Yichun

Yichun, in western Jiangxi, is known for its selenium-rich hot springs, misty mountain scenery and relaxed pace of life. A three-day, two-night trip can combine hiking, hot springs and visits to historic villages.

• Mingyue Mountain: Make Qingyun Plank Walk, Yungu Waterfall and Moon Lake your main stops to enjoy cliffside walkways, mountain waterfalls and views of the summit lake. Take the cable car up, then follow the trail down to see the waterfalls. Allow about 3–4 hours.

• Wentang Town: Its selenium-rich hot springs are unusual in China because the water is suitable for both drinking and bathing. The spring water stays at 68°C year-round. In the evening, take a walk along Gujingquan Street, where a foot soak in a wooden tub costs 10 yuan.

• Nanre Ancient Village: This thousand-year-old village lies hidden in the mountains. Two ginkgo trees at the entrance are 1,600 years old, and their leaves turn golden in late autumn. Streams and stone bridges preserve the rural character. Visitor numbers are low, and there is no admission fee.

• Yangshan Qiyin Zen Temple: As the ancestral temple of the Guiyang branch of Zen Buddhism, it offers a tranquil setting of red walls and green trees, with few visitors on weekdays. Admission is free. You can copy Buddhist scriptures, drink tea and sit quietly to rest.

• The Legend of Mingyue: This large-scale live performance produced by Songcheng Performing Arts presents Yichun’s history and culture spanning ten thousand years. It emphasizes visual spectacle and is best seen in the evening.

Relaxed 3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Yichun and explore the streets
  • Morning/noon: After arriving at Yichun Railway Station, go to the city center or Wentang Town to check in.
  • Afternoon: Visit Yichun Drum Tower and the old streets, try Yichun fried zha noodles, and get a feel for local daily life.
  • Evening: Watch the show at The Legend of Mingyue scenic area, then walk along Gujingquan Street in Wentang Town and enjoy a selenium-rich hot-spring foot soak.
• Day 2: Hike and take in the views at Mingyue Mountain
  • Morning: Set out early for Mingyue Mountain to avoid the busiest period. Take the cable car up, looking down over the mountain scenery along the way, then visit Qingyun Plank Walk and Moon Lake. When mist appears, you may see clouds drifting through the mountains.
  • Noon: Have a simple meal at the summit and take a short break.
  • Afternoon: Take the sightseeing bus to the middle station, then walk downhill. Along the way, see the five-tiered waterfalls, including Yungu Waterfall, as well as bamboo groves and streams.
  • Evening: Return to Wentang Town and choose a guesthouse with a private hot-spring pool so your legs can recover after the hike.
• Day 3: Visit the temple and ancient village, then depart
  • Morning: Start at Yangshan Qiyin Zen Temple to enjoy the quiet of this thousand-year-old temple, then continue to Nanre Ancient Village. Stop and take photos beneath the ancient ginkgo trees and try farmhouse tea.
  • Noon: Eat at a farmhouse restaurant below the mountain. Try mountain bamboo shoots with free-range chicken or Nanre tofu.
  • Afternoon: Return to the city or high-speed railway station according to your departure plans.

Yichun Specialties

• Yichun Fried Zha Noodles: A common local breakfast made by grinding late-season rice into a slurry, steaming it into noodles and stir-frying them quickly over high heat. The noodles are chewy and springy with a wok aroma, usually served with meat and egg.

• Wentang Fagao: Made using hot-spring water for fermentation, this soft and glutinous cake has a pleasantly sweet flavor and makes a good local souvenir from Wentang Town.

• Tonggu Baoyuan: This Hakka snack uses taro and sweet-potato starch for the wrapper, filled with winter bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms and smoked meat. After steaming, the wrapper becomes translucent and the filling remains juicy.

• Yichun Fried Mala: Common at night markets, the ingredients are fried or boiled separately before being stir-fried on a griddle. The flavor is sweet and spicy, with a fragrant chili kick.

• Zhangshu Medicinal Cuisine: Following the idea that food and medicine share the same origins, it uses ingredients such as astragalus and angelica in cooking. Gastrodia chicken soup is one example, with a clean, lightly sweet flavor and a traditional reputation for nourishing the brain and calming the mind.

Accommodation and Transport

• Accommodation: Using Wentang Town as your base for the whole trip is convenient and avoids repeatedly moving your luggage. Many local guesthouses pipe hot-spring water into the rooms and provide private pools for evening soaks. If you place more importance on value, consider Shuikou Village or Hongjiang Town; driving into town takes about 10 minutes.
• Transport: Take the high-speed train to Yichun Railway Station, then take bus 115 or a taxi to the scenic areas and Wentang Town. Yichun taxis are relatively inexpensive, making travel around the city convenient. To reach Nanre Ancient Village or see the sea of clouds along the Wengu Route, driving yourself or hiring a car is recommended.

Pre-Trip and Sightseeing Tips

• Mingyue Mountain cable car: Buy the admission and cable-car combo ticket online before setting out to avoid separate purchases. The route of taking the cable car up and walking down to see the waterfalls takes about 3.5 hours.
• Summit temperatures: The top of Mingyue Mountain is usually 6–10 degrees cooler than the foot of the mountain, with stronger winds, so bring a light jacket. On clear mornings after rain, the chance of seeing a sea of clouds is higher.
• Hot-spring bathing: Limit each soak to 15–20 minutes and drink water during breaks. When bathing indoors, open a window for ventilation to avoid dizziness or chest tightness.
• Spice levels: Jiangxi cuisine is usually spicy. If you are not used to spicy food, ask for “mildly spicy” or “very mildly spicy” when ordering.
• Road conditions at the village and temple: Nanre Ancient Village and Yangshan Zen Temple lie along the same road. The route is generally suitable for driving, but some mountain sections are narrow, so less experienced drivers should take care. The walk to the temple is long; take a taxi or drive yourself.