Yongzhou Nanny-Level Guide to Explore Stunning Attractions

🌿 Yongzhou in Two Days | Visit Ancient Sites, Immerse in the Depths of Xiaoxiang Yongzhou is like an open thread-bound book, with every line filled with Liu Zongyuan’s brushstrokes and the jingling silver ornaments of the Yao people. In two days, you can read the ancient city’s stories and experience its landscapes, from legends to everyday life. 🌞 Day 1: Trace Liu Zongyuan’s Footsteps in Lingling Ancient City · Listen to Xiaoxiang on Ping Island Morning: Read “Liu’s Records” in Lingling Ancient City 📍 Lingling Ancient City (Free Admission) - Start from “Chaoyang Rock,” where the cliff still bears stone carvings of Liu Zongyuan’s “Eight Records of Yongzhou.” Elderly visitors touch the inscription “Zuankeng Pool,” murmuring, “So he was watching the pool here back then.” Children chase pigeons on the stone slab road in front of “Liuzi Temple,” where the “Lychee Stele” carved with Liu Zongyuan’s text copied by Su Shi stands. White-haired elders often pause before the stele, softly reciting the text. - 📸 Highlight: The bluestone slabs on Liuzi Street are polished shiny from footsteps, wooden buildings on both sides hang red lanterns, and girls in Hanfu hold umbrellas as they walk by, evoking scenes straight out of the “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” painting. Elders sit on stone benches at the “Yuxi Bridge,” listening to local tea drinkers tell the legend of “Liu Zongyuan fishing in the snow,” which is much livelier than reading a book. Noon: Taste “Lingling Flavors” in the Ancient City Alleys Recommended Old Shop on Yangzitang Road: - Must-try: Lingling Snail Soup (eat with a straw, so fresh it makes your eyes squint; ask for less chili if you can’t handle spice), Stuffed Tofu (tofu filled with minced meat, steamed soft and tender, suitable for elders and children), paired with a bowl of Sugar Oil Baba (crispy outside, glutinous inside, sweet but not greasy). Around 25 RMB per person for a satisfying meal. Afternoon: Watch “Xiaoxiang Night Rain” on Ping Island 📍 Ping Island (Free, ferry 3 RMB/person) - The Xiaoshui and Xiang rivers converge here. The island is covered with ancient towering trees, where Liu Zongyuan once wrote the poem “Spring Rise on Pingzhou.” Elders can sit at the ferry’s bow, watching egrets fly out from the reed beds on both banks; children take off their shoes to splash in the shallow water, collecting smooth pebbles as treasures. - 💡 Tip: The ferry runs every half hour; wear a hat on windy days. On the island, climb “Xiaoxiang Tower” to see the two rivers meeting like two green silk ribbons entwined. The evening light and shadows are the most beautiful. Evening: Stay in an Ancient City Guesthouse Choose a guesthouse on Liuzi Street (150-200 RMB/night). The wooden windows are carved with patterns, and opening the window lets you smell the rice wine aroma from the neighboring tavern. Elders sit on bamboo chairs in the courtyard, fanning themselves and listening to the insects; children lean on the railing, watching lanterns light up one by one in the ancient city, like stars scattered on the ground. 🌙 Day 2: Worship Emperor Shun on Jiuyi Mountain · Enjoy Songs in the Yao Village Morning: Search for “Shun’s Footprints” on Jiuyi Mountain 📍 Jiuyi Mountain Shun Emperor Mausoleum (60 RMB ticket, free for 65+) - Under the vermilion archway, elders bow deeply before the statue of Emperor Shun, listening to the guide tell the legend of “Emperor Shun’s southern tour and passing away in Cangwu.” Children point and ask questions in front of the “Stone Forest of Hundred Herbs,” where the carving “The Emperor’s Son Riding the Wind” is found. The “Three-Part Stone” on the mountain is shrouded in mist; elders take the sightseeing bus (20 RMB/person) to the viewing platform, sighing, “This mountain truly has a fairy aura.” Noon: Enjoy a “Long Table Banquet” in the Yao Village 📍 Goulan Yao Village (40 RMB ticket) - Inside the village gate, Yao grandmothers dressed in embroidered clothes serve guests “Guan Dan Wine” (sweet rice wine with mild aftertaste). The long table is filled with cured meat, sour long beans, and oil tea. Elders try using a wooden pestle to make oil tea, clumsily but happily; children chase Yao girls wearing silver ornaments, the tinkling silver bells filling the stone-paved road. Afternoon: Learn Yao Embroidery · Listen to Ancient Songs - At the “Yao Embroidery Workshop,” elders follow grandmothers threading needles to embroider a simple peace knot; children sit around listening to the “Old Song Master” sing ancient Yao songs. Though the lyrics are hard to understand, the distant melodies captivate them. On the village’s “Wind and Rain Bridge,” golden corn cobs dry in the sun; elders lean on the railing dozing, like a peaceful painting. Before Departure: Take Home Some “Yongzhou Flavors” - Buy two boxes of Yongzhou Exotic Snake Wine (for elders who enjoy drinking), a few packs of Jiangyong fragrant pomelo dried fruit (sweet and sour, loved by children), and a small Yao embroidered pouch (10 RMB each) to hang on your bag, carrying the scent of Yongzhou’s plants all the way. ✨ Tips Suitable for All Ages - Elders: Lingling Ancient City and Shun Emperor Mausoleum trails are gentle; the Yao village has resting pavilions. No rush, perfect for a leisurely stroll. - Children: Splashing in water, chasing pigeons, learning Yao embroidery, running and playing, and listening to stories to broaden their horizons. - Whole Family: Whether it’s the literary atmosphere of Liuzi Temple or the lively Yao village, everyone can find their favorite corner—after all, Yongzhou’s beauty is hidden in each person’s feelings. When leaving, the Xiaoshui River flows outside the car window like an unfinished sentence by Liu Zongyuan, making you think: next time, I must wait on Ping Island for a real “Xiaoxiang Night Rain.”