Qiyun Mountain Two-Day In-Depth Tour | Complete Guide to Danxia Secret Realm and Taoist Wonderland

Day 1: Ancient Town Vibes and Hengjiang Poetry 🌿 Morning: Qiyun Ancient Town Exploration Highlights: Immerse yourself in Hui-style architecture, experience intangible cultural heritage crafts (recommended: Wu Xiaomei paper cutting, Chu family iron painting), and take traditional-style photos in Hanfu at Qingxi Hall. During spring, the ancient town often features peddlers, shadow puppet shows, and you might catch the "Swordswoman Seeking Marriage" performance (14:00-14:15). Hidden gems: Taoist celestial music is often performed at the Fuhai Stage near the town entrance (15:30-15:40), complemented by tea ceremonies at the Xiangyuan Tea Stage, offering a taste of Huizhou's elegant charm. 🚣 Afternoon: Hengjiang Bamboo Rafting (14:00-16:30) Secret realm experience: Raft through the "Water Tai Chi Diagram." During rapeseed flower season (March-April), golden blooms line the shores, while in autumn, the red Danxia cliffs reflect in the clear waters. Key photo spots include "Dengfeng Ancient Bridge" and "Huizhou Countryside Views." When passing the "Qiyun Fairyland" section, ask the boatman to slow down to capture the mountain reflections. Ticket tip: Consider purchasing the "cable car + bamboo raft" combo ticket (approximately 198 yuan). 🌙 Evening: Magical Mountain Night Must-see performances: Hengjiang Golden Dragon Dance (19:30-20:00): Board a dragon boat to watch the golden dragon performance up close, complemented by a fireworks show lighting up the night sky. Intangible Heritage Iron Flower Show (19:45): Molten iron splashes create a shower of sparks; best viewed from Zuowang Garden. Accommodation recommendations: Xiangfurui Resort Hotel (near the cable car station) or Yuehua Street Cliff Guesthouses with views of Xianglu Peak. Day 2: Seeking the Tao on the Fairy Mountain · Danxia Hiking 🚡 Morning: Cable Car Exploration (arrive before 8:15) Cable car strategy: Take the Yuehua cable car for an 8-minute ride directly to Wangxian Tower to avoid crowds. The glass cabins offer aerial views of the "Hengjiang Tai Chi Diagram," and on foggy days, it feels like traveling through a fairyland. ⛰ Core Route: Twelve Fairy Landscapes Wangxian Tower → Longevity Rock: Touch the Ming Dynasty cliff carving of the "longevity" character for blessings, and listen to the legend of students making wishes at Mengzhen Bridge. Zhenxian Cave: A Danxia cave built suspended in air, search for Zhang Sanfeng's cultivation traces, and take wide-angle photos of people against the "Heavenly Splendor" stone inscription. Yuehua Street: A thousand-year-old village on a cliff. Try Taoist vegetarian cuisine at "Tianguan Mansion" (recommended: bamboo shoots with tofu stew), and observe the ancient plum trees bearing fruit in autumn at Langmei Garden. Taisu Palace → Xiaohutian: Take Hanfu-style photos against the red walls and black tiles of Taisu Palace, and experience the "ascending to immortality" feeling at Xiaohutian's steep peaks and sea of clouds (narrow path requires sideways movement). Yuxu Palace → Fanglai Fortress: Contemplate Tang Bohu's stone inscriptions at Yuxu Palace, and take aerial photos of the Danxia landscape from the steep plank road of Fanglai Fortress, combining historical significance with thrilling heights. Danxia Corridor → Highest Peak: Walk through the red rock corridor to reach the highest peak at 585 meters above sea level, overlooking Yunyan Lake like a jade embedded in the mountains. 🚡 Return Journey (before 16:50): Take the cable car down the mountain, looking back at Ziyun Gate in the sunset to conclude your Taoist journey. 🍜 Local Food Recommendations Taoist Vegetarian Feast: "Baiyue Restaurant" near Taisu Palace; must-try dishes include pine mushroom tea-flavored chicken and mushroom soup. Night Market Delights: Try Wucheng dried tofu and preserved vegetable rice cakes at Qiyun Ancient Town night market, paired with a cup of osmanthus rice wine. Hidden Delicacy: Stinky mandarin fish with stuffed tofu at "Wangxian Tower Inn" on Yuehua Street, a fusion of Hui cuisine and Taoist food culture. 📸 Photography Tips Yuxu Palace: In the morning, capture the contrast between red walls and rock faces in backlight; use drones for aerial shots of buildings embedded in the Danxia landscape. Danxia Corridor: After rain, use a polarizing filter to eliminate reflections and capture the texture of the red rock layers. Yuehua Street: Use a telephoto lens in early morning to compress the layers of rising smoke from the village against Xianglu Peak. Hengjiang Bamboo Rafting: During rapeseed flower season, wear light-colored dresses and use a low-angle shot from the bow to frame people, raft, and flower sea together. ⚠️ Tips to Avoid Pitfalls Transportation traps: Beware of overpriced black cabs at Huangshan North Station; opt for the scenic area bus (8 yuan/person) or Didi (about 50 yuan). Clothing suggestions: Wear non-slip shoes for hiking (Zhenxian Cave has slippery moss) and bring a light jacket (temperature differences are significant at the summit). Time management: The last cable car departs at 17:20. The section from Fanglai Fortress to the highest peak takes considerable time; aim to reach Ziyun Gate before 14:00. Shopping advice: Most "lingzhi mushrooms" in the scenic area are artificially cultivated; instead, consider purchasing intangible heritage lacquer fans (made on-site at the town's craft workshops). The beauty of Qiyun Mountain lies in the ripples cut by bamboo rafts on Hengjiang River, in the morning mist rising over Yuehua Street, and in the thousand-year-old Taoist charm carved into the Danxia cliffs. This guide helps you avoid the crowds and unlock the poetic and mystical essence of "Jiangnan's First Famous Mountain"!