Lishui, Xiandu, Songyang & Yunhe Loop
A road trip through Lishui's countryside: morning mist in Xiandu, Guyan, Songyang's ancient villages, Yunhe Rice Terraces, and Longquan celadon.
This route runs from east to west, entering via Jinyun and exiting via Lishui, with overnight stays planned in stages to avoid daily backtracking. Spend two nights in Songyang to explore the villages, stay halfway up the mountain in Yunhe to watch the sunrise, and then loop through Longquan and Dajun to finish. The route involves many mountain roads, with 1 to 2 hours of driving daily. Public transport between villages is scarce, making it ideal for experienced drivers. The Qingyuan Covered Bridges and Fengyang Mountain are excluded due to their remote locations.
The terraces are flooded from March to April, and the rice turns golden from September to October. Avoid the plum rain and typhoon seasons.
Day by day
Day 1 · Half-Day at Xiandu Dinghu Peak
Lishui Green Valley（Xiandu Scenic Area & Dinghu Peak、Niweng Cave、Zhutan Mountain (Xiandu)）
Rent a car at Jinyun West Station and drive about 30 minutes to Xiandu. Explore on foot and use the scenic shuttle buses.
Stay: Xiandu Scenic Area
Day 2 · Xiao Chibi and Heyang to Guyan Huaxiang
Lishui Green Valley（Xiaochibi (Xiandu)、Heyang Ancient Village、Guyan Huaxiang & Tongji Weir）
Watch the morning mist at Xiao Chibi, drive through Heyang for about 1 hour to Guyan Huaxiang. The total driving distance for the day is about 100 km.
Accommodation near the water in Guyan is tight during holidays; book as early as possible.
Stay: Guyan Painting Village
Day 3 · Songyang Yangjiatang Ancient Village
Lishui Green Valley（Songyang Ancient Villages (Yangjiatang)、Youtian Village、Songyang Old Street）
Drive from Guyan via the highway for about 1 hour to Songyang, then drive up the mountain to the village. Return to the county seat in the afternoon.
Stay: Songyang Old Town · Yangjiatang
Day 4 · Chenjiapu and Tea Plantations
Lishui Green Valley（Damushan Cycling Tea Garden、Yanqing Temple Pagoda、Chenjiapu Village）
Visit Damushan Tea Plantation in the morning. In the afternoon, drive through the county seat and up the mountain to Chenjiapu to watch the sunset. The total distance is about 80 km.
The mountain road to Chenjiapu is narrow; drive slowly when passing oncoming vehicles.
Stay: Songyang Old Town · Yangjiatang
Day 5 · Head South to Yunhe Rice Terraces
Lishui Green Valley（Yunhe Wooden Toy Town、Yunhe Terraces）
Drive from Songyang via the highway and mountain roads for about 1.5 hours to Yunhe, and check into a guesthouse halfway up the terraces.
To watch the sunrise, stay near the Jiuqu Yunhuan area, though room rates are higher there.
Stay: Yunhe Terraces
Day 6 · Terrace Sunrise to Longquan
Longquan & Qingyuan (Zhejiang)（Longquan Celadon Museum、Longquan Sword Town & Jianchi Lake）
Watch the sea of clouds in the early morning, then drive via the highway for about 1.5 hours to Longquan city center in the morning.
Stay: Longquan Urban Area
Day 7 · Dajun She Ethnic Village and Departure
Jingning She Ethnic County（Dajun Village (Window of She Ethnic Region)）
Drive from Longquan along mountain roads for about 1.5 hours to Dajun. In the afternoon, drive about 1.5 hours to Lishui Station to return the rental car.