Huangshui (Shizhu)

A forest town at 1,500 m with Huangshui National Forest Park, the Qianye Grassland and the Dafengbao virgin forest — ten degrees cooler than downtown Chongqing in summer.

Huangshui Town lies in Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County in eastern Chongqing, on a highland plateau between Fangdou Mountain and Qiyao Mountain at an average elevation of about 1,500 m. With an average temperature of about 22°C in Jul–Aug — nearly 10°C cooler than downtown Chongqing — it is Chongqing residents' top summer getaway, and in winter you can enjoy snow and skiing. Using Huangshui Town as a base, there are several routes: right by town, Moon Lake and the Bizika Green Palace are good for strolls and families; to the south, the Dafengbao virgin forest, Sun Lake and Youcaohe Gorge combine forest, lakes and streams in a single day; to the west, the Qianye Grassland in Yuchi Town is an alpine meadow ideal for camping and stargazing; about 30 km north on the Yangtze is the Yunti (Cloud Ladder) Street of Xituo Ancient Town, from where you can cross the river to Zhongxian's Shibaozhai; in winter, go skiing on Qiyao Mountain in Lengshui Town; toward the Shizhu county town are Wanshou Mountain and sites associated with Qin Liangyu. Getting there: about 3 hours' drive from downtown Chongqing via the G50 Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway, or take the high-speed train to Shizhuxian Station and transfer to a bus for about 1 hour to Huangshui. Sights are spread out, so self-driving or hiring a car is strongly recommended. Allow 2–4 days; hotels fill up on summer weekends and in Jul–Aug, so book ahead. Local specialties are goldthread (Coptis, a medicinal herb) and water shield, and Tujia hand-waving dance bonfire parties are a summer-night highlight.

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