Encountering Jiaxing again, a RV tour in autumn

In recent years, I seem to have a special connection with Jiaxing. I often come to Jiaxing for vacations and discover some new and interesting places.
And in autumn, Jiaxing has also reached its most beautiful moment of the year. I have come here again to search for intangible cultural heritage and play outdoors. The once fresh and ancient Jiangnan small town actually hides many places of immortality.
This time, I changed my way of playing in Jiaxing, got in the RV, and explored the niche yet fun filled places in Jiaxing, taking you to meet a different Jiaxing.

Meihuazhou, Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance under Ginkgo Trees

The temperature in the south is generally high this autumn, which was supposed to be the season for a large area of ginkgo trees to fall off. However, the ginkgo trees in Jiangnan this year were still in a state of green and yellow until mid November. However, this does not stop people from traveling and admiring the rhythm of ginkgo trees. In Jiangnan, appreciating ginkgo has become a limited autumn activity. There are many ginkgo trees in Jiangnan, but have you heard that ginkgo trees are also divided into male and female?

In Meihuazhou, Jiaxing, there are two magical ginkgo trees, one male and one female. Many people come here out of curiosity to take a look, so Meihuazhou has become one of the best places to appreciate ginkgo in Jiangnan. Meihuazhou is actually a millennium old historical site with a brilliant civilization, and is the birthplace of Majiabang culture, Songze culture, and Liangzhu culture.

When it comes to the famous ginkgo trees in Plum Blossom Island, we must first talk about the place where they were planted, Shifo Temple. This is a millennium old temple built during the Southern Dynasty, and the surrounding rivers shuttle back and forth, resembling the shape of plum blossoms. Therefore, this place is called Plum Blossom Island. After more than 1500 years, it is still well preserved.

Next to the Stone Buddha Temple, you can see this legendary pair of ancient ginkgo trees arranged on both banks of the river. To the east is male ginkgo trees, also known as East Ginkgo trees, and to the west is female ginkgo trees, also known as West Ginkgo trees. The only way to judge a female is by looking at the leaves of this ancient ginkgo tree, which are sharp and vigorous, and are considered male. This pair of ancient ginkgo trees were planted simultaneously and have gone through thousands of years of ups and downs.

In fact, these two ancient ginkgo trees are dioecious. The male tree is tall and upright, while the female tree is graceful and rich. They are like a pair of lovers, facing each other across the river, like a Cowherd and a Weaver Girl. The longevity of ancient ginkgo trees also symbolizes the longevity of love, becoming a witness to the love between men and women. No wonder there are many one-on-one couples coming to the temple to pray for blessings.

Now these two ancient ginkgo trees are also slowly turning yellow. The ancient trees are towering, with straight and sturdy trunks. It takes several people to hug them together to encircle the entire tree. Although there is still a hint of green in the yellow, even now it looks very spectacular. When it enters deep autumn and the trees are golden, these two ginkgo trees will become the focus of the entire plum blossom continent.

These two ginkgo trees have also been endowed with many legends by the local people, just like two guardians guarding the Stone Buddha Temple and Plum Blossom Island, not only witnessing history, but also inheriting many local intangible cultural heritage cultures. As one of the oldest trees in Jiaxing, these two ginkgo trees in Meihuazhou are also known as the king of plain trees, and can be said to be named after them. So have you seen these two ancient ginkgo trees in Meihuazhou, Jiaxing? Do you know any other good places to appreciate ginkgo in Jiangnan?

In addition to two unique ginkgo trees, there are also many interesting phenomena in Meihuazhou, Jiaxing. After all, it is a historical site with thousands of years, and ancient unique buildings have been preserved to this day. The charm of Jiangnan in Meihuazhou still lingers, even the faces of Jiangnan women are carved on stones, as if they are here to cultivate themselves and live a peaceful life.

Since ancient times, there have been many bridges in the water towns of Jiangnan. On a river, there are countless bridges of different shapes, and ships pass through the bridge holes, which is a typical scene in Jiangnan. Walking on the bridge, at first glance, there are still rows of endless bridges. Small bridges and flowing water can be seen everywhere in Meihua Island, but on this river, there is a bridge that is very unique.

This strange bridge is a three step two piece bridge. It is not only strange in name, but also in shape. You think it is two bridges. But after a closer look, you can see that the two stone arch bridges are connected at right angles. It takes only three steps to walk from one bridge to the other, so it has the name of the three step two piece bridge. The two connected bridges are like a pair of connected sisters.

These two closely connected bridges have a history of over 1250 years. The arches of the two single arch stone bridges are small and exquisite, with the north-south direction called Juxiu Bridge and the east-west direction called Changfeng Bridge. There are also many versions of the origin of this three step two arch bridge. Some say it was built here by the monks to facilitate pilgrims from the other side of the river to the Stone Buddha Temple to worship Buddha. Others say that there were merchants who opened pawnshops nearby and built these two stone arch bridges to accumulate virtue and do good deeds, naming them after their own children.

The Three Step Two Wall Bridge is also one of the few double bridges in China. It utilizes the terrain characteristics of the river to directly build the foundation and body of the two bridges into a connected building. The distance between these two bridges that can be reached by just three steps on foot also reflects the craftsmanship and superb skills of ancient China in the construction of water town bridges.

The Three Step Two Ping Bridge is located at the core of Meihua Island. Standing on this bridge, one can also overlook twelve ancient stone bridges nearby, such as Xianghua Bridge, Tilan Bridge, Yixian Bridge, etc. Some of these bridges have been damaged, while others remain strong. The most beautiful one is Xianghua Bridge, which is just a few minutes' walk from the Three Step Two Ping Bridge to the south of Shifo Temple.

West Street is the main road of Plum Blossom Island, lined with ginkgo trees on both sides. Some have turned yellow, while others have turned deep red. Various colors intertwine to form the most splendid autumn scene, and the ancient bridge has become the finishing touch of the historical charm in this painting. So, what other unique bridges have you seen in Jiangnan?

In Meihuazhou, there are many intangible cultural heritage projects that can be personally experienced, and Ling painting is one of them. South Lake is rich in Ling, a famous specialty of Jiaxing, known as Yuanbao Ling. Painting on South Lake Ling has become a precious intangible cultural heritage skill.

Folk artist Master Yan painted the rich water town scenery of Jiaxing with paint on the South Lake Ling, lifelike and crystal clear, like an exquisite artwork. I was also fortunate enough to experience the production of Ling paintings, and on this small South Lake Ling, how to draw these exquisite paintings one by one.

Entering the workshop, there were stone like tools on each table, and I was still wondering if I needed to grind them myself?

Master Yan was the first person to paint on the South Lake Ling. He grew up by the shore of the South Lake, eating the South Lake Ling and rowing on the lake. The scene of picking Ling with the singing of Ling is a natural ink painting of Jiangnan, and it is also an unforgettable hometown style in his memory. The characteristic of Nanhu Ling having no horns also gave him a sense of pride.

The master did indeed make one move and make two moves. The tiger that I had originally drawn was quite ordinary, but with one or two modifications by Teacher Yan, it became a vivid and lifelike big tiger, simply transforming decay into magic.

Northern people eat dumplings during the Chinese New Year, while Pinghu people eat chi gao and yuan tuan, symbolizing family reunion and thriving careers. So chi gao has also become one of the characteristics of Meihuazhou. In Meizhou Cake Shop, I also experienced the fun of making chi gao once.

The ruler cake is usually made in a printed cake board. Pour glutinous rice flour into the mold, smooth it with a ruler, use a stick to poke a hole in each small grid, pour in bean paste juice, sprinkle glutinous rice flour again, smooth it with a ruler, cover it, repeatedly beat it, and then it becomes square ruler cakes with various patterns, so it is also called printed cake. The ruler cake is particularly successful.

Plum Blossom Island is also rich in delicacies. It is a paradise for eating, and you can taste many Dim sum and delicacies with Jiangnan characteristics.

Meihuazhou's ground pot chicken reminds me of Northeast ground pot chicken, which has similarities and differences. At the moment of boiling, the aroma is overflowing, and there is a circle of bread next to the pot. The chicken cooked in the middle is fat but not greasy, with a delicious taste. In order to cater to the taste of southerners, the taste is generally not spicy.

I also tried wild rice for the first time in Jiangnan. The wild rice in Meihuazhou was made into a small stove using a few bricks in the wild, using the most primitive method of charcoal burning to start the fire, restoring the most primitive cooking process at that time. While starting the fire, I added firewood, allowing us, born in the 1990s, to know how people cooked back then.

The ingredients in wild rice are also very rich, including peas, bacon, potatoes, carrots, etc., filling a large pot. Just when the lid is opened, the aroma of the rice is refreshing. The rice cooked in this way is indeed different from what we usually make with an electric rice cooker, sweet and delicious. After eating one bowl, we still want to eat another bowl.

Nowadays, with the pursuit of tourism quality and innovation by tourists, more and more themed amusement parks have emerged. For some people, simply watching natural scenery is no longer enough to satisfy them. They prefer interactive experiences that allow them to participate in them firsthand. Some of these factories are also transforming into tourism. Compared to natural scenic spots, their natural advantage is that they can allow tourists to truly participate. In Zhejiang, there is one scenic spot that has successfully transformed from a factory to a tourist favorite.

This scenic area is the Gefei Song Chocolate Town in Jiashan, Zhejiang. Originally a chocolate production factory, it has now transformed into a chocolate themed amusement park that integrates chocolate production, research and development, display, and experience. Due to its proximity to Shanghai and Hangzhou, it has also become a popular parent-child travel destination on weekends. After all, whose children don't like chocolate? For many people, being able to soak in the world of chocolate is a very happy thing.

The chocolate factory in Jiashan has a considerable history, producing not only 10000 tons of chocolate annually, but also one of the places in China with the highest production of chocolate. Many famous imported chocolates from abroad are actually produced here.

Gefei Song Chocolate Town is a true chocolate kingdom. As soon as you enter, you can smell a strong aroma of chocolate. Inside, there are top-notch international chocolate making equipment, and just through a layer of glass, you can get a close-up view of the production secrets and craftsmanship of chocolate from scratch. Of course, many people are not so fond of the craftsmanship, and the most important thing to come here is to enjoy imported chocolate and raw chocolate with various flavors.

Next to the factory visit, there is a whole row of chocolate beans, jasmine black chocolate, milk rose, raspberry crispy... You can taste all kinds of chocolate flavors that have never been tasted before in the market here, which are very fresh. The most important thing is to eat them completely smoothly. As long as you buy a ticket for 70 yuan, you can eat unlimited amounts of various chocolates here. As long as you can eat it without worrying about getting too hot, you can always stand by the chocolate display shelf next to the factory glass and enjoy your favorite chocolate flavor to your heart's content.

The reason why it is called a chocolate factory is not only because of its diverse chocolate flavors, but also because of the various shapes of chocolates, such as Christmas tree chocolates and small fish shaped chocolates. Compared to eating them, these chocolates have more ornamental value. It is hard to imagine that these decorations are all made of chocolate, which is very realistic. When you smell them up close, the rich chocolate flavor is overwhelming, and the rich and colorful chocolate shapes make people feel the charm of chocolate.

If you're not satisfied with just watching, the chocolate DIY making area in the small town factory will allow you to make your own chocolate and bring it home. DIY making is divided into children's and youth/adult areas, and you can give it a try regardless of age. Making a chocolate plate here is much simpler than imagined.

Choose a mold that you like, slowly pour in the chocolate sauce, gently shake the mold to evenly spread the chocolate sauce in the mold. After a while, you can pick up a small decorative bag containing colored chocolate sauce and start painting on the chocolate mold. After 40 minutes of cooling, you have your own exclusive chocolate. Even chocolate that looks like an artwork cannot be eaten.

The chocolate factory is not just about chocolate. When you come outside the factory, take a small train, shuttle through the flower sea, and the air is filled with the cocoa aroma of chocolate. This is like a garden, even if you get tired of eating chocolate indoors, you can take photos in the flower sea outdoors and experience the charm of nature. After renovation, this once old chocolate factory has become like a castle in a garden and has become a popular photography destination in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Many couples from Zhejiang and Shanghai come here to take wedding photos.

This is not only a romantic holy land for dating, but also a great place for parents to play with their children. You can enjoy the joy of family life brought by parent-child activities and experience the infinite charm of chocolate culture. The ticket to Chocolate Town is 70 yuan, and driving from Shanghai and Hangzhou only takes over an hour. For families who want to drive for a weekend, it is still very convenient.

At first glance, the Shuanglian Hot Springs in Yunlan Bay are impressive in appearance, familiar to the eye no matter how it looks, like two blooming lotus flowers. This is the mini version of Dubai Sailing Hotel. Later on, upon investigation, as expected, it turned out to be designed by the original designer.

Shuanglian Hot Spring is characterized by "Three Stars, Nine Districts, Sixty Soup", consisting of outdoor garden hot springs and indoor specialty hot springs. It operates 24/7 all year round, and I came to soak in it after 8 pm.

The indoor spa hall has a ceiling of Maldives starry sky. The distinctive starry sky top and beautiful decoration are filled with Maldives charm everywhere. The shadows of coconut trees and the picturesque starlight are more like enjoying a romantic night like an island than soaking in hot springs.

Under the starry sky dome, there is a constant temperature swimming pool, children's play pool, and a spa pool with over 50 functions. It provides a comprehensive spa experience for people soaking from head to toe. To be honest, I don't even want to come out of it.

The nine indoor and outdoor hot springs in Shuanglian Hot Springs are: Four Zodiac Constellations Area, Five Lotus Ponds Area, Six Harmony Health Area, Seven Star Moon Invitation Area, Bagua Wooden Barrel Area, Qiongjiang Beauty Area, Biyoudongtian Area, German Spa Area, and Children's Recreation Area. I mainly soak in the Five Lotus Ponds Area, and if there is more time, I can enjoy it one by one.

The outdoor hot spring bathing pool in Yunlan Bay is very exquisite. It combines the eastern garden landscape with the western spiritual physiotherapy, which is very enjoyable. You must not miss the outdoor hot spring pool when you come here to soak in hot spring.

Stay at the Tujia Sviden Hotel in Yunlan Bay Scenic Area at night. This is a family style vacation apartment or a five-star hotel service. As soon as you enter, it feels like you're going home.

Speaking of Jiangnan, you will think of the water in Jiangnan. There are many lakes in Jiangnan, including the famous West Lake, the thin West Lake, Qiandao Lake and the Taihu Lake Lake, which can be said to show the tenderness of Jiangnan's water town. Many lakes in Jiangnan have more or less the shadow of West Lake. In Jiaxing, there is a small West Lake. When you first arrive, you think you have arrived at West Lake.

This lake is the Nanbei Lake in Jiaxing, located in Haiyan County, Zhejiang Province. Due to a dike separating the lake from the north, it divides the water into the north and south, thus becoming the Nanbei Lake. From a distance, this Yanliu Causeway reminds me of the Su Causeway in West Lake. With blue sky and white clouds, green mountains and green water, walking on this Causeway is the most enjoyable way to visit the North and South Lakes.

This long embankment, also known as the Baogong Embankment, is not far away and connects the green mountains on both sides. Walking on a wooden plank road in the warm autumn days, the light wind brushes my face and the microwaves ripple like West Lake, but it is even cleaner than West Lake. Compared to the scenes of people coming and going in Suzhou, Hangzhou, I prefer the tranquility on the Baogong Embankment of Nanbei Lake.

North and South Lake is actually a relatively large natural scenic area, which is composed of five major scenic spots: Lake Pond, Sanwan, Yingkeding, Tanxianling, and Binhai. It is a 4A level scenic area with a very Jiangnan style. Walking on the banks of the North and South Lakes, with green threads swaying and weeping willows on both sides, and willow catkins drifting in the wind, the North and South Lakes in autumn surprisingly have a spring like brightness.

There are also many ancient houses in the Jiangnan style on the banks of the Nanbei Lake, because Nanbei Lake is also a lake with a strong sense of time. Since the Song Dynasty, it has become a well-known tourist destination, and literati and literati like to come boating in their leisure time. Occasionally, they also write two poems under the Changting Pavilion.

There is a famous Butterfly Island on the North and South Lake, but don't think it's for raising butterflies inside. In fact, it was built to dredge the South Lake and pile up soil. It looks like a butterfly, like a small island. Later, it was named Butterfly Island in memory of the famous Shanghai movie star Butterfly who came here to film "Salt Lake".

Nowadays, what remains on Butterfly Island are not butterflies, but rather the ancient buildings that have been preserved to this day, all of which record the living conditions and cultural customs of the early sea salt and salt people.

There are many lakes in Jiangnan known as Xiaoxi Lake, but only the Nanbei Lake in Jiaxing Sea Salt truly has the charm of West Lake. Many people come here for the first time and think they have accidentally stumbled upon West Lake. The beauty of North and South Lake lies in its green color. Not only is the lake water emerald green with lush vegetation, surrounding the lake water, but it also feels like entering a forest world. Have you ever been to Nanbei Lake in Jiaxing? Do you think it bears any resemblance to West Lake?

If you were to find a place in China where you could see both the sea and the lake, as well as the mountains surrounding it, where would you think? There is only one place where such a deity can be found, which is at the top of the Eagle's Nest in the North and South Lakes of Jiaxing. When it comes to the North and South Lakes, many people think that there are only lakes here. However, besides playing around the lake, you can also climb mountains, and even go up to the sky, allowing you to enjoy the scenery of both the North and South Lakes and the East China Sea at the same time.

The North and South Lakes are surrounded by mountains on three sides. Since you have come to the North and South Lakes, it is natural for you to go hiking and have fun. Continuing from the plank bridge to reach the Jiuqu Path mountain pass, the official mountaineering begins. However, rather than climbing, it is more like hiking. The mountain is not high, and if you walk fast, it will only take less than half an hour to climb. While walking, enjoy the scenery on the roadside, with a leisurely rhythm, which is very comfortable.

Hiking on the Eagle's Nest Ancient Road by the lake, walking slowly up the stone steps, I didn't feel particularly tired. Immersed in nature, the sound of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves blowing in the wind was in my ears.

Halfway up the mountain, there is a nunnery called Yunxiu Temple. The temple's name comes from a poem by Tao Yuanming of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in his poem "Returning and Coming": "Clouds have no intention of leaving the mountain, but birds are tired of flying and know how to return. Before entering Yunxiu Temple, one can feel the elegance and tranquility of the temple.".

Arriving at Eagle's Nest Peak, one can almost climb to the top of the mountain. Eagle's Nest Peak is one of the peaks around the lake and a wonderful place to watch the sunrise on the sea. However, what is most unique here is its unique viewing position. Eagle's Nest Peak is the only scenic spot in China where one can see mountains, seas, and lakes at the same time.

Standing on the observation deck, in front of me is the North and South Lakes. In the distance, there are the mountains surrounding the South and North Lakes, as well as the East China Sea. The mountains, sea, and lakes are truly unique, and it allows me to appreciate the grandeur of the North and South Lakes from another perspective.

The observation deck on the top of the Eagle's Nest is also the best spot for observing the sun, offering stunning views of the sunrise on the sea. The several large stones on the mountaintop are like blooming lotus flowers, so this mountain peak is also known as the Lotus Bud Peak. There are three large characters on the stone wall, the Eagle's Nest Top, and cliff carvings such as the Sun and Moon Ascending to the World. Standing on the stones, one can feel a sense of aloofness and coldness.

After climbing the mountain, I came to taste authentic Jiaxing cuisine by the north and south lakes, such as the most representative sauce duck, white water fish, and sea cucumber soup. Personally, I think sauce duck is the most to my taste, with thick oil and red sauce, fresh and tender meat, which melts on the palate and is accompanied by a strong sauce flavor.

A movie called "Waiting for the Wind" has become popular at the Bokala Parachute Holy Land in Nepal. It is said that the price of Bokala paragliders is the cheapest in the world, but this year's situation is special and we cannot go abroad. Moreover, the cost of playing these outdoor extreme sports abroad is not low. Who said there is no place to play paragliding in China?

If you want to soar in the sky like a bird, then the glider of Jiaxing Nanbei Lake can definitely fulfill your little wish. Riding on a paraglider and soaring into the sky is called a sour and refreshing experience! The place to play paragliding is the high mountains near the North and South Lakes, where the mountain and forest resources are abundant, the rural scenery is obvious, and the ecological environment is excellent.

The North and South Lake Gliding Base will become a national aviation enclave campsite in the future, where slow living and outdoor sports are perfectly integrated. The intersection of the rhythm of movement and the posture of stillness makes the North and South Lake full of passionate outdoor atmosphere.

The North and South Lake Gliding Base is the most beautiful flight site in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. We showcase the charm of sports, dance the passion of life, and enjoy the stunning scenery. Below is the mesmerizing scenery of the North and South Lake.

Seeing paragliders again, I am still so familiar with them. Counting the days, it has been a long time since I last played with them. Just looking at them at the foot of the mountain makes me itch and want to come and fly around quickly.

Playing paragliding at Nanbei Lake requires taking a car up the mountain, and like many foreign gliding bases, a run up is required to jump down from the top of the mountain. While the coach is deploying the glider, let's take a good look at the entire North and South Lake.

Start wearing equipment. Is this helmet so cute? The whole person looks cute. Of course, when playing paragliding, you must grab a GoPro and record wonderful moments. The weather is good, the wind speed is just right, and it's only waiting for the moment of takeoff.

When it comes to the most tense moment, it is probably the moment when the approach run takes off, after all, it is still quite safe to fly in the sky. The coach will take me back and forth around the paraglider base, and I will spend about ten minutes in the sky. At the moment of leaving the ground, I still felt a bit scared. The glider looked very light and felt like it could be blown down by the wind at any time. However, after flying, the coach was driving the glider from behind, sitting on it and flying in the air felt quite safe.

Potato, who has sat in paragliders in Nepal and Türkiye respectively, said that paragliders in the Nanbei Lake are not scary at all, but in fact their height is about the same as that of UAVs.

After going up the sky, we immediately went down to the sea. Oh no, it's down to the lake. On the North and South Lake, there is a special outdoor sport, kayaking. Canoeing is not difficult to learn, even if you are a beginner, with simple guidance from professionals, you can get started. Facing the sunset, rowing a canoe on the calm surface of the North and South Lakes, not to mention how comfortable it is.

Strategy Fragmented Thoughts

trip
Day 1: Plum Blossom Island - Gefei Song Chocolate Park - Yunlan Bay Hot Spring
Day 2: North and South Lakes - Climbing - Parachute - Canoeing

Transportation:
Whether it's Shanghai or Hangzhou, it only takes half an hour for the high-speed rail to reach Jiaxing, which is very convenient. However, the attractions to visit this time are quite scattered. After arriving at the destination, you can choose to rent a motorhome. If you have a car in hand, you can leave as soon as you want.

delicious food:
Jiaxing's cuisine is quite rich, blending the flavors of Shanghai local cuisine and Hangzhou cuisine. In addition, the Nanbei Lake is adjacent to the sea, so you can also taste various river and seafood.

The End

As a shared backyard between Shanghai and Hangzhou, Jiaxing has always been a vacation destination for many tourists visiting Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Not only in the urban area of Jiaxing, but also in the surrounding areas, there are many vacation and leisure areas that are not yet well-known to everyone. The scenery of Jiaxing can allow you to experience the scenery of Jiangnan again.
In autumn, Jiaxing has endless scenery, and I am also here.