The Goddess Peak
On her first stop at Wushan, Hua Hua decided to first take a look at a graceful "girl" - the Goddess Peak of Wuxia. Shennu Peak is known as the most passionate stone in China, attracting countless literati and poets from ancient times to the present day, leaving behind timeless poems.
There are two ways to meet the "Goddess" now: by waterway and by land. The waterway is by taking a boat ride on the Goddess River, while Hua Hua chose the land route this time to observe the Goddess Peak from a high altitude.
Did you think it was those two big stones when you first saw Shennv Peak? Actually not! It's the slender and long stone next to her, which can easily be missed if you're not careful. She's truly a delicate and mysterious woman.
You can take the Huangyan Cableway Cable Car and follow the boardwalk to reach the Jingtan Peak viewing platform, where you can overlook Jingtan Peak. It is said that the jade hairpin of the goddess fell here and turned into a stone peak. Across from Jingtan Peak is the Divine Maiden Ladder with a vertical height of 222 meters. From the ladder, you can overlook the clouds and rain of Wushan Mountain, which is thrilling to think about.
Hua Hua's little reminder is that the cable car is quite fast when picking up and dropping off passengers. Remember to move as quickly as possible and take care of the elderly and children around you.
Small Three Gorges
Compared to the grandeur and magnificence of the Three Gorges, Wushan Xiaosanxia has gained a touch of elegance and depth. Huahua will take the Xiaosanxia Xiaosanxia cruise ship this time, step into the scenery, and appreciate the beauty of this beautiful mountain valley up close.
Wushan Xiaosanxia is located downstream of the Daning River, a tributary of the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze River. It is a general term for Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, and Dicui Gorge, with a total length of 50 kilometers.
As the cruise ship crosses the Wushan Yangtze River Bridge, the journey into the Little Three Gorges officially begins. The Wushan Little Three Gorges and the Little Three Gorges behind the high gorge and flat lake are even more beautiful.
When your eyes are drawn to the scenery across the Taiwan Strait, don't forget to listen to the tour guide's explanation. For example, the sloping mountain peak is like a supine woman from the Three Gorges, hanging her hair upside down in the Bawu Gorge, as if washing her hair in the river water.
There are also unique landscapes such as Lingzhi Peak, Guanyin Sitting on Lotus Terrace, Bajie Worshiping Guanyin, Fairy Throwing Embroidered Balls, and so on, one after another.
When sailing to the Ba Wu Gorge, one can still see the hanging coffins of the ancient Ba people in the cave on the mountain wall.
Underwater in the Little Three Gorges, there is the starting point of China's longest ancient boardwalk ruins. Although we can no longer see this landscape, now everyone can also experience the thrill of people's travel near the Little Three Gorges through the antique boardwalk on the cliff.
After passing through the Dicui Gorge, we transferred to a small boat to continue exploring the Little Three Gorges. The waterways here are narrower, the mountains appear more steep, and exude a primitive and ancient atmosphere. The scenery is like a miniature version of the Little Three Gorges.
The entire boat tour from Xiaosanxia to Xiaosanxia takes 3.5-4 hours. If you choose to depart at 10am, Huahua suggests bringing some dry food, as you may still feel hungry during the lunch break.
Departure time: 10:00, 14:00
Cruise time: 3.5-4 hours
The Light of Three Gorges
When you come to Wushan, besides checking in at the Little Three Gorges Goddess Peak during the day, you must also not miss the "Three Gorges Light" cruise that offers a night view of Wushan!
The "Light of the Three Gorges" depicts the two rivers and four banks as a painting, utilizing modern technology's light and shadow techniques to immerse everyone in the magical splendor of the millennium old Wushan Mountain.
The cruise ship departed from Wushan Tourist Pier, and in the gentle river breeze, I looked at the colorful riverside buildings and couldn't help but feel the charm of the mountain city.
The program arrangement during the cruise was very rich, and I felt like my eyes couldn't stop for a moment.
Passing through the Divine Maiden Avenue, a large-scale light and shadow show will be staged, showcasing stories such as witchcraft culture and Bachu culture; The 4.6-kilometer rooftop laser show is dazzling.
The cliffs of Longmen Gorge are beautiful, and the naked eye 3D projection showcases the culture of the goddess and the spirit of the Three Gorges; There are also characteristic poetry, songs, plays, song and dance performances interspersed in the cabin.
⏰ Travel time:
Summer: Boarding at 7:45 pm and departure at 8:00 pm
Spring and Autumn/Winter: Boarding at 7:15 pm and sailing at 7:30 pm
The sailing time is about 70 minutes
Sanxia Courtyard
Staying overnight on the mountain is a great choice for those who want to deeply experience the peak of Shennu.
The Three Gorges Courtyard is located near the Liuping Tourist Reception Center in the Wuxia Goddess Scenic Area, on a mountain slope at an altitude of 900 meters, which is very suitable for summer escape.
The courtyard retains the architectural style of the residential buildings in northeastern Chongqing. The appearance of the rammed earth houses resembles ordinary local dwellings, but they still provide essential amenities for contemporary travelers and accommodations.
Recently, there have also been extremely popular RV camping activities here! Wushan Goddess · Guyuyano Cloud RV Campsite covers an area of 3300 square meters, with each room equipped with a bedroom and a separate shower. Mahjong, which is loved by the people of Chongqing, cannot be left behind. Even in RVs, automatic mahjong tables are provided for everyone!
On the mountain, clouds and rain flow throughout the year, shrouded in mist and clouds. In the morning, one can see the golden light shining on the Three Gorges, and in the evening, one can see the most beautiful sunset glow.
The transportation connection to the homestay is also quite convenient. There is a direct bus to the scenic area at Wushan High speed Railway Station. When booking the homestay, you can also consult the staff.
Now it's the season for the red leaves in Wushan, the mountains and fields are covered in red, which is quite beautiful. Remember to seize this rare time to travel!
Xiazhuang
Last year's immortal variety show "The Endless Road" became popular. The filming team went deep into the once impoverished areas, allowing everyone to enter the local life and showcasing the efforts and sweat of countless people in poverty alleviation, as well as their pursuit of a better life after poverty alleviation, to the audience.
Even when watching variety shows, I already felt a deep shock, but when I personally went to Xiazhuang Village in Wushan, Chongqing, where villagers had spent 7 years chiseling mountains and repairing the "Heavenly Road", I saw them challenge nature with their thin bodies. Such a thing is unimaginable for many friends who have been living in the city since childhood.
Xiazhuang Village is located deep in the Xiaosanxia area of Wushan County. We drove from Wushan County, but after getting off the highway, we still had to drive for nearly an hour on the mountain road and climb over hills to reach the tourist center.
The first time I approached Xiazhuang Village, my gaze was filled with deep mountains, and I already felt a myriad of emotions. On the mountain road leading into the village, we can overlook the whole picture of Xiazhuang Village. The village is located in a huge "sinkhole" formed by karst landforms, surrounded by cliffs of over a kilometer.
The history of Xiazhuang Village can be traced back to 300 years ago. In the past, the villagers relied on the geological conditions of fertile soil and beautiful water to live a life of working from sunrise to sunset. Especially they also build water conservancy projects, open workshops and factories, and are self-sufficient, just like a real-life version of "The Peach Blossom Spring".
Time has passed, and now the outside world is very exciting. Various technologies are developing rapidly, but the villagers who are "trapped" in Xiazhuang cannot see it because it is too difficult for them to go out.
Xiazhuang is like a well, with a vertical height of over 1100 meters from the "wellhead" at the top of the mountain to the "bottom" of the mountain pit. The only way to connect with the outside world is on three ridges that are nearly 70 degrees apart and have 108 'zigzag turns'.
Villagers who want to go to Wushan County need to walk on steep and narrow ancient roads, cross layers of cliffs with their hands and feet, and spend at least 4 days each time. Not only can the crops in the village not be transported out for cash, but there is also a possibility of villagers falling down the mountain at any time if they want to leave the village.
At that time, there were 397 people in the village, of whom over 150 had never left the mountains in their entire lives, and over 160 had never seen a highway, let alone the high-rise buildings and cars that we were accustomed to.
In 1997, Mao Xianglin, who served as the secretary of the Xiazhuang Village Party Branch, led the villagers to challenge the cliffs, chiseling stones and repairing roads, and in 7 years, he opened an 8-kilometer "cliff sky road".
Without funds, villagers go out to work and earn money to buy explosive materials; Without equipment, villagers would pull vines to conduct surveys; There is no place to rest in the high mountain cliffs, so villagers sleep in caves halfway up the mountain.
The mountain chisel is one foot wide and one foot long, and the road is one zhang long and one zhang long. Even if our generation is poor or suffering for ten years, we must ensure that the next generation lives a good life. "They made a solemn promise to the entire village more than 20 years ago, and now they have truly fulfilled it.
Usually, when I see the use of modern technology to build roads, bridges, and houses, I already think it is a very impressive thing. However, in Xiazhuang, I saw villagers clearing roads between steep mountain walls and even conducting surveys without any safety guarantee. This can be described not only by admiration but also by the two words.
The history of road construction in Xiazhuang is now preserved in the Xiazhuang People's Deeds Exhibition Hall. The museum displays primitive tools, photographic records, touching stories, and more used by the villagers at that time
When watching the documentary about road construction at that time, I couldn't help but be moistened by the efforts and sweat of the villagers.
Now that the road is open, it's convenient for villagers to travel, and tourists from outside can also come in. The increasingly popular rural tourism has also attracted many tourists, after all, it has a full sense of paradise vacation.
We stayed at the Xiazhuang Courtyard Homestay in the evening. The original yellow mud adobe house was transformed into a traditional building, reinforced outside the original walls, and the transparent glass windows displayed the imprints of past residences.
The homestay also offers different styles of room types, allowing guests to enjoy the mountain scenery of Xiazhuang from different angles. The rooms are also equipped with modern accommodation facilities.
For many people, we travel because we want to see a little bigger sky, and the people of Xiazhuang rely on their own self-improvement efforts to build an 8-kilometer sky road with their flesh and blood, expanding their own sky.
Wushan cuisine
Tasting local cuisine is an essential travel experience every time you go to a new place. After all, although logistics and express delivery are very developed nowadays, there are still many unique features that require going to the local area to taste the most authentic flavor. Hua Hua went to Wushan this time and not only enjoyed the famous Wushan grilled fish, but also satisfied her whole potato head.
First, let's talk about the must check in Wushan grilled fish. The grilled fish that is popular all over the country, I believe everyone has tried it. This time, I tasted authentic Wushan grilled fish in Wushan, which opened a new door to the grilled fish world.
Nowadays, many grilled fish are fried, but the method of cooking Wushan grilled fish is a bit different. After being grilled and stewed, the taste and texture of grilled fish have won the whole street.
Each fish is freshly slaughtered, and after the master cleans it, he will put it in a grilled fish clip and then grill it on charcoal fire. During the grilling process, brush oil and flip the fish several times, and finally sprinkle with barbecue powder. Once the surface of the fish meat is slightly charred, it can be served on a plate.
Next, the master starts a frying pan and pours in the secret cooking oil. Then, he pours in the scallions, garlic, onions, and celery and stir fry until fragrant. Add fresh soup and bring to a boil. Pour it onto the grilled fish, and finally sprinkle a tablespoon full of roasted chili peppers!
After the grilled fish is served on the table, it is stewed again over the stove and slowly roasted, resulting in a richer flavor. While absorbing the flavor of the sauce, the fish still remains tender, smooth and juicy. With a gentle clip, large pieces of fresh fish can be found, and all the essence is in it.
Huahua strongly promotes the local specialty of Zha Guang Jiao, which many people don't know what Zha Guang Jiao is, and Huahua is also trying it for the first time. In fact, Zhaguang pepper is a mixture of corn flour and chili. It is full of fragrance, but not too hot. This Cantonese can also completely accept it. Friends who can't eat any spicy food can also choose garlic aroma.
The side dishes here are also extremely rich, such as fatty intestines, lamb tripe, squid, chicken bones, enoki mushrooms, lotus root slices, lettuce, rice cake, etc., just like making hot pot. And I was pleasantly surprised by the dried potato chips and Cantonese sausage, one with a taste I hadn't tried before, and the other with a new flavor added to the familiar ingredients. In contrast, when I usually eat grilled fish in Guangzhou, only those 3-4 side dishes instantly weaken.
Every day when visiting Wushan, the famous traditional snack "Jade Jelly Noodles" is a must order. It is a cooling powder extracted from plants, with a natural green color that is as transparent as jade. The taste is similar to Guangdong liangfen, but here we use a cold mixing method, adding seasonings such as chili, ginger, garlic, and scallions. It is very refreshing to eat in summer.
As soon as the dish is served, the aroma immediately captures the flavor of 'stewed taro and fruit with braised pork trotters'. The method of making roasted pork trotters is also very particular, using cypress branches to smoke and blend the fragrance of the branches fully into the meat.
The roasted pork trotters have a strong aroma and a tough texture, making them very delicious. Moreover, when eating Wushan preserved meat, it is necessary to pair it with taro fruit. Stew it slowly over low heat to infuse the aroma of the preserved meat into the taro fruit, leaving a lingering fragrance on the mouth.
In addition to potatoes, sweet potato flour is also the love of the locals in Wushan, and now it has also become the love of Huahua! The sweet potato flour here is not the kind of long sweet potato flour, but the block shaped one, which is very chewy. When stir fried with green pepper and bacon, the aroma and taste coexist.
There are also dishes with local characteristics such as frozen konjac roasted chicken, wheat cake, farm rake pig feet, and water dried potatoes. Everyone who comes to Wushan must try them!
