Escape the Daily Grind | 4-Day, 3-Night Itinerary for Xiandu & Lishui

| 4-Day, 3-Night Itinerary for Xiandu & Lishui. We visited Jinyun Xiandu during the May Day holiday. Though we anticipated crowds, we embraced the "since we're already here" spirit and bravely explored Xiandu with my partner! [Scenic] Fortunately, the trip wasn't as crowded as expected—perhaps because we took it easy and only visited Xiandu and Lishui. [Leaf]Here's our 4-day, 3-night itinerary! [Balloon]DAY1️⃣ 🚄Took an evening high-speed train from Shanghai to Jinyun West, then a taxi to our homestay in Xiandu Scenic Area (there are tons of homestays here). [Balloon]DAY2️⃣ Spent the day exploring Xiandu's attractions, which are arranged in a loop. You can adjust the order based on your lodging location. Since we stayed near Dinghu Peak and Zhutan Mountain, our route was: Zhutan Mountain → Laughing Rock & Yandang Study → Niweng Cave → Dufeng Academy → Little Red Cliff & Big Belly Rock → Xiandu Temple → Dinghu Peak → Yellow Emperor Temple Free shuttle buses connect major sites, but renting an e-bike offers more flexibility. After visiting Xiandu Temple and lunch, we napped at the homestay before heading to Dinghu Peak in the afternoon—perfect for low-energy travelers! [Balloon]DAY3️⃣ Skipped attractions in the morning. The scenic trails were so relaxing that we strolled along nearby cycling paths and forest greenways instead. The forest greenway was amazing—I loved it more than some attractions! At noon, we took a train to Lishui. Transitioning from mountains ⛰️ to city 🏙️ felt like rejoining modern life (Xiandu isn't very convenient). Stayed at Lishui Intime Suites Hotel, right next to Lishui Intime City—super convenient for dining/shopping, with modern facilities. In the afternoon, we walked along Nanming Lake, visiting Yingxing Tower, Chuzhou Ancient City, and its city walls. Honestly, Yingxing Tower was enough. Chuzhou Ancient City seemed like a themed commercial street but felt deserted, with most shops closed—not worth the time. DAY4️⃣ Heading home!