Zhejiang is a wonderful place to explore — an enchanting cloud-shrouded journey through Jinhua, Lishui, and Quzhou in Poetic and Picturesque Zhejiang

The mountainous hinterlands of Zhejiang are known as "Zhe Li." Away from the big cities, the rural villages and ancient towns there boast pristine landscapes, simple and traditional ways of life, and a wealth of delicious local food — a vacation destination many city dwellers dream of. For people from Shanghai, Zhe Li is like their backyard garden. In summer, Shanghai is humid and hot, so leaving the city for four days to escape the heat in the mountainous areas of Zhe Li is an easy decision. We drove from Shanghai to Hangzhou, and on the second day continued by car to Jinhua, kicking off this relaxing and artistic journey through Zhe Li.

The entire itinerary started in Jinhua, then headed to Lishui, and from there to Quzhou, forming an S-shaped route. We stayed one night in each of these three places, visiting some of their most iconic attractions, including Shuanglong Cave in Jinhua, Guyan Painting Village in Lishui, and Jianglang Mountain in Quzhou. The scenery we encountered was otherworldly and stunning, especially after the rain, like stepping into a fairyland. We enjoyed a very comfortable and memorable trip through Zhe Li.

Ancient Town of Shiba Du Scenic Area

Wearing traditional costumes in the Ancient Town of Shiba Du, Quzhou

Shuanglong Scenic Area

Viewing the karst cave waterfall wonder at Shuanglong Cave in Jinhua

Jinhua Jinlin Buddha’s Hand Cultural Park

Experiencing farm life in the pasture at Jinhua’s Buddha’s Hand Garden

Quzhou Tianwang Pagoda

Burning incense, praying, and hanging out at bars in Quzhou’s Shuiting Gate

Songyang Damushan Cycling Tea Plantation Scenic Area

Picking and tasting tea in the vast tea fields of Songyang, Lishui

A challenging hike up Jianglang Mountain in Quzhou

The tranquil daily life in Ancient Weir Painting Village, Lishui

When we arrived in Jinhua, it was still raining, but there’s a certain comfort in rainy weather. The mountain temperature in Jinhua was only 24°C, making it pleasantly cool. We chose to stay at “Jinhua Tuwo Holiday Hotel” near the entrance of Shuanglong Cave. The hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from the cave entrance and surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Legend has it that the mountain where Shuanglong Cave is located was once a place where the famous immortal Huang Daxian practiced his arts. There are temples dedicated to Huang Daxian in the mountain, along with many free attractions. The area also features many crystal-clear and serene green pools.

Only entry to certain caves around Shuanglong Cave requires a ticket; public green spaces and water bodies are free. Staying near the scenic area allows you to explore these places without charge, which I found great value. There’s even a sculpture referencing a primary school textbook passage that describes the scenery of Shuanglong Cave.

The rain stopped by evening, and the next morning the mountains were shrouded in mist. I waited until around 9 AM when the Shuanglong Cave ticket office opened, and entered as one of the first visitors. With fewer tourists around, taking photos and exploring felt like having the place to ourselves — quiet and peaceful.

At the entrance of Shuanglong Cave, there are two protruding rocks shaped like dragons — this is also how the cave got its name. The shapes are very artistic and fitting, and the natural mist outside the cave creates a fairy-tale-like atmosphere.

Shuanglong Cave is a karst cave that combines both a water cave and a dry cave. Right after entering the scenic area, you immediately need to take a boat into the cave. You must lie flat in the boat to go in, as the rock walls are very close — if you don’t lie down, you’ll hit your head. This boat-riding method is quite unique.

Fortunately, the time spent lying in the boat through the water cave section isn’t long — only about one minute. After this water passage, the rest of the route involves walking through the cave. This part features many stalactites that look stunning under the lighting.