As autumn arrives in Xinghua, a county-level city in Taizhou, Jiangsu province, the city takes on a quieter seasonal charm. This two-day guide covers the Qianduo Scenic Area and Lizhong Water Forest Park, with an overnight stay in Dongluo village.
A boat sails through waterways lined with golden flower fields at Qianduo Scenic Area. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]
Start day one at Qianduo Scenic Area, where chrysanthemums are in full bloom. The raised fields sit on the water, covered in golden flowers and separated by waterways. Take a boat ride through the blooms and use your tickets to claim hairy crabs and other local specialties.
In the evening, head to Dongluo village for an overnight stay at a lake-view homestay. The village, one of the world's Best Tourism Villages, is particularly quiet at night.
After breakfast at the homestay on day two, stroll through Dongluo village and explore its old street and rural exhibition hall.
Bamboo rafts glide through the metasequoia forest at Lizhong Water Forest Park. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]
Next, head to Lizhong Water Forest Park, where more than 100,000 metasequoia trees grow in the water. Walk along the waterside boardwalk and watch for egrets skimming the surface, then take a bamboo raft deeper into the forest and enjoy the quiet.