I have seen too many bustling cities at night, but not as comfortable and leisurely as here. In the early autumn of the mountains and wilderness, we quietly set foot, and the thousand year old river breeze blows over the hanging buildings by the shore. The early autumn of Youyang also exudes the ancient and elegant charm of a water town in Jiangnan.

There is a paradise on earth

The secret path into Taoyuan is this 3.5-kilometer-long ancient cave. Some people say that this is the last hiding place for the people of Taoyuan to evade official searches in Tao Yuanming's "The Peach Blossom Spring". A small waterfall cascades down from the entrance of the cave, adding vitality and energy.

Entering the cave, there are thousands of stalactites with strange shapes that make people marvel at the incredible craftsmanship of nature.

Under the colorful lights, the stalactites and the underground dark river shine brightly, like dreams and bubbles, as if immersed in a magical colorful world.

Halfway through, the dazzling sacrificial hall was visible before my eyes. Under the majestic and winding corridors, there is a 'paradise underground'.

In this dazzling fairyland, the unique karst topography has created countless magical karst geological wonders inside the cave, with stalagmites, stone curtains, stone pillars, and stalactites scattered throughout, beautiful and profound.

The stone stalactites hanging upside down, dense and sharp, resemble rows of bows and arrows, waiting for the command of ten thousand swords.

The deeper you go, the narrower and wider the cave becomes. But wherever you go, there is a stunning millennium landscape. Under the colorful neon lights, even time stands still, forever remaining in the memories of light and shadow.

Passing through the ancient cave, the stream murmurs. Wandering among the mountains and wilderness, one can reach the paradise described by Tao Yuanming, which has reappeared here after thousands of years.

Living and working here, living the simplest life. In the morning, they govern the wilderness and bring back the moon, lotus, and hoe. They vividly depict the life of the Qin and Jin people in the poetry.

Following the forest corridor path, enjoy the picturesque countryside scenery to the fullest, making people reluctant to leave once they arrive.

Good fields, beautiful ponds, peach blossoms, mulberry and bamboo trees, fishing boats, and a pool of clear water, let time flow by. The water vapor permeates gently, with a lingering fragrance.

The forest is at the end of the water source, winding paths lead to secluded places, blue waves ripple, and peach blossoms flourish. Everything is more primitive and lively. The simplicity and joy of being peaceful with the world here may be the most authentic way of life.

Don't miss out on a large-scale live performance called "Dreamy Peach Blossom Spring" at night. The performance blends Tao Yuanming's reclusive culture with the ethnic customs of the Tu Miao people in Youyang, presenting a natural, fresh, and soul stirring ink painting of the green mountains.

Spring plowing and summer planting, autumn harvest and winter storage, the actors showcase the beauty and grandeur of Wuling Mountain and the simple and unadorned rural life of the Tujia people before our eyes.

During the one hour performance, there is not only the charm of modern song and dance art, but also scenes of agriculture, witchcraft, and wedding customs in Youyang ethnic culture.

The young and handsome Wuling Yulang accidentally entered the Peach Blossom Spring and met the beautiful Peach Blossom Girl, who portrayed a timeless love story that transcends thousands of years of time and space for us. Interestingly, an audience member was selected on site to become the fisherman and "marry" this peach blossom girl.

From the seven parts of preface, encounter, village music, love song, happy candle, farewell, and ending, it shows us the peaceful and harmonious, happy and beautiful Peach Blossom Land.

The exquisite and unparalleled artistic conception of Taoyuan, the primitive and mysterious national culture, the unique charm of artistic value, and the wonderful dance moves, express their love for this land in a gentle and tender manner.

Romantic Stacked Stone Flower Valley

Arriving at Dieshi Flower Valley, I didn't expect it to be romantic pink in autumn. As soon as I arrived at the entrance of the scenic area, I was attracted by the deity statue on the gate, which is the theme of Nuo God culture, and felt the ancient atmosphere.

There are fossils of Cambrian layered rocks dating back 500 million years, which can be considered the most abundant in southern China.

The former Youyang was a warm and humid shallow sea area, which has undergone tremendous changes and transformations to achieve its current state.

If you enjoy excitement, you can also experience the zip line bridge and the zip line bridge, and appreciate the infinite beauty.

Entering the scenic area, the first thing that catches the eye is a sea of pink flowers, which has a romantic name called Fendai Ranzi Grass.

The pink flower clusters have become a new favorite in the world of flowers and plants, with a gentle and dreamy shape like smoke.

The most mysterious "December Moon God Pillar Stone Formation" is surrounded by a pink ocean.

The dreamy red smoke, swaying in the wind, appears particularly enchanting and captivating, living up to its poetic and picturesque name.

There is a clean and bright stone path among the flowers, and walking along it can take beautiful photos wrapped in a sea of flowers.

The vast expanse of pink and white porcelain presents a romantic fairy tale, and I believe any girl would be moved by its ethereal appearance~

Its pink color is intoxicating at a glance, never getting tired of looking at it for a long time, full of dreamlike and fairy like atmosphere.

The background blurred into pink, I really want to immerse myself in this beautiful world that is lingering like mist all the time.

Encountering the romance of autumn, the trees in front of me blend seamlessly with the naturally growing pink and black, creating gentle ripples in my heart.

Ink dyed Gongtan Ancient Town

The millennium old Gongtan ancient town has houses built haphazardly on the mountainside, facing the verdant Wujiang River with a water like Jiangnan flavor, and is nestled in the warm and charming scenery of the water town.

Here, there is a stone paved street about 3 kilometers long, more than 150 sealed fire walls, over 200 quadrangle courtyards, and more than 50 uniquely shaped stilted houses, attracting countless tourists to come here and interpret the millennium old history of Gongtan.

The ancient town is located at the confluence of the Wujiang River and the Apeng River, and the rows of stilted houses on the cliffs are the most typical Ba Shu characteristics.

The stilted house is well ventilated and cool. Strolling through the ancient town, I happen to encounter elderly people sitting here chatting about their daily lives.

Thousands of miles away from the Wujiang River, when it comes to the ancient town of Gongtan, even Chinese painting masters are amazed and praised here.

Since ancient times, this has also been a transit point for goods in the Wujiang River Basin and even the Yangtze River Basin. Nowadays, the ancient town has taken on a new appearance, with festive red lanterns shining together, leading us to experience the leisure and warmth of the ancient town.

The cuisine of the ancient town is also very unique. The braised tofu with a crispy yellow outer skin and a tender white inner layer is a traditional delicacy of the Tujia ethnic group. It is sliced thinly and topped with homemade red oil chili peppers from the shop, leaving a fragrant and lingering aftertaste.

A peaceful life here is what many people dream of. Unlike other ancient towns where crowds gather, this place is quiet, elegant, fresh, and refined.

The warm sunshine poured down, filling everything in the ancient town with emptiness. It's like injecting a golden waterfall, and the whole person's mood becomes soft and brilliant.

The eagle tea unique to the southwest region has a distinctive aroma and is very thirst quenching, making it a major feature of the ancient town.

The wild kiwifruit unique to Youyang, with abundant sunlight and fertile soil, gives the kiwifruit grown a particularly good taste.

Encountering the process of making mung bean flour by chance, one must use a large iron pot to dry and heat it, and finally cool and air dry it. The inheritance of traditional handicrafts has enabled this delicacy to be passed down.

Walking on the bluestone cobblestone road of the ancient town, watching the human fireworks here, it is the life that many people dream of,

A cup of tea, a table, and a chair make people mistakenly believe that they have traveled through a thousand years of time and space, just to return to the era of pursuing soul freedom and be a leisurely crane for a few days.

I like to stroll freely under this quiet night sky. Looking at the dim yellow lights, the hazy moonlight blends in like a light colored landscape painting, serene and leisurely.

The flowing lights adorn the entire ancient town. Bringing a unique tranquility to the water town, leaving people intoxicated and unsure of where to go.

Watching another performance at the Xiqin Guild Hall is the best companion for this night.

The guild hall is the most magnificent building in the ancient town, where they pray for blessings and watch performances. Despite the passage of time and the passing of clouds, it still stands here.

The wonderful performances of "Youyang Folk Songs", "Masked Yang Opera", "Playing Drums and Drums in Youyang", and "Climbing the Knife Mountain" not only allow you to experience the ethnic customs of the Tu Miao people, but also appreciate their boldness and roughness.

Boarding the boat at the Wujiang Gallery in the early morning and admiring the lush green mountains, clear waters, and vast misty waves on both sides, it was truly delightful.

There is the Wujiang River and boats here, even without the rough waves, they are enough to shake people's hearts.

Facing the gentle breeze brushing against my face, as I walked forward, the river water became increasingly green, untouched by any pollution, like jade in the mountains.

Looking at the rippling blue waves in the distance, there is a feeling of entering the painting. Perhaps the beauty of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River lies in its magnificence and steepness, while the Wujiang Gallery lies in its enchanting beauty.

The winding green mountains, graceful Wujiang River, scattered mountain villages, towering iron towers, and every mile and scenery constitute the beauty of this mountain wilderness that is different from the water towns in Jiangnan.

Must eat delicacies in Youyang

This season's river shrimp is the most delicious. Although shrimp are small in size, their nutritional value is also extremely high. Rich in protein, with a delicate texture, when deep fried in a pot, the taste is particularly fragrant.

The braised tofu made through multiple processes can be regarded as the most delicious food in Youyang. The outer skin of tofu has been soaked in brine to absorb the flavor, and the texture is soft and chewy, which is really delicious.

It is often said that delicacies from mountains and seas are actually wild mushrooms that can be found in any restaurant in Youyang. Wild mushrooms have a unique aroma, and when stir fried with local green peppers, the taste is exceptionally delicious, even more satisfying than eating meat.

The sour fish that can only be eaten in Youyang is a small river fish marinated in Tujia jars, with a strong sour aroma and particularly delicious meat. The locals also say that sour fish has special therapeutic effects on treating stomach diseases.

The fragrant boiled river fish has a moderate spiciness and a smooth and tender taste, especially the tofu is very flavorful and delicious.

If you want to talk about the essence of autumn health preservation, it must be in the soup. Mushroom stewed pork trotter soup is fresh and not greasy, full of collagen, definitely come and taste it.

Selecting locally grown free range chickens as ingredients, cooking them using traditional methods, and simmering them slowly over low heat, the chicken soup fills the house with fragrant aroma and extremely delicious taste.

Regarding accommodation

Peach Blossom Spring: Qingaiwen Hotel

The decoration of the hotel is actually more like a homestay. The public leisure area on the first floor has a retro and artistic lighting design, full of book fragrance. You can also have tea, chat with friends, and read books here~

There are also large french window in the bedroom, with a wide view.

The TV, wall lamps, and air conditioning in the room are also smart homes that are controlled through sound. The exquisite spatial structure of the bedroom, combined with the lush green plants hidden outside the window, has also become a peaceful and tranquil place in the bustling city.

Gongtan Ancient Town: Renyi Hotel
I found a Renxi Hotel in the ancient town with a great location. There is also a parking lot at the south gate of the hotel. If you have a self driving tour, you don't have to worry about having nowhere to park anymore. The hotel is decorated in the style of a Tujia stilted house, and the washing facilities in the rooms are also very complete. You can see the scenery of the Wujiang River through the window, and the price is very high.

Regarding Transportation

1. Airplane:
(1) Youyang is a 40 minute drive from Wuling Mountain Airport in Qianjiang. The airport offers fixed flights to cities such as Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Xi'an, Haikou, Hangzhou, and Chengdu.
(2) Youyang is a 1.5-hour drive from Tongren Phoenix Airport, which has already opened fixed flights across the country.
2. Trains/bullet trains/high-speed trains:
(1) The Yuhuai Railway passes through Youyang, and the Taohuayuan Scenic Area is a 30 minute drive from the railway station
(2) The journey from Youyang to Tongren High speed Railway Station and Huaihua High speed Railway Station takes 2 hours and 2.5 hours respectively.

About tickets

Yuyang Peach Blossom Spring Ticket Price: 100 yuan/person
Dieshi Flower Valley ticket price: 120 yuan/person
Ticket price for Gongtan Ancient Town: 16 yuan/person
Wujiang Gallery Cruise Ticket Price: 158 yuan/person