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.

It's still very good, the most authentic, and suitable for going out to play

Stepping into the alleyways of the ancient town is like traveling through a time tunnel. On either side are mottled brick walls, covered in climbing vines that sway gently in the breeze, seemingly whispering tales of a thousand years ago. Occasionally, the aroma of tea wafts from behind a half-open wooden door—the fragrance of an old teahouse, mingled with the sedimentation of time. Beside the ancient well, several elderly people sit together, playing chess or chatting, their smiles reflecting the tranquility and peace of the ancient town. Every step on the bluestone slabs seems to echo with history, to feel the passage of time.

The weather was very hot, and it was very comfortable to play in the water. The passionate rafting on Fugai Mountain was quite exciting. The water was very cool, and it was fun to have a water fight on the raft. You need to pay attention to sun protection. Rafting for more than an hour, although there is a sun hat, it is still quite sunny when the weather is good.

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.