[2025 Lichuan ] Travel Guide for Qiyue Mountain (Updated Jun)

🌄 1. Weishan | The vibrant life of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom, a healing slow life with daily costs around 100+ 💰Budget reference: • Stay: Ancient town homestays 80~150 RMB/night (Mingbang Inn, Puyue Liangshe) • Eat: 30 RMB per person/day (snacks to fill you up!) • Transport: Dali → Weishan high-speed train 22 minutes/20 RMB, walk and electric scooters within the ancient town 🌟Must-visit spots: • Weishan Ancient Town free: 600-year chessboard layout, morning light at Xinggong Tower, tea house roasted tea 5 RMB with unlimited refills • Weibao Mountain 40 RMB: Famous Taoist mountain, see 400-year-old camellias, check in at the Prince’s Hall from "Heaven Official’s Blessing" • Jiama Printing/Wama Cat DIY: 5 RMB for block printing, make your own lucky Wama Cat (mailed to your home!) 🍜Food highlights: • Lao Wang Guojiang Rice Noodles: soft and glutinous noodles with braised meat soup, 10 RMB fragrant delight • Nanzhao Zhuji One Noodle: Guinness record! Adding egg is the soul • Street stalls: corn cakes 2 RMB, papaya vinegar jelly 5 RMB, sour and spicy appetite boosters 📌Heartfelt summary: 80% fewer people than Dali! Relax for three days on a budget, the smiles of Bai grandmas are more healing than sunshine～ 🌿 2. Lichuan | Hubei’s secret “cool city,” escape into a natural 23℃ air-conditioned room 💰Budget reference: • Stay: Summer resort homestays 120~200 RMB/night (Sumadang, Baiqueshan) • Eat: Tujia cuisine 40 RMB per person, generous portions and affordable • Transport: Wuhan → Lichuan high-speed train 2.5h, car rental between attractions 60 RMB/day ⛰️Cool activities: • Tenglong Cave free: Asia’s largest dry cave, laser show + Tujia folk songs and dances (don’t forget a jacket!) • Enshi Grand Canyon 150 RMB: hike Yunlong Rift, breathtaking cliff plank road • Qiyue Mountain free: windmill grassland camping, watch sunset and starry sky 🔥Tujia flavor feast: • Smoked pork trotters hotpot: smoky aroma + sticky potatoes, 30 RMB per person to fill up • Baiyang dried tofu: intangible cultural heritage bean fragrance! 5 RMB/bag as snack • Hezha mixed rice: soybean residue + minced meat, rice lovers rejoice 📌Heartfelt summary: A divine place to sleep under a quilt in summer! Prices like 10 years ago, the top choice for retirement-style travel～ 🏮 3. Fenghuang Ancient Town | Avoid the crowds! Unlock the ink painting-like mornings 💰Budget reference: • Stay: Riverside rooms downstream of Tuojiang River 100~150 RMB (Jinjiayuan Inn) • Eat: Snacks 15 RMB to fill you up, main meals 40 RMB per person • Transport: High-speed train to “Fenghuang Ancient Town Station,” shuttle bus 7 RMB to the ancient town 📸Photo guide: • 6:00 Tuojiang River rock jump: morning mist + empty stilt houses, wear a white dress for ethereal shots • Hongqiao Teahouse 2nd floor: order a cup of Guzhang Maojian tea 15 RMB, panoramic view • Nanhua Mountain 40 RMB: April rhododendron sea, climb to shoot scenes like "Spirited Away" 🍲Xiangxi must-try: • Cuicui Miao pancakes: small cart under Hongqiao, wild vegetables + egg batter fried fragrant, 8 RMB • Private kitchen: blood rice duck + sour radish, 45 RMB per person, sweat-inducing deliciousness • Master Huang’s BBQ: local night snack spot, grilled beef fat bursts with juice 📌Heartfelt summary: Don’t believe “Fenghuang is too commercial”! Rent the empty town at 7 AM, the romance of river lights at dusk is worth the ticket～ 🍵 4. Yixing | Tea and pottery paradise next to Suzhou and Hangzhou, hot springs to heal the working crowd 💰Budget reference: • Stay: Bamboo forest homestays 200~300 RMB (Jiangzuo Fenghuang, Xingxiang Zhuyuan) • Eat: Snacks from 10 RMB, main meals 50 RMB per person • Transport: Hangzhou → Yixing high-speed train 40 minutes, taxi 30 RMB per trip between attractions 🎋Hidden experiences: • Bamboo Sea 80 RMB: cable car to the top, ten thousand acres of bamboo waves refresh your eyes • Shushan Ancient South Street free: touch thousand-year-old purple clay, watch grandpas make teapots • Yangxian Hot Springs 150 RMB: soak under the starry sky, relieve muscle soreness 💥Carb happiness: • Zhou Zhen wontons: thin skin, big filling + shrimp soup, 10 RMB fresh to the core • Wumi rice: glutinous rice dyed with Nan Zhu leaves, eat with sugar! 5 RMB/bowl • Heqiao dried tofu: intangible cultural heritage marinated flavor, 10 RMB/bag to take away 📌Heartfelt summary: Hot springs + tea fields + purple clay = healing trio! Prices comparable to small counties, perfect for weekend recharging～ 💡Low price tips: These places have many hostels/homestays, off-peak (non-holiday) room rates are 30% off! Snacks are concentrated in old streets and alleys, follow the local elders’ queues for sure success～

Enshi is located in the southwestern part of Hubei Province, at the junction of Hubei, Hunan, and Chongqing. Enshi Prefecture was established on August 19, 1983, and is home to 29 ethnic groups, including Tujia, Miao, Dong, and Han. As of the end of 2022, the total registered population of Enshi Prefecture was 4 million. Enshi boasts a green coverage rate of over 95%, earning it the titles "Forest Sea of Western Hubei" and "Central China's Medicine Chest." Enshi also possesses the world's largest independent selenium ore deposit, known as the "World Selenium Capital." Enshi features a subtropical monsoon mountain humid climate, located at the mysterious latitude of 30°N. With significant altitude differences, it exhibits distinct microclimate characteristics and vertical variations, described as "four seasons on one mountain, different weather every ten miles." The annual average temperature is 16.2°C, and the average annual rainfall is 1600 mm. Situated between Wuhan and Chongqing, two famously hot cities, Enshi is a popular destination for sightseeing and summer retreats. ⛺【Must-Visit Spots】: Enshi Prefecture is rich in attractions, with 23 sites rated 4A or above and a total of 54 A-rated sites. It is a paradise for self-driving and independent travelers, with highways G318 and G209 crossing through, offering stunning scenery along the way. 🛬【Travel Tips】: You can follow the route shown in Image 1, either along the line or in a loop. If you have limited time and want to focus on key attractions, staying in Enshi City and traveling back and forth daily is a good option. Since Enshi is mountainous, transportation is not very developed, and many routes are relatively straightforward. 🏨【Accommodation Tips】: Staying in Enshi City is convenient for food and lodging. There are also many unique homestays near scenic spots, offering great views and a wild charm worth experiencing. If you choose to stay near attractions, check in advance whether dining options are convenient. For RV and camping enthusiasts, there are some facilities along the highways. 🧡【Tips】: Most attractions in Enshi are in mountainous areas, so prepare outdoor gear and tools, and take precautions against sun exposure and insects.

📍Address: Qiyue Mountain 🚗Transportation: Self-driving: Depart from Enshi City, drive along G318 National Highway for about 1.5 hours to reach Qiyue Mountain Ski Resort. The scenery along the way is picturesque, perfect for taking photos. 📸 Photo Spots Mountain Top Viewing Platform: Stand on the mountain top and overlook the entire ski resort, with the beautiful snow-covered scenery in full view, making it the best place for taking photos. Pine Forest Snow Scenery: Stroll along the path beside the ski resort, through the pine forest covered with snowflakes, as if you are in a fairy tale world. 🎟️Tickets: 🎫Package: CNY 160 💗Other Tips: When going to Lichuan to see the snow, remember to wear more clothes and keep warm. Also, contact the hotel in advance to inquire about the weather and road conditions to prepare for your trip.

📍Attraction Address: Qiyue Mountain is located in the western part of Lichuan City, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province. It is the largest mountain grassland in southern China. 🚗Transportation: There are many buses passing through Qiyue Mountain at Lichuan South Gate Bus Station, or you can charter a car from Lichuan to the scenic area. 👍️Must-visit Attractions: Qiyue Mountain Pasture, with its vast sea of clouds and beautiful scenery, features multiple horse racing tracks, camping villages, barbecue gardens, leisure villas, hotels, etc. In summer, the green grass is lush, and cattle and sheep are everywhere, offering a rare prairie landscape for southerners; in winter, the snow is white, and the trees are covered in ice, presenting a northern scenery. It is an ideal place for vacation, summer resort, and leisure. 🎟️Ticket Information: 💗Other Tips: Historical Overview: Qiyue Mountain Grassland covers an area of more than 500,000 acres and has been recognized by domestic and foreign experts as the largest mountain grassland in southern China. After twenty years of development and construction, the grassland animal husbandry has begun to take shape. The vast grasslands and herds of cattle and sheep add beautiful scenery to Qiyue Mountain. The beautiful natural mountain grassland scenery, cool and pleasant climate, and convenient and superior transportation location constitute the unique tourism resources of Qiyue Mountain. This resource advantage has shown its charming appeal in tourism development, and today's Qiyue Mountain Scenic Area has endless grasslands.

Heading to the clouds, feel the 20℃ summer!! Attached guide. The scorching heat is unbearable, looking for a cool summer. The wind on the mountain is blowing, bringing a hint of coolness. The windmill is turning, and the low and high sound echoes in the ears. The clouds within reach are connected to the mountains, and the layers are as beautiful as a painting. Here, I feel the 20℃ summer. Address: Qiyue Mountain, no tickets. Qiyue Mountain, if you come here for the first time, you don’t know how to play without a guide. Tour route: Qiyue Mountain Paragliding Base No. 8 Windmill Observation Deck. Tour tips: Navigation: Qiyue Mountain Paragliding Base Entrance fee: 20 yuan Paragliding fee: 880 yuan. If you just go in and take pictures, the 20 yuan entrance fee is enough. If you like soaring in the sky and stimulating the feeling of heartbeat, then take a paragliding flight to the clouds. If the weather is fine, you can really sit on the meadow, look at the distant scenery, and be in a daze. Navigation to the No. 8 Windmill Observation Deck: Jianhua Racecourse After arriving, continue to drive about 200 meters along the main road. There is a sign for "No. 8 Windmill Base" on the left. Turn in and there is a nearly 2-kilometer gravel road. The road is narrow and it is not easy to pass by cars. Pay attention to safety when you go forward and park in order after reaching the platform. The top of the mountain is a 360° viewing platform with a wide view of the mountains. There is no shade on the top of the mountain, so you need to take sun protection measures. When the weather is fine, it is a good place to watch the sunrise or sunset. There are several fenced racecourses in Qiyue Mountain, with horseback riding, go-karting and other recreational projects. There are accommodation and camping spots on the mountain. Due to the undeveloped scenic area, there are many enclosures in the racecourse, which feels a bit chaotic

It’s not that you can’t afford to go to Harbin, but Enshi is more cost-effective! Excellent view and super bed and breakfast! ! After the explosion in Harbin, I would like to recommend a place to everyone - Enshi Enshi is lush and green in summer, making it a great place to escape the heat. And winter is a different scene! ! Day 1: After arriving in Enshi, choose a hotel of your choice to rest and refresh yourself in preparation for a better travel experience. You can also check out the surrounding scenery and experience the local culture. As for hotels, I personally highly recommend the "Xinzhibao Yuanshan" B&B. The morning and evening separated by mountains and seas are the morning and evening of each of us. If we start from this journey, there will always be a distant place to reach. This homestay, which was booked in advance, has super considerate service and takes guests' needs into full consideration. It is only three minutes' drive from Enshi Grand Canyon and ten minutes from the town. The lights at night are magnificent, and the scenery outside the window is even more amazing. You can see Enshi's clothes in winter, and you can also see the paradise on earth between the mountains and canyons. Don’t worry about the weather in the south being too cold, the floor heating and air conditioning throughout the house will provide you with thoughtful service. After a good sleep, I started to travel around Enshi in winter. Day 2: Head to Enshi Grand Canyon, where you will see a majestic and magnificent canyon. In the canyon, the stone peaks are towering into the clouds, the cliffs are steep and steep, and everywhere there are magnificent sights that will amaze you! What’s even more amazing is that the top of the canyon is covered with snow at this time, as if you are in a fairyland. You can put aside your worries and relax for a while. Day 3: If you have enough time, we recommend Qiyue Mountain, a great place to enjoy the snow in winter and take great photos. Making snowmen and having snowball fights are awesome! ! Of course, I have to emphasize that the "Xinzhibao Yuanshan" B&B has super complete supporting facilities! ! The service is also warm and meticulous. As a foodie, I think the auntie’s cooking skills are superb. The food is so delicious that I will want to eat it next time and never forget it! ! It also provides a good reason to come back next time. So, Enshi, see you next time! ! !