[2025 Xinyang Attraction] Travel Guide for Tea Island, Nanwan Lake (Updated May)

My dears, I'm the kind of person who hates crowded tourist spots👣. I love exploring lesser-known places with beautiful scenery! I discovered a treasure this May—Xinyang, Henan, a "Southern-style landscape in Northern China" hidden among mountains and rivers. With fragrant tea gardens and picturesque lakes, a three-day trip here is super healing✨! 🌿Three-day, two-night in-depth tour itinerary Day 1: Nanwan Lake 👉 Tea Island 👉 Bird Island Day 2: Jigong Mountain 👉 Buerden Forest Park Day 3: Haotang Village 👉 Return trip 🌟 Day 1: Lakeside Scenery + Tea Culture Nanwan Lake In May, Nanwan Lake's water is as clear as a sapphire💎! Taking a boat tour is a must. Enjoy the breeze and the distant, rolling green hills. The first stop is "Tea Island." As soon as you step ashore, you'll be surrounded by tea gardens. Learn to pick and roast tea with the tea farmers, and even make your own Xinyang Maojian tea🍃. It's so fulfilling! Bird Island In the afternoon, go to Bird Island to see flocks of birds soaring! Egrets and mandarin ducks play on the lake. If you're lucky, you might even catch the spectacular sight of "ten thousand birds flying together"🕊️! There's also a cute pet park on the island, so kids can have a great time too! 🌳 Day 2: Oxygen Therapy + Republican Era Charm Jigong Mountain Head straight to Jigong Mountain in the morning. Take the cable car to the top of the mountain, where clouds roll among the peaks, making you feel like you've stepped into a traditional ink painting🌫️! This used to be a summer resort during the Republican era. Visit century-old villas such as the "Meiling Dance Hall" and "Yi Lu," and feel as if you've traveled back in time🏡. As you hike down the mountain, you'll pass babbling streams and wildflowers everywhere. In May, the greenery is so lush it seems like it could drip! Buerden Forest Park In the afternoon, take a detour to Buerden Forest Park. The century-old ginkgo forest and bamboo forest are perfect for taking photos📸! Sunlight filters through the leaves and onto the stone paths, making every shot a forest-style masterpiece. When you're tired, take a break in the forest pavilion, listen to the wind and birds, and let your whole being quiet down～ 🏡 Day 3: Fairytale Village + Slow-Paced Country Life Haotang Village Rated by National Geographic as the "Most Beautiful Village," Haotang Village is like a real-life Shangri-La! The white-walled, gray-tiled southern Henan houses are scattered in an orderly fashion, with streams flowing in front of the doors and verdant tea gardens behind the houses🌿. Rent a bicycle and wander around at a leisurely pace. Visit the "Lotus Pond in Moonlight" viewing platform. In May, the lotus flowers are half-bloomed, with pink buds dotting the green leaves, a sight that will stir your heart～ There are also handicraft workshops in the village where you can experience pottery and tie-dye. Before leaving, take home a handmade souvenir for a perfect ending! 🚗 Transportation Guide • High-speed train: Direct to Xinyang East Station. It's about 1.5 hours from Wuhan/Zhengzhou. After getting off, it's super convenient to take a taxi to the city center or scenic spots🚖. • Self-driving: It's a 3–4 hour drive from surrounding provinces and cities. Along the way, you can see large wheat fields and tea gardens. The pastoral scenery in May is incredibly healing🌈! 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations • Near Nanwan Lake: Stay in a lake-view homestay. Open the window to see the lake view, and enjoy tea and chats on the balcony in the evening🌙. • At the foot of Jigong Mountain: Choose a Republican-style inn to experience the romance of "sleeping under the stars in the mountains." You can also go directly up the mountain to watch the sunrise in the morning～ 🍲 Must-Eat Xinyang Cuisine • Xinyang Hot Dry Noodles: Different from the Wuhan version! The noodles are chewier, the sesame sauce is richer, and with a spoonful of pickled cowpeas and spicy radish, they're so delicious you'll stomp your feet🍜! • Nanwan Fish Hot Pot: Freshly caught Nanwan Lake fish, with a milky white and sweet broth. Cooked with tofu and greens, it's so fresh you'll lose your eyebrows😋! • Bamboo Tube Fish: A local specialty of pickled fish, salty, savory, and slightly spicy. You can eat three bowls of rice with it～ Xinyang in May is neither cold nor hot, with tea fragrance everywhere. Any spot is a healing landscape～ My dears, quickly save this and come here to enjoy a few days of slow living away from the crowds🌿!

Located 5 kilometers southwest of Xinyang City, Henan Province, Nanwan Lake is a tourist destination that combines natural landscapes with cultural attractions. 🌱 In spring, the lakeside is shaded with green trees, the lake surface sparkles, and the islands in the lake are like brilliant pearls set in the emerald waves, attracting many visitors. 🌼 I. Attractions and Travel Tips 🔍 • Natural Scenery: Nanwan Lake covers a vast water area with numerous islands, among which Tea Island, Monkey Island, and Bird Island are the most famous. 🌳 ◦ Tea Island is covered with tea gardens. In spring, fresh tea leaves sprout, and you can experience tea picking and tasting here. 🍃 ◦ Monkey Island is home to groups of lively and adorable monkeys. You can interact with them closely and feel the vitality of nature. 🐒 ◦ Bird Island hosts numerous bird species, with their calls echoing back and forth like a natural concert. 🦅 • Tour Route: You can take a boat tour of Nanwan Lake, visiting each island in turn to fully appreciate the beauty of the lake and mountains. The entire tour takes about 3-4 hours. 🚢 • Admission Fee: Around CNY 70 per person (actual price subject to scenic area rates). 🎫 II. Food Recommendations 😋 Xinyang's cuisine is unique, and the area around Nanwan Lake features many authentic local dishes. • Nanwan Fish: This is the signature dish of Nanwan Lake. The fish is tender and nutritious. You can choose from various cooking methods such as steamed or braised - every bite is memorable. 🐟 • Xinyang Maojian Tea Cuisine: In spring, the lakeside is filled with tea fragrance. Dishes made with Xinyang Maojian tea, such as tea-flavored spare ribs and tea rice, offer unique flavors. 🍵 • Luoshan Tripe Soup: This traditional Xinyang dish features a rich, fragrant broth and is a must-try local delicacy. 🥣 III. Featured Accommodation 🏡 After a tiring day of sightseeing, we recommend staying at the distinctive guesthouses around Nanwan Lake. • Nanwan Impression Guesthouse: This guesthouse is close to the lake, offering beautiful lake views from the windows. The rooms are cozy and well-equipped, and you can taste homemade local dishes, making you feel at home. 🏠 • Tea Fragrance Inn: Taking advantage of Tea Island's natural scenery, this inn incorporates tea culture elements. Here, you can fall asleep to the scent of tea and take morning walks in the tea garden, enjoying peaceful moments. 🍃 IV. Transportation Guide 🚗 If driving, take the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway to the Xinyang exit, then follow navigation to Nanwan Lake Scenic Area, which takes about 40 minutes. 🗺️ If taking public transportation, first arrive at Xinyang Station or Xinyang East Station, then take Bus Route 2 directly to Nanwan Lake Scenic Area, which is very convenient. 🚌

📍Nanwan Lake: You won't believe this is Xinyang‼️ Here's a travel guide to Nanwan Lake in Xinyang: Preparation • Documents and Clothing: Bring your ID card and other necessary documents. Pack a light jacket for spring and autumn. For summer, remember to bring sunscreen and light clothing. For winter, bring warm clothing such as a heavy coat and scarf. • Supplies: Prepare a camera, portable charger, and other devices to capture beautiful moments and charge your electronic devices. If you plan to hike, bring trekking poles and a backpack. Transportation • Public Transportation: Take Bus No. 2 or 25 from Xinyang Railway Station directly to Nanwan Lake Scenic Area. From Xinyang East Railway Station, you can take a bus and transfer to another bus to the scenic area, or take a taxi directly. • Self-driving: If you are coming from another city, take the Jinggang'ao Expressway or Hushan Expressway depending on your direction. Follow National Highway G107 or navigate to "Nanwan Lake Scenic Area". Tickets and Activities • Tickets: CNY 60 per adult, boat ticket CNY 40 per person. • Activities: Take a boat tour to enjoy the lake and mountains and the 61 islands; stroll along the Nanwan Lake Dam and marvel at its grandeur; enjoy fishing and hiking. Recommended Attractions • Tea Island: A great place to experience Xinyang Maojian tea culture. Watch tea picking and stir-frying performances, visit the traditional tea factory, and taste authentic Xinyang Maojian tea. • Monkey Island: Dozens of wild macaques live on the island. They are smart, playful, and lively. You can interact with them up close, but be careful. • Bird Island: Every year, a large number of migratory birds come here to inhabit and breed. It is an excellent place for bird watching, where you can see egrets, herons, and other bird species. • Nanwan Lake Dam: Built between 1952 and 1958, it is one of the eight scenic spots in Xinyang. Standing on the dam, you can overlook the vast lake and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Food Recommendations • Nanwan Fish: A signature dish of Nanwan Lake. The fish is tender, nutritious, and delicious. Don't miss the stewed Nanwan fish head or Nanwan fish head with pancake. • Xinyang Hot Dry Noodles: The noodles are chewy and smooth, served with special sauce and toppings. It is a local specialty with a rich aroma. • Gushi Specialty Goose: The goose meat is firm and springy, served with rich goose soup. It is a delicious and unforgettable dish.

On the tea island, there are more chestnut trees than tea trees. Because the island is isolated from the world and there are no large animals, the chestnut trees on the island are dense and dense. It is the season when the chestnut is ripe, and it is easy to be caught by the chestnut that falls on the road. The chestnuts here are big and yellow, all over the place, and you can take a big bag when you walk on a circle. But be careful, although the chestnut is good, the outer skin is covered with acupuncture. Don't think that this acupuncture is harmless. In fact, it is very sharp, but it will be screamed in the palm of your hand, so don't think about it with your hands. Go take the thorny chestnut.