No Hesitation, Head to Yixing for May Day! A Hidden Gem City I Can't Recommend Enough!

After a trip to Yixing, I came back desperate to recommend it! This Jiangnan town, praised by Su Dongpo, hides bamboo forests, tea fields, pottery art, and a lively local atmosphere. Just wandering around feels like stepping into a painting. I've put together a super detailed guide covering food, drinks, fun, and everything else – just book it and go! 🌿 Must-Visit Attractions Personally Tested, Every One's a Winner 1. Longchi Mountain Bicycle Park: Ride into the Same Tea Garden as Seen in "The Oath of Love" • How to Enjoy: Rent an electric-assist bicycle (CNY 30/hr) and ride along the Rainbow Road. On your left are rolling tea fields, and on your right is the sparkling Yangxian Lake. Be sure to stop at the "Tea Field Viewing Platform." Vast expanses of emerald green tea bushes cascade down the slopes. Wearing a white dress and standing on the field path makes for effortlessly fresh, Japanese-style photos. • Hidden Tip: Go after 4pm. The slanted sunlight casts a golden glow on the tea fields, perfect for photos. You can also catch the sunset before heading back. 2. Yada Yangxian Xishan Town: The Pinnacle of New Chinese Aesthetics • Must-See Highlights: ◦ Dongpo Pavilion: Climb the pavilion at dusk to watch the sunset. The orange-red sky against the white walls and black tiles looks like an ink painting. When the lights turn on at night, the warm yellow light filtering through the window lattices creates a perfect atmosphere. ◦ Town Market: On weekends, there are handmade craft stalls where you can buy Yixing black tea, small Zisha pottery ornaments, and freshly baked Wumi rice balls topped with pork floss and sugar – super delicious! 3. Shushan Ancient South Street: The Authentic Vibe of Ming and Qing Dynasty Zisha Alleys • Shopping & Eating Guide: ◦ Zisha Experience: Pick any old workshop (recommend "Huyutang") and spend CNY 80 to try hand-building a Zisha teapot. The instructor will teach you step-by-step how to pat the clay slabs and form the pot body. You can carve your name on the finished greenware and take it to be fired. ◦ Old Teahouse Tea Time: The salted pork and bamboo shoot stewed noodles at "Chunhe Teahouse" are a must-try! The noodles are hand-pulled, and the broth is incredibly savory. Pair it with a plate of Heqiao tofu skin – that's how the locals eat. 4. Yixing Bamboo Sea: The Healing Vibe of East China's Largest Bamboo Forest • Easy Route: Take the cable car (CNY 40 one way) to "Sunan First Peak" for a panoramic view of the vast bamboo sea rippling like waves. Then, walk down via the "Jade Corridor." The stone path through the bamboo forest is covered with fallen leaves, and sunlight filters through the gaps, sparkling like scattered gold. • Photo Spot: The bamboo raft by "Mirror Lake" (free). Put on Hanfu attire, step onto the raft, and gently pole the water – the photos look like scenes from a martial arts movie. 5. Yaohu Town: A Treasure Trove for Ancient-Style Photoshoots • Latest Setups: Newly built "Bamboo Shadow Tea House" and "Ancient Style Post Station." Bring your own tea set to take photos at the tea house; bamboo curtains, wooden tables, and cushions are all provided. Rent Hanfu for CNY 50/hr; the owner will even help with hairstyling. • Night Scene Bonus: There's a light show at 7pm. Mist over the lake combined with projections creates a fairyland-like scene, perfect for atmospheric shots. 🗺️ Optimal 3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary (with Pitfall Avoidance Tips) Day 1: Artsy Slow Living Morning: Arrive at Yixing Station via high-speed rail → Taxi to "Shushan Ancient South Street" (spend 2 hrs, Zisha experience + lunch) Afternoon: "Yada Yangxian Xishan Town" (ancient-style photos + market stroll, watch the sunset from Dongpo Pavilion at dusk) Evening: Stay at a guesthouse near Yangxian Xishan (recommend "Xishan Qingshe," wake up to mountain views) Day 2: Deep Breath of Nature Morning: "Longchi Mountain Bicycle Park" (3 hrs cycling, cover both tea fields + lake views) Afternoon: "Yixing Bamboo Sea" (cable car up and down, focus on Mirror Lake and Jade Corridor) Evening: "Tao Er Chang Art District" (browse the creative market, enjoy BBQ and craft beer) Day 3: Parent-Child / Ancient Style Options • Parent-Child Route: "Zhangzhu Dream City" (free play on swings, sandpit, feed small animals) → "Shanjuan Cave" (see karst cave wonders, boat ride on the underground river) • Ancient Style Route: "Yaohu Town" (full-day photoshoot) → "Yunhu Dajue Temple" (visit the art museum, draw lots for blessings) 📸 Epic Photo Spots with Outfit Guide Location | Feature | Best Time | Outfit Suggestion ---|---|---|--- Longchi Mountain Rainbow Road | Tea fields + road perspective | 9am-10am | Light blue denim jacket + white T-shirt Yangxian Xishan Dongpo Pavilion | Flying eaves + sunset | 6pm-7pm | New Chinese style Qipao (light green/off-white) Yixing Bamboo Sea Mirror Lake Raft | Bamboo forest reflection | Before 10am | Slate blue Hanfu + bamboo hat Yaohu Town Tea House | Bamboo curtains + tea set | All day | Plain cotton/linen long dress + straw bag 🍽️ Local Insider's Food Map • Breakfast: "Lao Difang Noodles" Wumi rice (add salted pork and diced bamboo shoots), CNY 5 per bowl and very filling • Main Meals: ◦ "Ximu Chestnut" Chestnut Roast Chicken: Chestnuts are soft and tender, chicken is flavorful, a must-order! ◦ "Fangzhuang Lamb Restaurant" Braised Lamb: Skin-on lamb stewed until falling apart, perfect with a bowl of white rice • Dessert: "Xushe Small Crisp Candy" Peanut Crisp, freshly made syrup coats peanut fragments, sweet but not greasy • Drinks: "Hujian" Milk Tea's "Zhú Shēng Kōng Yě," bamboo-scented tea base + cream topping, great looks and taste ⚠️ Important Notes (Save Time & Money) 1. Transportation Pitfalls: ◦ Attractions are spread out, driving yourself is most convenient (parking fee CNY 10-20/day); use Didi for ride-hailing, approx. CNY 50 from downtown to the Bamboo Sea ◦ At Longchi Mountain, rent the "electric-assist bike" for easy uphill/downhill riding, don't choose the regular bicycle! 2. Spending Reminders: ◦ Be cautious when buying Zisha teapots on Shushan Ancient South Street priced over CNY 200; beginners should try the hand-building experience first before deciding ◦ Hanfu rental at Yaohu Town is negotiable; renting 3 or more sets can get you a 20% discount 3. Seasonal Attire: ◦ In May, wear thin long sleeves + shorts; temperature varies greatly between day and night, bring a denim jacket ◦ Lots of mosquitoes in the Bamboo Sea, spray insect repellent! Spray insect repellent! Spray insect repellent! (Important things must be said three times) Ticket Reference: • Yixing Bamboo Sea: CNY 80 • Shanjuan Cave: CNY 100 • Longchi Mountain Bicycle Park: Free (bike rental extra) • Yada Yangxian Xishan Town: Free The most pleasant surprise in Yixing is the absence of the hustle and bustle found at typical tourist hotspots; even time seems to slow down here. Sitting in an old teahouse on Ancient South Street, listening to a Zisha artisan talk about "a world in a grain of sand," watching the bamboo shadows sway outside the window, I suddenly understood why Su Dongpo said, "I will buy land in Yangxian and grow old here." This May Day holiday, for those looking to escape the crowds, Yixing is truly worth the trip!