Eastern Venice—Zhenyuan, Guizhou

🌿Zhenyuan, Guizhou | Step into a real-life ink painting, the ultimate travel guide Dear friends✨, if you want to find a place to escape the hustle and bustle and experience slow living, the ancient town of Zhenyuan in Guizhou is a must-visit! With over 2,000 years of history, the Wuyang River flows through the town, forming a natural Taiji diagram. Every shot you take is a masterpiece📸! Here’s a comprehensive guide for you to get ready and go～ 📍Basic Information of the Scenic Area 💗Address: Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province 💗Tickets: Entrance to the ancient town is free🆓, but some attractions inside charge separately. Students, seniors over 65, military personnel, medical staff, and others with valid ID can enjoy free admission to state-owned A-level scenic spots! Plus, from January 1 to December 31, 2025, a "multi-day ticket" policy allows unlimited entries within 5 days (excluding commercial projects)! 💗Entry Method: After booking, scan your original ID or booking QR code to enter—super convenient! If you forget your ID or phone, you can also exchange for a paper ticket at the ticket window with your electronic ID or ID number. 🚗Transportation Guide ✅External Transportation 💗High-speed Rail: Recommended to depart from Guiyang North Station, about 1.5 hours to Zhenyuan Station, ticket price around ¥100. After exiting, a 10-minute taxi ride (about ¥20) takes you to the town center, or take bus No.1 or No.6 (¥2, 30 minutes) directly. 💗Self-driving: From Guiyang via Huru Highway, about 3.5 hours. Parking around the ancient town costs ¥30 - 50/day. The newly opened Zhonghe Mountain Tunnel shortens the drive on Dongguan Road to just 1 minute～ 💗Train: Guiyang to Zhenyuan, ticket ¥41.5, about 4 hours; Kaili to Zhenyuan, ticket ¥14.5, about 1 hour. 💗Bus: Buses run from nearby cities like Kaili, Guiyang, and Huaihua to Zhenyuan, but they take longer and cost more than trains, so choose trains if possible～ 💗Airplane: Nearby airports include Kaili Huangping Airport, Huaihua Zhijiang Airport, Tongren Fenghuang Airport, and Guiyang Airport. You’ll need to transfer to other transport to reach Zhenyuan. ✅Internal Transportation: The core area of the ancient town is walkable～ For trips to Wuyang River Pier or climbing Shiping Mountain, sightseeing buses are available (¥10 - 20). 🏡Accommodation Recommendations ✅Riverside Scenic Homestays by Wuyang River ✅Shuizhilan Inn (Zhenjiang Pavilion Branch): River view rooms with balconies are stunning, with breathtaking night views, priced ¥200 - 350/night. ✅Qiangshou Tribe Inn: Loft view rooms with windows opening to sea of clouds and forest, priced ¥200 - 300/night. ✅Best Value in Town Center: Qingxin Xiaozhu Youth Hostel, near Qinglong Cave, cozy design, ¥150 - 250/night, perfect for students! 💡Tips to Avoid Pitfalls: Riverside rooms have great views but can be damp and noisy at night due to bars. If you’re sensitive to cold or noise, choose rooms on quieter streets; if driving, confirm if parking is included! 🍜Must-Try Food 💗Sour Soup Fish: Red sour soup with rice flower fish, sour and spicy, super appetizing, fish meat tender beyond words! Recommended "Miao Boma Sour Soup Fish," about ¥50 per person for a feast～ 💗Zhenyuan Preserved Vegetables: Intangible cultural heritage pickled vegetables, delicious in stir-fried meat or porridge, canned at specialty stores for only ¥15 each, don’t forget to bring some home～ 💗Snack Street (from Zhusheng Bridge to Fuxing Alley) 💗Yuanjia Tofu Old Shop: Tofu pudding noodles + tofu balls, crispy outside and tender inside, only ¥10 per serving! 💗Fried Fern Cake: Chewy and soft, dipped in chili powder, ¥5 per serving, simply divine～ 💗Anjia Sesame Seed Cake: Eat hot, irresistibly fragrant, ¥4 each～ 💗Liangyouyou Ice Sweet Wine: The perfect summer cooler, a bowl after a meal for ¥8 is super satisfying～ ✅Late-night Snack: Riverside stalls’ tofu pudding grilled fish, about ¥40 per person, paired with sour plum juice, doubles the joy! ✅Specialty Night Snacks: Zhenyuan No.1 Dumplings’ steamed dumplings, freshly made and steamed; Amei Night Market’s claypot sour soup noodles, appetizing and filling; and ubiquitous street braised pots, like Guizhou’s version of “Mao Cai,” available morning, noon, and night～ 🗺️Recommended Itinerary ✅One-day Tour (Compact Version) 💗Morning: Start with photos at Zhusheng Bridge, then visit Qinglong Cave (¥60, about 1.5 hours) to experience the charm of suspended ancient architecture, and stroll through the free crooked alleys. 💗Afternoon: Climb Shiping Mountain (¥30) for a panoramic view of the Taiji ancient town, then explore Sifangjing Alley, and visit Heping Village (free) to learn about wartime history. 💗Evening: Night cruise on Wuyang River (¥80), with dreamy light and water mist show, then head to a quiet bar to listen to Dong ethnic songs～ ⚠️Avoid Pitfalls ✅Always ask before taking photos with people in ethnic costumes, or you might be charged ¥20 - 50! ✅Boat tickets are different for day (¥60) and night (¥80). Night cruises are highly recommended—the ancient town under lights is breathtaking～ ✅You can hike Shiping Mountain for free via the "path beside Tianhou Palace," but it’s steep, so wear non-slip shoes; Qinglong Cave closes at 16:00, go early to avoid tour groups～ ✅Bring cash! Some snack stalls don’t accept mobile payments; it gets chilly by the river at night, bring a light jacket～ ✅Travel off-peak for a better experience! Before 7 AM you can capture empty ancient alleys, the first night cruise at 19:30 has fewer people and beautiful views, avoid National Day and summer holidays～ The beauty of Zhenyuan is hidden in the misty cobblestone alleys at dawn, in the shimmering night lights, and in the steaming warmth of local life～ Friends, save this guide and embark on a healing journey～💕 #ZhenyuanAncientTown #GuizhouTravel #AncientTownGuide #TravelCheckIn #FoodExploration