about 210 yuan/person) - **Day view is flat**: Day view is more ordinary during the day, it is recommended to choose night tour first- **Holiday crowded**: Golden Week boat rides need to be reserved in advance 2-3 day reservation ### 📍 Practical suggestions - **Best route**: Wenchangqiao Wharf → Elephant Trunk Hill → Sun and Moon Twin Towers → Ancient South Gate → Mulong Lake - **Free play**: Take a walk on the Heshan Lake trail (recommended 19:00-21:00 light show time) - **Surrounding linkage**: You can arrange a half-day tour in combination with Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, Dongxi Alley and other business districts### Summarize the two rivers and four lakes to show Guilin perfectly The characteristics of "city in the scenery, scenery in the city" are relatively commercial, but their night view and humanistic heritage are still worth experiencing. It is recommended to hike in the evening to experience the free area, and then choose to take a boat in-depth tour, and you can better experience the artistic conception of "thousand peaks around the wild, one water holding the city flow".
No.
7
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Elephant Hill Scenic Area
4.4
/5
22806 reviews
8.5
Based on 1,296 reviews
Downtown/Elephant Trunk Hill/Two Rivers And Four Lakes | >100 km from downtown
Address: No. 1 Binjiang Road, Xiangshan District, Guilin City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Saved by 854 users8801 positive reviews
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Elephant Trunk Hill Scenic Area, this world natural heritage site in Guilin City, is known for its strange karst landscape and beautiful landscapes. Here, visitors can enjoy the ghostly Elephant Trunk Hill and the picturesque natural scenery around it, making people feel like they are in a fairyland.
The Elephant Trunk Hill is really worthy of its reputation! The shape of the elephant drinking water is amazing, and the texture of the rock is super textured when you look at it up close. The Li River surrounds the mountain, and when you take a bamboo raft past the Elephant Trunk Cave, the mountains and water complement each other like a poem and a painting. The view from the top of the mountain is wide, and you can overlook the scenery of the whole city. It is worth a visit to take photos~
No.
8
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Solitary Beauty Peak Prince City Scenic Area
4.8
/5
21349 reviews
8.5
From AU$ 21.59
Based on 57 reviews
Downtown/Elephant Trunk Hill/Two Rivers And Four Lakes | >100 km from downtown
Address: No. 1 Wangcheng Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Hanfu exam simulation experience
Experience century-old mansion craftsmanship
Saved by 431 users16633 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
I went during the Lunar New Year holiday, so it was quite crowded. It rained for a while in the afternoon, but everyone came out after the rain stopped. Ticket checking was a bit slow, so I had to wait a while. However, staff handed out banners that read "Guilin's Landscapes Are the Best Under Heaven," so I took photos and helped pass the time. The entrance fee includes a guided tour, and groups of about 10 to 20 people can learn about the history of the Prince of Jingjiang. There are also interactive activities like rubbings and the imperial examination, perfect for children. Solitary Beauty Peak is a bit steep, so be mindful of your abilities. If you have time in downtown Guilin, you should definitely stop by.
It is best to enter Guilin's scenic spots from the front gate. The ticket includes a tour guide. You have to wait in the park for the tour guide to give you the tour. The tour guide gives you the tour for about 2 hours. There are many activities in the scenic area, including the secret experience of Wangcheng, the many celebrity cliff carvings on Duxiu Peak, which are quite informative, and the classic saying "Guilin's landscape is the best in the world". It's a good experience!
No.
9
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Longji Rice Terraces
4.5
/5
6220 reviews
8.3
From AU$ 17.27
Based on 955 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Address: Pingxiang Village, Heping Township, Longsheng County, Guilin City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days
Highlights:
Terrace views & cable car
Panoramic terraces view platform
Saved by 1395 users3471 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
The magnificent dragon ridge terraces are picturesque and beautiful. It is like a colorful picture, which makes people linger. Every field is carefully carved and scattered, and stretches from the foot of the mountain to the top, like a dragon circling. Here, you can feel the magic and magnificence of nature, and you can also experience the beauty of the harmony between man and nature.
The owner's service attitude is very dedicated. We arrived at midnight for check-in, and the owner waited and came down to help with our luggage. When I woke up in the morning, the view outside the window was pleasant. The room was very clean and tidy. I wiped it again with a tissue and there was no dust at all. The breakfast tasted really good (the sour beans and rice noodles are highly recommended, they are delicious. I am from Guangdong and have a light taste). It was very rich, and the restaurant also faces the terraced rice fields. There are a few minor issues. The soundproofing in the room is not very good. The air conditioner makes a noise when it runs, and the air in the room is a bit stuffy and smelly. I recommend adding some aromatherapy to remove the odor.
No.
10
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Li River Cruise
4.4
/5
4634 reviews
8.2
From AU$ 49.65
>100 km from downtown
Address: 广西壮族自治区桂林市灵川县磨盘山码头
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Saved by 563 users2412 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
1. The overall scenery is invincible, there is nothing to pick. The main thing is not to go there in summer. You need to go to the top of the cruise ship to see all the good-looking scenery, and you will be sunburned in minutes, haha; 2. If financial conditions permit, it is strongly recommended to choose a four-star cruise ship. There are fewer people and the facilities are a level higher than those of the three-star cruise ship. The most important thing is that no one will compete with you for the position to take pictures of the scenery. When you are taking pictures on the top platform of the three-star cruise ship, there are only a few people on the top of the passing four-star cruise ship, which is very comfortable!
I highly recommend this three-star cruise. The overall service was excellent. Our reservation was rescheduled, and Ctrip quickly contacted us to arrange a hotel pickup. Our tour guide, Li, explained the local specialties of Yangshuo and Guilin, giving us a deeper understanding of the city. The scenery on the cruise was breathtaking, even from the cabin, even in the rain.
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