The Last Hidden Gem of Jiangnan—Songyang

Not far from the Yangtze River Delta metropolitan area lies Lishui's best-kept secret—Songyang County. Here, there's no noise, no rush. You can read a book at the cliffside bookstore in Chenjiapu, daydream by the stream in Songzhuang Village, or admire the warm sunset at Yangjiatang as it bathes thousand-year-old tree branches, century-old house walls, and the backs of shepherds and water buffaloes. You can hike through tea fields and bamboo forests along ancient Song Dynasty trails or explore the flavors of Songyang in the old town streets. This is a place that lets us slow down, making holidays feel like holidays and ourselves feel like ourselves.