Weekend trip to Pujiang Shenli Gorge was totally worth it! Lush green mountains layer upon layer

**Shenli Gorge: Jinhua's Hidden "Little Jiuzhaigou", A Wuxia Film-like Landscape Paradise** **【Emerald Waters & Crimson Cliffs, Naturally Heroic】** Tucked within the mountain folds of Pujiang, Jinhua in Zhejiang lies **Shenli Gorge**—a canyon once praised by Xu Xiake. Its waters resemble spilled jade, pooling into crystal-clear ponds or cascading as milky-white waterfalls. The crimson Danxia cliffs on either side, sheer as if carved by blades, glow under sunlight, transforming the gorge into a qi-filled realm straight out of *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*, where martial heroism meets ethereal beauty. **【Three Must-Experience Realms】** 🌊 **Aquatic Wonder**: - "Lishui Lake" is so transparent you can count the patterns on pebbles 5 meters below while bamboo rafting. - In summer, "Shenli Waterfall" plunges like a silver dragon, cooling the viewing platform by 10°C instantly. ⛰ **Cliff Marvels**: - Hike the "Eagle's Path" plank road clinging to cliffs, touching billion-year-old volcanic rock folds. - At dusk, "Danxia Sunset" paints the gorge in fiery orange, resembling an alien landscape. 🌲 **Forest Serenity**: - Cross the 7D glass bridge through treetops, overlooking primeval forests 100 meters below. - At dawn, mist shrouds ancient pines and wild monkeys, creating an ink-painting scene. **【Hidden Gems】** ▪️ Rush in 2 hours post-rain to spot dozens of temporary waterfalls cascading down cliffs. ▪️ In November, golden-red metasequoia forests reflect in water like a flaming maze. ▪️ Bring an empty bottle for "Longevity Spring" water—locals swear by its beauty-enhancing properties (pH 7.8, weakly alkaline). **【Practical Guide】** 📍 Address: Lishui Village, Pujiang County, Jinhua (15 mins from Pujiang exit on Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway) 🎫 Ticket: Peak season ¥60 (includes glass bridge) / Half-price for children 🕒 Suggested duration: 3-4 hours (5km loop trail) 🚶 Route: Entrance → Lishui Lake → Shenli Waterfall → Glass Bridge → Danxia Plank Road → Longevity Spring 🍜 Bonus: Try villagers' ash-broth rice dumplings at the exit—steamed with gorge spring water, sticky with a hint of alkali. **"The ultimate Jiangnan gorge experience—where cameras and lungs get equally intoxicated by oxygen."**