A Hidden Paradise in Jiangsu!

🌳🍃 A Hidden Paradise in Jiangsu! A 3-day, 2-night healing trip to Yixing, exploring the bamboo sea, karst caves, and the pottery capital for just over 600 RMB per person! 🏔️ No need to travel far—this small town by Taihu Lake hides the most poetic Jiangnan scenery 🌿 Remember Su Shi’s line, “Buying land in Yangxian, I will grow old there, from now on only for the beauty of streams and mountains”? Yangxian here is today’s Yixing! As a blogger who has traveled extensively in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, I only just discovered this treasure trove of a town—here you’ll find not only purple clay teapots but also 100,000 mu of bamboo sea, unique karst cave landscapes, fresh tea gardens, and delicious Yibang cuisine. It’s definitely a perfect choice for a weekend getaway! ✨ Highlights at a glance • Super cost-effective: Affordable attraction tickets, only 5 RMB to visit the national ceramic museum! • Convenient transportation: 1-hour high-speed train from Nanjing, very easy to drive as well • Fewer crowds, beautiful scenery: Quieter and more comfortable compared to popular cities like Suzhou and Hangzhou • Rich experiences: In one day, enjoy natural scenery, ceramic culture, and a gourmet feast 🚗 3-day, 2-night itinerary Day 1: Bamboo Sea Wonderland, Oxygen Boost and Lung Cleansing Morning: Yixing Bamboo Sea Scenic Area Set off early to Yixing Bamboo Sea Scenic Area—fewer people and beautiful views in the morning! Highly recommend taking the cable car up the mountain (cable car ticket needs to be purchased separately). In the early morning mist, the endless green bamboo sea unfolds as the cable car ascends, instantly entering a fairy-tale-like realm! The “Lingyun Pavilion,” the highest peak in southern Jiangsu, offers unbeatable views from the top, and if you’re lucky, you can see a spectacular sea of clouds rolling. Tip: It’s windy at the top, so bring a jacket! For descending, hiking is recommended (about 40 minutes), wandering through bamboo trails while listening to the rustling leaves—super healing. Afternoon: Mirror Lake + Underwater Tunnel After descending, head straight to Mirror Lake at the foot of the mountain! The lake water is a clear blue-green like jade 💎 Spend 30 RMB to ride a bamboo raft (a must-do), drifting gently on the sparkling water with bamboo shadows reflected—refreshing and perfect for photos. The “Underwater Tunnel” is actually a tunnel under the lake, a cool place to walk through and a great summer escape. Accommodation recommendation: There are many unique guesthouses around the scenic area! Stay in one truly surrounded by bamboo forest, with views right outside your window and the sound of bamboo waves lulling you to sleep at night—so peaceful. Day 2: The Home of Purple Clay, The Art of Playing with Clay Morning: China Yixing Ceramic Museum (only 5 RMB admission!) How can you miss purple clay in Yixing! This national museum is a must-visit to systematically learn about the history of ceramics from ancient times to today and admire exquisite purple clay treasures. Inside, masters demonstrate pottery throwing skills live. You can see the “Five Golden Flowers” of ceramics: purple clay, jun ware, celadon, refined ceramics, and beautiful ceramics exhibition halls, plus national first-class cultural relics like the Qing Dynasty purple clay “Black Robe Hui Pattern Vase.” Afternoon: Purple Clay DIY Experience (great value!) Many studios near the museum offer DIY experiences! For about a hundred RMB, under a teacher’s guidance, you can hand-shape a piece of purple clay into a unique cup or small ornament! The process is super relaxing and rewarding. Finished works can be fired and mailed to your home (extra charge), making a meaningful souvenir! Evening: Shushan Ancient South Street This thousand-year-old street at the foot of Shushan Mountain and beside the Li River preserves Ming and Qing architectural styles, with winding bluestone paths flanked by blue bricks, black tiles, white walls, and wooden windows. It’s also the former residence of Gu Jingzhou, a modern master of purple clay. The alley hides many pottery shops and snack stalls where you can find special purple clay items. Day 3: Forest Secret Realm, Cycling and Oxygen Boost All day: Longbei Mountain Forest Park (free admission!) This is a local hidden gem park, huge but with few people, and free to enter! The core attractions are Wenfeng Tower and Yicui Lake, with photogenic dawn redwood forests by the lake. Recommended activity: Rent an electric scooter or bicycle to ride around the lake (highly recommended! The park is large and walking can be tiring), freely cruising along shaded paths with a gentle breeze—so comfortable! Bring some snacks for a picnic on the big lawn, fly kites, lie down and sunbathe—perfect for a leisurely, relaxed day. Climb Wenfeng Tower for a panoramic view of Yixing city, very expansive. Lunch: Try local rustic dishes at a farmhouse restaurant near the park, fresh ingredients and great taste. 🍜 Must-try Yixing Cuisine Yixing cuisine, also called “Yibang cuisine,” is one of Jiangsu’s main local flavors. Its taste is neither as sweet as Suzhou and Wuxi, nor as rich as Anhui, nor as light as Zhejiang cuisine. Must-try dishes: • Salted Pork Braised Bamboo Shoots: perfect combination of mountain bamboo shoots and farmhouse salted pork • Yunhu Fish Head Tofu: tender fish head, silky tofu, rich soup flavor • Wumi Rice: Yixing specialty snack, fragrant, sweet, and glutinous • Yanlaixun Mushrooms: a special autumn fungus, exceptionally delicious Recommended restaurants: Zuixixi Farmhouse Restaurant, Jin’s Farmhouse—both great places to taste authentic Yixing food. 📌 Practical Tips 1. Transportation: Take the high-speed train to “Yixing Station,” self-driving or taxis recommended between attractions (public transport is inconvenient) 2. Best seasons: Spring and autumn are most suitable; summer is good for cooling off; winter scenery is a bit bleak 3. Dress advice: Comfortable sports shoes are a must! Big temperature difference in bamboo forests and mountains early morning and evening, bring a light jacket 4. Budget reference: 600+ RMB per person for three days and two nights is totally feasible (excluding round-trip major transportation) This small town of Yixing has given me so many surprises—it not only has beautiful mountains, water, and fresh air but also a profound cultural heritage and a slow-paced lifestyle. If you’re tired of the city’s hustle and bustle, why not come here to give your soul a break? Stroll through the bamboo sea, learn pottery, taste delicious food, and experience the purest Jiangnan charm 🎋 ------ Have you been to Yixing? Any unforgettable experiences? Feel free to share your travel stories in the comments! If this guide helps you, please like and save it~ 💖