How wonderful are the little treasures recommended by National Geographic?
Five-day in-depth tour of Longtan Ancient Town in Pingnan: a pleasant guide to a hidden treasure
Hidden among the green mountains and clear waters of Fujian, there is a picturesque ancient town - Pingnan Longtan Ancient Town. There are no bustling tourists here, only quiet ancient streets and alleys, gurgling streams and ancient houses that have stood the test of time. It seems like a paradise forgotten by time, inviting you to slow down and immerse yourself in the leisurely time. Now, we present you this five-day travel guide, so that you can deeply appreciate the unique charm of Longtan Ancient Town.
1. Transportation Guide
External transportation
• Self-driving: If you start from Fuzhou, drive along the Fuyin Expressway and Ningshang Expressway to Pingnan County, and then follow the signs to Longtan Ancient Town. The whole journey takes about 2 hours. It takes about 1.5 hours from Ningde. The advantage of self-driving is freedom and convenience, and you can enjoy the scenery along the way at any time. However, you should pay attention to the fact that there are many winding mountain roads, so novice drivers need to be cautious. There is prone to heavy fog on rainy days, so you must pay attention to safety. There are no charging piles or gas stations in the ancient town, but there are charging piles (1 fast charging and 2 slow charging) in the nearby Qianliyang parking lot.
• Public transportation: Take a bus from Fuzhou or Ningde to Pingnan County. The bus journey from Fuzhou to Pingnan is about 3 hours and the fare is about 70 yuan; the bus journey from Ningde to Pingnan is about 2 hours and the fare is about 40 yuan. After arriving at Pingnan County, you can transfer to a local minibus or take a taxi to Longtan Ancient Town. The minibus ride takes about 30 minutes and the ticket price is about 10 yuan; the taxi fare is about 50-80 yuan. You can also check different travel methods and routes in the "Wen Chuang Xi Ling" applet. If you choose to take the bullet train, you can first go to Fuzhou Station or Ningde Station. The bullet train ticket from Fuzhou Station to Pingnan Station is 24.5 yuan, and then transfer from Pingnan Station to the ancient town.
Internal Transportation
• Walking: The ancient town is not large and the main tourist areas can be easily reached on foot. You can slowly appreciate the scenery along the way and deeply feel the charm of the ancient town.
• Take a taxi: If you need to go to surrounding villages, such as Xiadi Village, Lianxia Village, etc., taking a taxi is a more convenient way. The fare depends on the distance, generally around 30-50 yuan.
• Car rental: If you are traveling with a large group of people and want to explore the surrounding area more freely, renting a car in the county town is also a good choice. The rental price of an ordinary economy car is about 200-300 yuan a day.
2. Accommodation Recommendations
• Characteristic B&Bs: There are many characteristic B&Bs in Longtan Ancient Town that have been transformed from old houses, such as the "47 Tree Inn", which has pavilions, towers, duplex suites, yards and terraces, beautiful environment, and warm and thoughtful owners. The price per night is 300-500 yuan. There is also the "Sui Xi Book House", which combines accommodation with reading space and is full of literary atmosphere. The price is around 200-400 yuan.
• Economy hotels: If you are looking for cost-effectiveness, you can also choose to stay in Pingnan County. There are many economy hotels in the county, such as "Pingnan Overseas Chinese Building", which costs 150-250 yuan per night. Although it is a certain distance from the ancient town, the transportation is still convenient.
3. Consumer Guide
• Food and Beverage: A bowl of mixed noodles or flat meat for breakfast in the ancient town costs only 5-10 yuan; a full meal costs 30-80 yuan per person, and you can try local specialties such as rice-roasted rabbit, which has tender meat and rich rice aroma, and costs about 50 yuan per portion; there are also beef noodles and meat and vegetable noodles, which are delicious and large in portion, and cost 15-20 yuan per bowl. The local farm dishes, such as dried bamboo shoots, native chicken, stream fish, etc., are authentic and the average consumption per person is around 50 yuan. The special snacks are also not to be missed, such as persimmon cakes at 2-3 yuan each and glutinous rice cakes at 10 yuan each.
• Tickets: No tickets are required for Longtan Ancient Town, and entry is free. However, some attractions, such as the Siping Opera Museum, may charge a small entrance fee, generally between 10 and 20 yuan.
• Shopping: You can buy some local specialties, such as Pingnan aged wine, which costs 50-100 yuan per bottle; handmade bamboo products, the price ranges from tens to hundreds of yuan depending on the size and craftsmanship.
Budget for four or five days of travel
• Accommodation: Calculated at 350 yuan per night for a characteristic homestay, a total of 1,400 yuan for 4 nights. If you choose an economy hotel, priced at 200 yuan per night, the total cost for 4 nights is 800 yuan.
• Food and Beverage: Food and Beverage expenses are calculated at RMB 150 per day, totaling RMB 750 for 5 days.
• Ticket price: estimated at 100 yuan.
• Transportation: If you drive from Fuzhou, the round-trip tolls and gas costs are about 500 yuan; if you choose public transportation, the round-trip fee is 300 yuan, and internal transportation is 200 yuan, a total of 500 yuan.
• Other expenses: Reserve 500 yuan for purchasing local specialties, small souvenirs, etc.
The overall budget is about 3,250 yuan if you choose a homestay, and about 2,650 yuan if you choose an economy hotel. Of course, the specific costs will fluctuate depending on your personal spending habits.
5. Tour route
Day 1: Entering the ancient town for the first time and encountering ancient charm
• Morning: Arrive at Longtan Ancient Town. After putting down your luggage, stroll along the ancient stone road, admire the scattered ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, touch the mottled walls, and feel the vicissitudes of history.
• Noon: Enjoy the specialty rice-roasted rabbit at the farmhouse restaurant in the ancient town, paired with fresh local vegetables, and let your taste buds immerse in the authentic country flavor.
• Afternoon: Visit the Siping Opera Museum to learn about the long history of the national intangible cultural heritage “Siping Opera”. If you are lucky, you can also enjoy wonderful opera performances. Then take a walk along the Longtan Creek, watch the clear water gurgling, and the old banyan trees beside the creek growing lush and green. Find a quiet corner, sit down and daydream, and enjoy this moment of tranquility.
• Evening: When the lights come on, the ancient town is shrouded in soft light. At this time, you can visit the small shops in the ancient town, or sit on a bench by the stream, listen to the chirping of insects and frogs, and feel the unique charm of the ancient town at night.
Day 2: Explore literature and art and feel the artistic atmosphere
• Morning: Visit various cultural and creative spaces, such as artist studios and art galleries, communicate with the artists living there, appreciate their works, and feel the perfect fusion of art and the countryside.
• Noon: Have lunch at a cafe or teahouse in the ancient town. Order a simple meal and a cup of fragrant coffee or refreshing tea to enjoy a leisurely afternoon.
• Afternoon: Go to the Sui Xi Café and enjoy the retro window view paired with hand-brewed coffee. You can also take cinematic silhouette photos from the second-floor windowsill. Afterwards, go to Longtan Art Space to participate in a hand-made experience event and make your own souvenir, such as a hand-made coffee bean refrigerator magnet.
• Evening: If it is a Friday, don’t miss the regular concerts in the ancient town and spend a wonderful night accompanied by music; if there is no concert, you can also find a pub, have a drink, and share stories with friends you met during the trip.
Day 3: Explore the surrounding villages and explore the hidden beauty
• Morning: Go to Xiadi Village, not far from Longtan Ancient Town, and visit the Pioneer Bookstore Rice Field Branch. Pick a favorite book in the literary bookstore, sit by the window, look at the rice fields outside the window, and enjoy the pleasure of reading.
• Noon: Taste local farm dishes at the farmhouse in Xiadi Village, such as Pingnan taro braised pork, native chicken pot, etc., and experience the authentic rural flavor.
• Afternoon: Stroll through the ancient streets and alleys of Xiadi Village, admire the ancient buildings, and feel the peaceful atmosphere here. Afterwards, you can go for a walk in the fields surrounding the village, breathe in the fresh air and relax your body and mind.
• Evening: Return to Longtan Ancient Town and try various snacks at the night market in the ancient town, such as fried rice cakes, grass jelly, etc., and feel the lively atmosphere.
Day 4: Nature hiking, embrace the beauty of mountains and rivers
• Morning: Head to the tea plantation on the back hill of Longtan Ancient Town, which is about a 15-minute walk away. Standing in the tea garden, overlooking the entire ancient village, the emerald green terraces stacked up like a beautiful painting that makes people intoxicated.
• Noon: Enjoy your prepared picnic in the rest pavilion near the tea garden, or return to the ancient town to dine and try the local specialty noodles.
• Afternoon: Continue hiking in the surrounding mountains and forests, explore the mysteries of nature, and feel the vitality and vigor of nature. Along the way, you can enjoy various wild flowers and grasses and hear the cheerful singing of birds.
• Evening: Return to the ancient town and rest early to recharge your energy for tomorrow’s trip.
Day 5: Farewell to the ancient town, take away the good memories
• Morning: Wander around the old town again and explore the alleys you missed before. You may find some hidden surprises. Chat with local residents and learn more about the stories of the ancient town.
• Noon: Enjoy a sumptuous lunch in the ancient town and taste the local cuisine again, which will bring this trip to a perfect end.
• Afternoon: Pack your bags and start your journey home with lots of great memories.