4-Day Yongzhou Tour | Classic Combination of Mount Jiuyi and Lingling Ancient City・A Guide for All Travelers

Yongzhou, a thousand-year-old ancient city embraced by the Xiao and Xiang Rivers, holds the legend of Emperor Shun's southern tour, the landscapes depicted by Liu Zongyuan, and the rich customs of the Yao villages. Take seniors to Mount Jiuyi to explore ancient history, accompany children to learn embroidery in Yao villages – here, every day is like opening a profound scroll of human culture. 🗓️Itinerary Overview D1: Arrive in Yongzhou → Lingling Ancient City → Liuzi Temple D2: Mount Jiuyi (Emperor Shun's Mausoleum + Sanfen Stone) D3: Shanggangtang Ancient Village → Goulan Yao Village D4: Yangmingshan National Forest Park → Departure 🏮Day1: Exploring the Ancient City・Liu Zongyuan's Legacy 📍Lingling Ancient City (Free) Key Highlights: Replicates the ancient charm of Xiaoxiang Prefecture, with bluestone paths and stilt houses built by the water. At night, the lit lanterns make it feel like traveling back a thousand years. Seniors can listen to Qiju opera at the "Drum Tower" (Free, starts at 19:00); children can learn to make Yongzhou exotic snake wine bookmarks at the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop" (30 yuan/each), buy freshly made Tangyou Baba (fried glutinous rice cakes with brown sugar) (3 yuan/each), and tourists are often seen checking in at the "Liu Zongyuan Statue" along the street. 🕙Opening Hours: All day 📸Photo Spots: Xiaoshui Pontoon Bridge (for photos of the ancient city and river reflections), Ancient City Archway (when red lanterns are lit) 📍Liuzi Temple (4A, Admission 25 yuan) Key Highlights: An ancient temple commemorating Liu Zongyuan, with the complete text of "Eight Records of Yongzhou" inscribed on steles. Ancient cypresses stand tall, exuding a scholarly spirit. Seniors can listen to explanations in front of the "Three Wonders Stele" (20 yuan/session) to learn about Liu Zongyuan's exile to Yongzhou; children can copy "The Little Stone Pond" at the "Reading Platform" (Free) and buy Liuzi Temple cultural and creative notebooks (20 yuan/each). 💡Tip: Seniors aged 60 and above get free admission with ID; there are stone benches inside the temple, suitable for a leisurely stroll. 🍖Recommended Dining: "Xiaoshui Renjia" inside the ancient city. Must-try dishes include Yongzhou Blood Duck (68 yuan) and Fried Snails (28 yuan). Average cost is 50 yuan per person, with adjustable spice levels suitable for children. 🏨Recommended Accommodation: "Huatian Hotel" next to Lingling Ancient City (family rooms available, includes breakfast). Prices range from 300-400 yuan/night, a 5-minute walk to attractions. ⛰️Day2: Ancestral Exploration in Jiuyi・Peak Forest Adventure 📍Emperor Shun's Mausoleum, Mount Jiuyi (4A, Admission 60 yuan) Key Highlights: The resting place of Emperor Shun, the ancestor of the Chinese nation. The mausoleum is solemn, ancient cypresses form a forest, and the grand sacrificial ceremony (held at 9:00 on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month) is solemn and magnificent. Seniors can pray in front of the "Emperor Shun Bronze Statue" and view the "Stele Inscriptions of Sacrifices to Shun through the Ages"; children can listen to the legend of "Emperor Shun's Southern Tour" at the "Emperor Shun Story Garden" and learn to make simple sacrificial vessels (20 yuan/each). 🕙Opening Hours: 8:00-17:30 📍Sanfen Stone (Included in Mount Jiuyi combined ticket, combined ticket 140 yuan) Key Highlights: The main peak of Mount Jiuyi, with three giant stones standing like a tripod. When shrouded in clouds and mist, it resembles a fairyland. From the summit, you can see the source of the Xiao River. Seniors can take a sightseeing car (30 yuan/person) to the half-mountain viewing platform; children can challenge the "Source-Seeking Trail" (1 km gentle section), pick colorful pebbles by the stream, and listen to the guide tell the legend of "Sanfen Stone Defining Boundaries." 📸Photo Spots: Emperor Shun's Mausoleum Archway (for photos of ancient architecture and distant mountains), Sanfen Stone Viewing Platform (when a sea of clouds covers the three peaks). 💡Tip: There's a significant temperature difference in the mountains, bring light jackets for seniors and children; the combined ticket includes 4 attractions, offering good value. 🍖Recommended Dining: "Jiuyi Nongjiacai" at the foot of the mountain. Must-try dishes include Stir-fried Cured Meat with Fern (38 yuan) and Jiuyi Mountain Chicken (88 yuan/chicken). Average cost is 60 yuan per person, with a rich flavor from the wood-fired stove. 🏡Day3: Visiting Ancient Villages・Yao Village Fun 📍Shanggangtang Ancient Village (4A, Admission 40 yuan) Key Highlights: A "thousand-year-old ancient village" preserving Song Dynasty stone bridges and Ming and Qing Dynasty residences. The "Yuepo Pavilion" in front of the village has inscriptions by literati from various dynasties. Seniors can browse old shops in the "Ancient Commercial Street" and listen to villagers tell stories of the Zhou family; children can chase yellow dogs on the "Stone Slab Street," learn to push a stone mill (Free), and buy homemade sweet potato jerky (10 yuan/bag). 🕙Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00 📍Goulan Yao Village (4A, Admission 40 yuan) Key Highlights: A Yao ethnic settlement, preserving traditional customs like the "Mud Washing Festival." Stilt houses and wind-and-rain bridges are unique. Seniors can view the Yao silver ornament exhibition at the "Yao King's Palace"; children can follow Yao grandmas to learn embroidery (50 yuan/set, can be taken home), experience long-drum dancing (Free), and buy Yao flower belts (20 yuan/each) as decorations. 💡Tip: It's a 20-minute taxi ride from the ancient village to the Yao village, a chartered car is recommended (150 yuan/day); the Yao village offers a long-table banquet (60 yuan/person) for an authentic experience. 🍖Recommended Dining: "Yaojia Restaurant" in the Yao village. Must-try dishes include Oil Tea (10 yuan/bowl) and Stir-fried Cured Meat with Ciba (38 yuan). Average cost is 40 yuan per person, with unique flavors. 🌳Day4: Oxygen Intake in Yangming・Cloud-Top Departure 📍Yangmingshan National Forest Park (4A, Admission 65 yuan) Key Highlights: A "summer resort in southern Hunan," with vast bamboo seas and rhododendron seas (best in April-May), and the ancient Wanshou Temple. Seniors can listen to the temple bells at "Wanshou Temple" and sit on stone benches to admire the bamboo sea; children can play in the water at "Xiaohuangjiangyuan" (bring a change of clothes), adopt a sapling (100 yuan/tree, with a name tag), and buy Yangmingshan dried bamboo shoots (30 yuan/bag). 🕙Opening Hours: 8:00-17:30 📸Photo Spots: Rhododendron Sea (spring), Wangfo Platform (for photos of cloud seas and Buddha's light). 💡Tip: The scenic area has a sightseeing car (30 yuan/person) to save effort for seniors; it can be windy on the mountain top, bring a jacket. 🍖Recommended Dining: "Yangmingshan Zhuang" at the park entrance. Enjoy a final "Yangmingshan All-Bamboo Feast" (88 yuan, bamboo fungus, bamboo shoots, bamboo worm platter). Average cost is 50 yuan per person, fresh and refreshing. ✨Yongzhou Survival Guide 1️⃣Transportation: Taxi starting fare in the city is 6 yuan, bus 2 yuan/ride; take a tourist special line to Mount Jiuyi (30 yuan/person, 2 hours); a chartered car is recommended for the Yao village (200 yuan/day), mountain roads are easy to navigate. 2️⃣Clothing: Light jackets in spring and autumn (cool mornings and evenings in the mountains), short sleeves + mosquito-proof pants in summer (many mosquitoes in Yao villages and forests), down jackets in winter (possible snow on Yangmingshan), non-slip shoes (stone slab paths in ancient villages, mountain roads). 3️⃣Taboos: Maintain quiet during sacrifices at Emperor Shun's Mausoleum; respect the "blocking wine" custom when entering Yao villages (taste a small amount); do not casually touch old objects in ancient villages. 4️⃣Accommodation: Stay in Lingling Ancient City on D1, Mount Jiuyi on D2, a Yao village guesthouse on D3 (e.g., "Yaojia Inn," with fireplace heating), and the city center on D4 for convenient departure. 🛍️Must-Buy Souvenirs ① Yongzhou Exotic Snake Wine (50 yuan/bottle, local specialty, consume in moderation) ② Jianghua Bitter Tea (60 yuan/box, rich aftertaste, suitable for seniors) ③ Yao Silver Ornaments (30-50 yuan/each, handmade, strong ethnic style) ④ Shanggangtang Sweet Potato Jerky (20 yuan/bag, no additives, children love it) The soul of Yongzhou is the reverence embodied by the ancient cypresses of Mount Jiuyi, the warmth reflected by the lanterns of Lingling Ancient City, and the vibrant life carried by the songs of the Yao villages. Whether it's reminiscing with parents at Emperor Shun's Mausoleum, accompanying children to learn a craft in a Yao village, or listening to the rustling bamboo with friends on Yangmingshan, the stories here always make one want to savor them slowly. If you come to Yongzhou, would you rather see the night view of Lingling Ancient City first, or explore the legends of Mount Jiuyi?