I declare Yixing, Jiangsu as the ultimate reverse travel destination

Can you imagine? What kind of charm does this small city possess that even the great literary master Su Dongpo wanted to retire here? "I'll grow old buying fields in Yangxian, always drawn by its beautiful streams and mountains." When I set foot in Yixing for the third time, I completely fell in love with this small city 🤩

Here you'll find bamboo forests, mountains, and tea fields, like a real-life version of The Wizard of Oz. When you're tired of the crowds in Nanjing, Suzhou, and Yangzhou, why not come to Yixing for a reverse travel experience? This severely underestimated small city in Jiangsu will definitely bring you unique surprises.

Itinerary
Day 1
Longbei Mountain Forest Park ➠ Shushan Ancient South Street ➠ Dachao Mountain Mini Great Wall
Day 2
Yunhu Dajue Temple ➠ Yixing Bamboo Sea ➠ Yada Yangxian Town

Must-visit attractions
✅ Longbei Mountain Forest Park
As the largest urban forest park in East China, the neatly arranged cedar trees along the path unfold like a green canvas painted by nature, both healing and soothing to the eyes. You can take photos with the windmill, Ferris wheel, and Wenfeng Tower, or just sit on a roadside bench, quietly daydreaming and enjoying the tranquility.

✅ Shushan Ancient South Street
This is the birthplace of purple clay pottery culture and was the main distribution center for Yixing ceramics during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Walking along the ancient street, the commercial atmosphere isn't overwhelming, and locals live here leisurely. Strolling through, it feels like traveling through time to experience the historical charm of the ancient street.

✅ Dachao Mountain Mini Great Wall
This is a niche hiking route in Yixing with spectacular views. Standing here, you can look east to see the vast expanse of Lake Tai, and west to admire the endless mountain ranges. Starting from Fuyuan Zen Temple, the entire trail is 3km and takes about 2.5 hours to hike, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

✅ Yunhu Dajue Temple
Known as the "Little Potala Palace," its orange-colored eaves stack layer upon layer, creating a vibrant sight. Don't forget to walk to the Yunhu Wetland Park across from it, where the lake and mountain scenery is breathtaking.

✅ Yixing Bamboo Sea
Yixing is famous for bamboo production and has long been known as the "Ocean of Bamboo." The bamboo forests here stretch across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces, covering hundreds of thousands of acres. We're heading to the central area of ten thousand acres, acclaimed as "East China's Premier Bamboo Sea," and the magnificent scenery will absolutely amaze you.

✅ Yada Yangxian Town
A neo-Chinese style ancient town with beautiful mountains and waters, it's an excellent spot for photography. Be sure to climb Dongpo Pavilion; the blue hour at dusk is incredibly beautiful. From the viewing platform, you can also take in the entire panorama of Yunhu scenery.

Thoughtful Travel Tips
🙌 Transportation advice: Attractions are generally about half an hour's drive apart, so having your own car will be very convenient, allowing your trip to be more flexible and spontaneous.

🙌 Itinerary planning: If you have plenty of time, arranging a 3-day, 2-night trip would be more relaxing, allowing you to slowly savor every beautiful aspect of this small city.

🙌 Supplies preparation: Some scenic areas are quite large, so remember to bring some food and drinks. Before setting out, I specifically went to a convenience store to buy two bottles of sugar-free Gardenia Oolong tea. Drinking tea in nature with its faint gardenia fragrance makes you feel like you're becoming one with the wilderness. Plus, its packaging is very photogenic and can serve as a prop for atmospheric photos. It's now my travel companion!