Babilandia Scenic Island was the first destination for the bloggers upon arriving in Lin’an. Though a light drizzle fell as they arrived at this island built around Qingshan Lake, shrouded in misty rain, everyone was still deeply impressed by its over 100 ancient Jiangnan-style buildings that form an old commercial street full of classical charm, along with an exquisitely designed ancient village.
The architectural variety here is rich and colorful, with historic structures such as government offices, temples, stages, ancestral halls, academies, pavilions, and residences arranged in a harmonious and complementary layout. Stone carvings, brick carvings, wood carvings, and ingenious architectural layouts offer visitors a glimpse into the history of ancient Jiangnan architecture. Blogger @Grassland900 shared on Weibo: “Babilandia Scenic Island is located by Qingshan Lake in Lin’an, covering more than 1,700 acres. ‘Babaili’ is an ancient place name, said to be named after Peng Zu, the legendary longevity ancestor from ancient times who reportedly lived to 800 years old and once resided here…”. Strolling through the commercial old street of Babilandia, one can fully enjoy the essence of Peng Zu’s wellness culture. Here, you can shop for local specialties, take part in outdoor activities like rock climbing and barbecues to get close to nature and return to your roots, or savor nourishing medicinal dishes such as Dendrobium Duck Soup and Gastrodia Chicken in the Baling Wellness Garden, along with a variety of flavorful dishes... Blogger @Moonshine wrote: “At noon, I had a medicinal wellness meal at Baling Wellness Garden’s 【Prosperous Jiangnan】—soft-shell turtle millet pot, Tianmu flying chicken, salted pork with bamboo shoots, Yang-tonifying pot, peanut sprouts, stinky mandarin fish, pumpkin buns with meat, old cucumber stewed with salted pig trotters, fiddlehead mushrooms...”
After enjoying the wellness medicinal cuisine at Babilandia Scenic Island, the bloggers, feeling refreshed, took a sightseeing cruise to Qingshan Lake Water Forest Park. Qingshan Lake Water Forest Park truly lives up to its title as Lin’an’s top scenic spot. Even in the continuous drizzle, upon arrival, everyone was captivated by the beauty before them and spontaneously took out their cameras, clicking away non-stop. @HailanNavyblue repeatedly praised: “Qingshan Lake has long been hidden away and not widely known. But even in the gloomy weather, the colorful metasequoias still display their endless charm.” In early winter, Qingshan Lake resembles a piece of jade inlaid among ancient mountains and trees. Especially breathtaking is the water forest landscape, where dense stands of bald cypress thrive in the deep lake, tall and lush, with tree shadows, lake reflections, mountain scenery, and sky creating a stunning landscape painting. Boating through it gives one the surreal feeling of being in a heavenly realm. The mountains are emerald green, the waters crystal clear, and the surroundings supremely beautiful—Qingshan Lake has become the most radiant jewel of the forest park with its delicate and graceful style. Even @Grassland900 exclaimed: “The colorful metasequoia forest on Qingshan Lake feels like a dreamy woodland. Strolling here in the winter of Jiangnan, the air is fresh, comfortable, and peaceful.”
After visiting Qingshan Lake, the next stop—Taihu Source—offered yet another spectacular view. Taihu Source is one of the three major wonders of Lin’an, famous for its pure mountain streams and cool climate. Walking here on an early winter morning, you’ll see rapid streams rushing down the rocks, with trees along the banks showing hints of yellow amid the lush green, while playful wild monkeys occasionally leap out, sometimes playing in the trees, sometimes frolicking in the water—an unspoiled natural scene. Immersed in such a wonderful ecological painting, close your eyes, breathe in the fragrant air filled with the scent of trees, listen to the sound of rushing streams hitting the rocks, and enjoy the lively antics of various wild animals in the woods and streams—inevitably, you may feel the urge to make this place your home and merge with nature.
Leaving Taihu Source, the group headed straight for Zhinan Village, located by the Nan’tiaoxi River at the source of Taihu. With an altitude of nearly 600 meters, Zhinan Village is an ancient settlement with a history of several thousand years. All 220 households in the village live clustered around the Heavenly Lake, facing south—a prime location blessed by both time and nature. With about 470 acres of terraced fields distributed on both sides of the village, it’s a paradise for photography enthusiasts and is hailed by the outdoor community as one of the most beautiful ancient villages in East China. The houses in the ancient village are staggered amidst clusters of trees. In early winter, yellow leaves carpet the ground, and the roofs of the old tiled houses are also covered with a golden layer, adding a romantic touch to the classic elegance of the ancient settlement. Seeing such a scene, @Yan Leshan couldn’t help but wax poetic: “‘Yellow leaves cover the ground, withered and forlorn—who will come to pick them now?’ It’s truly a poetic and picturesque ancient village!”
“Tianmu Mountain Scenic Area is not just any forest oxygen bar. Here, you’ll find the world’s oldest ginkgo tree, over 12,000 years old, along with various towering ancient trees that make you feel as if you’re strolling through a fairyland.” This is what @Grassland900 exclaimed upon entering Tianmu Mountain. Known as the “Grand Canopy Heard Across the Land,” Tianmu Mountain earned its name because the peaks on the east and west each have a pool, resembling eyes looking up to the sky. Its unique geographical environment and forest effects create a special microclimate, with an average annual temperature of 8.8°C at Xuanshen Peak and 14.8°C at the mountain foot. The vast sea of forests is serene and elegant, especially cool in summer and free from severe cold in winter. With abundant plant resources and a superior natural environment, the mountains are covered with towering ancient trees, including a 12,000-year-old ginkgo—an extremely rare sight.
On the third day early in the morning, we arrived at Shimen Gorge—also known as Jianmen, hailed as the “No. 1 Gate of China.” Above the rolling terraces stand two towering cliffs that rise dramatically toward the sky, an awe-inspiring sight. @Moonshine commented on WeChat: “From afar, the mountain cliffs look as if they were hewn by axes, soaring into the clouds—it’s impossible not to marvel at nature’s incredible craftsmanship!”
In Lin’an, there is an ancient hot spring with a history of over 1,300 years—Tuankou Hot Spring, known as “the hot spring right at Hangzhou’s doorstep.” It is the top radon hot spring in East China and features various themed pools such as cherry blossom, rose, and chrysanthemum, each offering unique benefits for keeping warm, beautifying the body, and promoting wellness. “In the waterside pavilion, more guests come for the warmth in winter; in the stone pool, people love to bathe when it warms in spring”—this is the most vivid description of it. Lying in a hot spring bath infused with Balinese flair, you can experience the pure beauty of winter, amidst rising steam and swaying tree shadows, as the spring water caresses your tired body and mind like soft silk. After soaking for a while, you may feel drowsy, developing a comforting desire to drift off and linger in this tender paradise.
The final day’s journey brought us to West Zhejiang Grand Canyon—Jianmen Gorge. Although it was already early winter, what greeted us here was a vibrant expanse of green. Walking through it, breathing in the fresh air with an overload of negative ions from this natural oxygen bar, and admiring the stunning scenery where mountains and water reflect each other like a painting, @Fan Hong couldn’t help but praise: “Walking upstream along the valley’s boardwalk for over 2,000 meters, with continuous mountain peaks, rapid-flowing waters, and fresh air—it truly is a place of clear mountains and beautiful waters, a captivating sight—and these words are no exaggeration.”
Finally, the bloggers left the moving greenery with reluctance, bringing their wellness journey in Lin’an to a fulfilling end. As the group kept glancing back, @Ding Qizhen remarked with emotion: “‘Flowers bloom by the roadside, you may slowly return’—a phrase that has captivated hearts through the ages. But to truly understand its mood and charm, one must visit Lin’an, the hometown of Qian, and only by being there in person can one grasp its true essence!” Hearing this, the other bloggers all echoed the sentiment: once back home, they would definitely bring their families along to revisit and fully appreciate the beauty and blessings of Lin’an.