Advanced Search

The story appears on

Page A13

August 19, 2015

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Weekend getaways offer chance to relax, unwind

By Wu Huixin | August 19, 2015, Wednesday | Print Edition

Traveling during national holidays can be a hassle as it often feels as though every person in the country has decided to visit the exact same place.

Weekend road trips thus provide a good chance to explore scenic spots without the annoying crowds, which can make for a much more relaxing getaway.

Picking scenic spots with fewer tourists is the key to making the most of that precious time out of the office. Zhejiang Province boasts abundant tourist attractions that range from hills and lakes to sea and beaches.

Shanghai Daily takes you on a couple of two-day road trips that give a taste of the province’s diversity.

Nanxi River

Nanxi River is the second largest branch of the Oujiang River in southern Zhejiang. It starts on the borders of Yongjia and Xianju counties. Its pastoral landscape and antique villages attract streams of visitors from Zhejiang and other provinces.

The first day of the trip begins with a hike on Shiwei Hill, which features waterfalls and craggy peaks. The highlight of Shiwei Hill is a huge natural pillar-like stone dubbed “Tianzhu of southern Zhejiang,” which literally means “stone column hung from the sky in southern Zhejiang Province.” This geologic feature was formed over billions of years.

Since a path has been built into the face of the cliff, tourists can ascend the hill fairly comfortably.

Rafting down the Nanxi River is also popular among tourists. The rafts are made of bamboo and the best route starts from Yanyou Town and ends at Lion Hill.

The river ripples while its sides are flanked with hills, lush vegetation and villages. The tranquil environment, bluish-green water and passing clouds make people feel like they are entering a Chinese ink-wash painting.

At night, tourists can stay at a guesthouse in 700-year-old Linkeng Village. Houses in the village feature traditional white walls and black-tiled roofs. The surrounding bamboo forest shuts off the village from the outside world, which in return has helped it retain its original appearance for centuries.

The village’s landmark is a wooden bridge. Such bridges were common in ancient China, but have largely disappeared since the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Though accommodations in the village do not match the upscale hotels in cities, a peek at a rural lifestyle and tasty local food make for a nice diversion.

The second day of the trip takes us to Jijia Village and Ming’ao terraced fields.

The houses in this village are made with wood. This tiny village has only about 50 residents, most of whom are surnamed Ji. It is said that their ancestors moved from neighboring Xianju County 300 years ago.

Don’t worry about food. The village has some family run guesthouses where you can stay the night and taste local dishes.

The second destination is the undulating terraced paddy fields in Ming’ao Town. Shutterbugs love snapping pictures of the postcard-like hills and terraced fields, which are often misted over in the morning and on rainy days.

How to get there:

Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Changzhou-Taizhou Expressway — Shaoxing-Zhuji Expressway — Zhuji-Yongjia Expressway

Huaniao Island

»¨Äñµº

Huaniao lures an increasing number of tourists every year. The island is captivating because of the pure blue sea around it and the chance to experience a fisherman¡¯s life.

Soft sand, limpid sea and beautiful scenery make the island a summer paradise.

The first day of the trip is for strolling on the beach and hiking around the island.

The ¡°No. 1 lighthouse of the Far East¡± is the most noted scenic spot on Huaniao Island. In the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when ports were successively opened to Western countries, the British occupied the shipping route from Shanghai to the Pacific Ocean. In order to guide vessels, they erected this European-style lighthouse with a copper roof.

Thereafter, the lighthouse has played a vital role in marine navigation. It survived the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945) and is still used today.

At night, people can lodge at family run guesthouses. Some of them offer high-end facilities and excellent service.

Camping on the island is also a good choice as tents and other gear can be rented from local stores.

Wake up and go fishing with locals. You keep what you catch and can take it to local restaurants to have it cooked for a fee.

How to get there:

From Shanghai: Outer-Ring Elevated Road ¡ª Hulu Expressway ¡ª Donghai Bridge ¡ª Take ferry on Shenjiawan Wharf

From Hangzhou: Take Hangzhou-Shengsi long-distance bus on Jiubao Passenger Transportation Center

Hangzhou


 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend