City in the Clouds—Zhouning | A 2-Day 1-Night Family Trip to Zhouning

Zhouning, located in Ningde City, Fujian Province, at the southeastern foot of the Jiufeng Mountains, is known as the "City in the Clouds." The photos and videos released by Zhouning Tourism are so appealing that we chose a weekend to drive there.

Day 1: Jiulongji Waterfall - Liyu Stream

Self-drive: Fuzhou → Zhouning, about 2.5 hours to arrive. Accommodation: stayed at Meiya Baisuikang Health Hotel.

After freshening up at the hotel, we drove to Jiulongji Waterfall in the afternoon, only a 14-minute drive from the hotel. The hotel also gave us complimentary tickets to the scenic area! We walked up the trail. The entire hike took 2.5 hours, and the waterfall was truly spectacular. Definitely worth a visit.

No wonder it is praised as "Number One in Fujian," "Rare in China," and "Top Waterfall in East China"—the Jiulongji Waterfall Cluster is indeed magnificent.

With a total drop of over 300 meters, nine different cascades plunge through the canyon over a 1,000-meter course, forming breathtaking waterfalls and deep pools.

Walk along the boardwalk to feel the mist up close (bring a raincoat), and capture rainbows on the observation deck (most likely on sunny mornings). Tips: Wear non-slip shoes; the whole tour takes about 2.5 hours.

After leaving Jiulongji, we drove to Liyu Stream Scenic Area, located in the city center (about 18 km, 30 minutes).

Liyu Stream is close to the city, and there are many snacks nearby:

Liyu Stream Meat Pie Shop, Puyuan No.31 Wonton Shop, Puyuan No.16 Cake Shop, Street Fried Radish Cake Shop, Old Sugar Cake Shop, Puyuan Home-style Restaurant, etc.

After eating, we strolled along Liyu Stream (tickets cost 35 yuan each, but the hotel gave us two free tickets). There is little commercialization; the stream is full of carp. You can feed the carp by buying fish food and interacting with them up close.

The light show at night was very beautiful!

Day 2: Xianfeng Mountain - Houyang Village - Sanku Ecological Practice Base

We got up early the next morning and drove to see the sunrise and sea of clouds (about 28 km, over 40 minutes from the hotel).

You can drive up the mountain and then walk a short distance.

After parking at the hilltop parking lot, a five-minute walk took us to the observation deck, where we saw a stunning sunrise above the clouds—it definitely made the trip worthwhile.

After descending the mountain, we had a local breakfast and snacks, then went back to the hotel for a nap. After waking up, we visited the Sanku Ecological Practice Base in front of the hotel.

We explored the planting site of the three trees. On our way back, we enjoyed a forest oxygen bath, rich in negative ions that left us physically and mentally refreshed.

Eating, drinking, strolling, stopping, and sightseeing—this off-the-beaten-path destination offered a very pleasant 2-day 1-night trip with everything from food to fun. It is said that summer temperatures here are only 24°C, and it will be even more beautiful when the lotus flowers bloom—a great place to escape the heat.