Chaliao Ancient Path 2 Days 1 Night | Red Maple Hidden Gem + Ancient Village Charm Complete Guide

📍Location: Chaliao Village, Yongfeng Town, Linhai City, Zhejiang Province
⏳Best Season: Late November to Early December (Best time for red maple viewing)
🎫Admission: Free (Parking fee: 10 RMB/car)

🚗 Transportation Guide | How to get to the "Most Beautiful Red Maple Ancient Path in Eastern Zhejiang"?

Self-driving (Recommended):

Hangzhou/Shanghai direction: Hangyong Expressway → Changtai Expressway → Linhai West Exit → G104 National Highway → Follow "Chaliao" signs to the parking lot (approx. 3.5 hours total).
Taizhou local: Jiaojiang → Taijin Expressway → Linhai Ancient City Exit → Jiangnan Avenue → G104 National Highway → Turn right at the "Badi Village" sign (1-hour drive).

Public Transportation:

High-speed rail to Linhai Station → Take a taxi to Chaliao Village (approx. 50 RMB, 30 minutes) or take a rural bus to Yongfeng Town and transfer to local transport.

📅 Itinerary | Ancient Path Hiking + Ancient Village Exploration
Day 1: Red Maple Ancient Path Hiking + Ancient Village Cultural Experience
🌅 Morning (8:00-12:00) | Ancient Path Hiking for Maple Viewing

08:00 Arrive at Chaliao Village parking lot, walk to the "Chaliao Fengling" stone tablet at the ancient path entrance.
08:30 Hike along the bluestone path, passing through bamboo forests and ancient maple groves (trees over 400 years old), capture the classic "maple leaves covering steps" scene.
11:00 Reach the half-mountain road, where you can buy local specialties (dried sweet potatoes, persimmons) or tea (5 RMB/bottle) at the rest stop.

🍜 Noon (12:00-13:30) | Farmhouse Lunch

Recommendation: Chaliao Village Farmhouse Restaurant (approx. 40 RMB per person), must-try Linhai Maixia Noodles and Dried Bamboo Shoot Stewed Chicken.

🌇 Afternoon (14:00-17:00) | Ancient Village Exploration + Zheng Qian Culture

14:30 Visit Chaliao Ancestral Hall to learn about the history of the village, home to descendants of the Tang Dynasty literary master Zheng Qian, and admire Qing Dynasty murals.
16:00 Stroll through the village alleys, photograph the ancient houses built into the mountainside and the autumn sun-drying scenes (persimmons, dried sweet potatoes).

🌃 Evening (18:00-21:00) | Accommodation Recommendations

High-end: Linhai Yuanzhou International Hotel (4-star in the city, includes breakfast, 30-minute drive, 400 RMB/night).
Characteristic B&B: Chaliao Village Farmhouse (100 RMB/person, includes breakfast and dinner, experience fireside chats).

Day 2: Optional Surrounding Tours
🌄 Morning (8:00-12:00) | Ziyang Ancient Street / Jiangnan Great Wall

08:30 Drive to Linhai city center (30-minute drive), explore Ziyang Ancient Street (free), taste Egg White Lamb Tail and Seaweed Cakes.
10:00 Climb the Jiangnan Great Wall (admission 60 RMB) for a panoramic view of the Lingjiang River in autumn.

🚗 Afternoon Return: Depart before 14:00, make a detour to Xiaozhi Mangrove Forest (red leaf season in December, 1-hour drive from Chaliao).

⚠️ Practical Tips | Avoid Pitfalls

Photography Advice: Shoot "floating maple forests" in the early morning mist (6:00-7:30 AM); capture red leaves with golden edges against the backlight at 4 PM.
Packing List: Non-slip hiking shoes, trekking poles (ancient path can be slippery with moss), thermos (hot water refills available in the village).
Avoid Peak Times: Weekends are crowded, so it's recommended to visit on weekdays; there's no signal in the village, download offline maps in advance.
Cultural Etiquette: The ancient tree clusters were planted by villagers' ancestors, please do not break maple branches or carve on them.

✨ Social Media Caption Inspiration
"Stepping on the thousand-year-old bluestone steps of Chaliao Ancient Path, the collision of red maples and dark gray steps is autumn's most passionate farewell gift – a village of Zheng Qian's descendants, the whispers of 400-year-old maples, persimmons in sun-drying baskets... This isn't just a scenic spot; it's a corner of Eastern Zhejiang's mountains where time stands still."