Not Liupanshui, this is the real "Cool Capital" of China!

As a small city in western Hubei known as the "natural air conditioner" 🌿, Lichuan's average temperature from June to August is 23°C, cooler than air conditioning! It boasts the heart-stirring Tenglong Cave, Asia's largest karst cave, the grassland wind power of Qiyue Mountain, the forest oxygen bar of Sumadang, and century-old ancient buildings full of stories 📜～Come here to hike, explore caves, and chase sea clouds; every breath carries the scent of grass and trees, making it the ultimate summer escape! ➤ Must-visit hidden gems in Lichuan ❶ 【Tenglong Cave (National 5A Scenic Spot)】 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: Asia's largest karst cave! The main cave can fit the entire Forbidden City inside, with a constant temperature of 14-18°C, so you’ll need a jacket in summer 🧥! The water cave "Wolong Swallows the River" is magnificent, while the dry cave features a laser show "Tenglong Flying" plus Tujia ethnic song and dance performances. The cave’s light and shadow show feels like traveling through the earth’s core～ 🕒Opening hours: 08:30-17:30 (schedule may vary in peak season, please refer to the scenic area) 💰Ticket price: About 180 RMB (including performances, subject to official confirmation) ✨Recommended activities: • Start with the water cave to witness the stunning river rushing into the cave and capture panoramic shots of the "waterfall through the cave"; • Don’t miss the laser show in the dry cave (showtimes: 10:20/11:30/14:00/15:00/16:00), where light and shadow transform into dragons and starry skies on the rock walls, super dreamy; • Join the Tujia ethnic song and dance performance, sway to the rhythm of the hand-waving dance, and feel the ethnic vibe～ Photo spots: waterfall at the cave entrance, giant stalactites inside, and the magical light effects of the laser show! ❷ 【Qiyue Mountain】 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: The largest mountain grassland in southern China 🌱! From June to August, the grass is lush and green, with giant wind turbines turning slowly, like a "Little Hulunbuir of Hubei"～The mountain breeze is cool; you can ride horses, camp, chase sunsets, and even watch the Milky Way at night! 🕒Opening hours: Open all day 💰Ticket price: Free ✨Recommended activities: • Drive or charter a car to the summit (good road conditions), bring a tent and picnic mat, and camp at a high spot; • Chase the sea of clouds in the morning (high chance at dawn), with mist wrapping the wind turbines, like a fairyland; • Have roasted lamb or herdsmen’s potato stew for lunch, then spend 50 RMB to ride horses back and forth, strolling the grassland; • Wait for sunset in the evening, watch the wind turbines turn golden in the sunset, perfect for photos! Outfit suggestion: light-colored long dresses or denim, the wind turbines make a cinematic backdrop～ ❸ 【Sumadang】 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: "China’s most beautiful small place" 🌳! With over 90% forest coverage, everything is lush green in summer, like a spilled palette of green paint～The ten-mile azalea corridor (no flowers but shaded by green trees), canyon streams, and abundant negative oxygen ions make hiking and cooling off very healing! 🕒Opening hours: Open all day 💰Ticket price: Free (some spots like the azalea corridor charge separately but can mostly be ignored) ✨Recommended activities: • Hike the azalea corridor trail, wander through the woods, step in streams, listen to birdsong, and feel the cool mountain breeze; • Check in at the General’s Flower Viewing Platform to overlook the vast green sea, a beauty that photos can’t capture; • Stay at local homestays, try the famous Lichuan chuncai soup (smooth and cooling) and stir-fried cured meat with bamboo shoots; • In the evening, drink tea on the homestay terrace, watch the mountain view turn pink and purple at dusk, so cozy～ ❹ 【Dashuijing Ancient Architecture Complex】 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: Century-old Tujia mansions 🏯! Built in the late Ming dynasty, the scale rivals a small Forbidden City, with bluestone paths and carved doors and windows showcasing Tujia wisdom. Visiting in summer, the courtyard shade offers coolness, like traveling back in time～ 🕒Opening hours: 08:30-17:30 💰Ticket price: 45 RMB ✨Recommended activities: • Spend 20 RMB on a guided tour to hear the rise and fall of the Li family, focusing on the exquisite wood carvings in the Li ancestral hall (dragons, phoenixes, flowers vividly lifelike); • Explore the underground karst cave of Longlin Palace (smaller and more delicate than Tenglong Cave, with magical lighting on stalactites); • Photo spots: symmetrical main gate of the ancestral hall, courtyard corridors; wear Hanfu for photos to maximize the ancient charm! After visiting, try Lichuan cured meat, rich but not greasy, perfect with corn rice～ ❺ 【Fobao Mountain】 📍Recommendation rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: "Jiuzhaigou of western Hubei" 💦! In summer, waterfalls cluster and the canyon is cool; from July to August, you can also go rafting! Hike to see streams, waterfalls, and bamboo forests; thrilling rafting relieves stress, perfect for adventure lovers～ 🕒Opening hours: 08:30-17:00 💰Ticket price: 80 RMB (rafting costs an additional ~120 RMB, subject to the scenic area) ✨Recommended activities: • Hike the canyon plank road first, see the "Three-tiered Spring" and "Tianhe Waterfall," touch the stream water for a refreshing chill; • Rafting at Fobao Mountain is a must in July and August, a 5 km route with big drops, scream your way down for an exhilarating experience; • After rafting, eat grilled corn in the scenic area to recharge; photo spot: waterside platform in front of the waterfall, misty and magical～ ➤ Lichuan 3-day cool leisure itinerary 🌿Day 1: Earth core exploration + ancient mansion tracing • Morning: Arrive in Lichuan, head straight to 【Tenglong Cave】! See Wolong Swallowing the River, explore the dry cave, check in for the laser show and Tujia song and dance, and cool off inside the cave; • Noon: Eat Lichuan mixed dishes near the scenic area (vermicelli + cured meat + vegetable stew, warm and hearty), or return to the city for sour and spicy rice tofu; • Afternoon: Head to 【Dashuijing Ancient Architecture Complex】, take a guided tour, stroll the ancient mansions, and shoot ancient-style photos in the shaded courtyard; • Evening: Stay in downtown Lichuan, have a late-night snack of Lichuan cold noodles (alkaline noodles with chili oil, the soul of summer nights), and explore the night market for local vibes～ 🌿Day 2: Grassland fun + forest oxygen • Morning: Drive up to 【Qiyue Mountain】, ride horses, camp, chase the sea of clouds, and shoot the giant wind turbines while enjoying the cool breeze; • Noon: Eat roasted whole lamb (book in advance) or herdsmen’s potato stew on Qiyue Mountain, so delicious you’ll stomp your feet; • Afternoon: Head to 【Sumadang】, hike the azalea corridor, wander the green woods, listen to streams, and overlook the green sea from the viewing platform; • Evening: Stay at a Sumadang homestay, eat chuncai soup and stir-fried cured meat with bamboo shoots, fall asleep to the sound of insects, and experience mountain tranquility～ 🌿Day 3: Canyon rafting + cool return • Morning: Rush to 【Fobao Mountain】, hike the canyon to see waterfalls, shoot misty photos at the waterside platform, and enjoy a blast of negative oxygen ions; • Noon: Eat spicy stir-fried cured meat with chili peppers in the scenic area (sour and spicy, a Lichuan specialty); • Afternoon: Raft at Fobao Mountain in July and August, scream down the drops! Then head back, packing the 23°C cool memories with you～ ➤ Lichuan must-try food list 🍜 Lichuan cold noodles: alkaline noodles mixed with chili oil, bean sprouts, and sesame; a bowl on a summer night is deeply refreshing! 🥘 Mixed dishes: vermicelli + cured meat + vegetable stew in one pot, warm and super appetizing～ 🌱 Chuncai soup: Lichuan chuncai is smooth and slippery, delicious stir-fried or in soup, a summer must-eat! 🐷 Lichuan cured meat: balanced fat and lean, rich smoky aroma, perfect stir-fried with potato slices～ 🍢 Rice tofu: rice tofu topped with sour and spicy sauce, appetizing and refreshing! ➤ Accommodation & transportation guide 🏘️ Accommodation: • Choose homestays or hotels in the city center for convenient transport and easy access to night markets and snacks; • Stay in mountain homestays at Sumadang, open your window to green woods and deeply breathe fresh oxygen; • Camp on Qiyue Mountain (bring your own tent or stay in a Mongolian yurt) to experience grassland nights (cool at night, bring a thick jacket). 🚗 Transportation: • ✈️ Airports: Enshi Xujiaping Airport (1.5h taxi to Lichuan) / Chongqing Wanzhou Airport (2h taxi); • 🚄 High-speed rail: Direct to Lichuan Station, with direct high-speed trains from Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, and other cities, very convenient; • 🚗 Self-driving: 6h from Wuhan, 3h from Chongqing; parking is convenient in the city, and self-driving or chartering cars between attractions is recommended (public transport is limited, chartering is more flexible).