Jiande | Off-the-beaten-path leisure travel in Zhejiang

Jiande may not be as popular as the nearby Qiandao Lake, Tonglu, or Fuyang, but if you want to avoid the crowds, Jiande is also a great choice. So, a three-day, two-night leisure trip is arranged. 🚄🚕Transportation: Jiande is suitable for self-driving, but if you don't want to drive yourself, you can also take the high-speed train + taxi. Ride-hailing is easy, and the taxi fare for three days is about 450 yuan. Xinye Ancient Village: It takes about an hour's drive from Jiande Station/Jiande City to get there. On Friday afternoon, there were hardly any tourists in the village, with less commercialization and many original residents still living there. With white walls and black tiles, horse-head walls, the village's architecture is scattered and orderly, with crisscrossing alleys; ancient pagodas, ancient houses, and ancient ancestral halls bring a sense of age to the village. This tranquil little village is like a paradise, and walking through it, you might think you've arrived in Huizhou. The downside is that it's quite far from Jiande City, but you can visit it together with the nearby Daciyan Scenic Area. The recommended playtime is 2 hours. (We took a taxi directly from Jiande Station to Xinye Ancient Village, and after visiting, we took a taxi back to Jiande City. It's advised to book the return trip in advance) Yanzhou Ancient City (Meicheng Ancient Town): Meicheng in Jiande is an ancient town with a history of over 1700 years. Ancient residences, city walls, old archways, and delicious food seem to fulfill all expectations of an ancient town. It's very popular, with plenty to see and eat, nestled in the mountains and by the water, with beautiful scenery. The recommended playtime is 2-3 hours. (About 30 minutes by taxi from Jiande City) Jiuxing Fishing Village: An ancient fishing village at the confluence of three rivers, it is said that Zhu Yuanzhang demoted the defeated troops of Chen Youliang to fishermen, forbidding them to live on land. These subordinates mainly consisted of nine surnames. Unique cultural customs and historical background add a touch of mystery to the village. There's a parking lot at the entrance to the fishing village where external vehicles are not allowed, but there's a shuttle bus that offers free rides into the village. Inside the village, there are art galleries, homestays, coffee shops, farm restaurants, high-altitude drifting, and more. Because it's located at the confluence of the Xin'an River, Fuchun River, and Lanjiang River, the scenery is amazing, and the sunset is beautiful on a clear evening. The recommended playtime is 2 hours. (About 10 minutes by taxi from Meicheng) Xin'an River Greenway: When visiting Jiande, you must experience the 17-degree summer on the trails along the Xin'an River. There's a long greenway along the river, and we stayed near the Baisha Bridge. In the morning or evening, you can witness the Baisha mist by the river, which is very refreshing when it hits your face, like opening a refrigerator in the summer. 🍜Jiande Cuisine: Local drivers recommended several restaurants, with fish head soup and tofu buns being must-tries. Meicheng Ancient Town also offers fried kueh, Yanzhou crispy cakes, crystal cakes, Sandu mochi, and other delicious snacks.