A Thousand Miles to Fang County: Poetry, Wine, and Distant Lands – How to Enjoy the May Day 'Book of Songs' Flower Goddess Hanfu Tourism Month

A thousand miles to Fang County, poetry, wine, and distant lands. The 2021 Influencer Conference and the first Book of Songs Hanfu Tourism Month at Xiguan Impression in Fang County, Shiyan, has begun. It also marks the grand opening of the 'Poetry, Wine, and Flower Goddess' themed event welcoming the May Day Golden Week. The editor has already organized a guide for you—hurry up and save it, no thanks needed.

[DAY1] Wuhan – Shiyan Fang County Xiguan Ancient Street (wear Hanfu in the garden, watch the Xiguan Impression Circus at the largest international circus theater in northwest Hubei, taste local Fang County specialties) – enjoy the night view of the ancient street (immersive light show)

[DAY2] Baliwang Cherries – Yeren Cave (climb the vertical sky ladder, view the colorful karst cave) – return trip

[Address]: About 200 meters north from the intersection of Xiaoxiguan Street and Fangling West Avenue, Fang County, Shiyan City

[Transportation]: From Wuhan, take a high-speed train for just over 2 hours directly to Wudangshan West Station, then charter a car to Xiguan Impression Scenic Area.

[Accommodation]: There is the Yicheng Hotel next to the scenic area, and other nearby accommodations such as Lingzhou International Hotel.

[Food]: Xiguan Impression has many distinctive and delicious foods, including local Fang County rice wine, Fang County mung bean balls, and various noodles such as the Shaanxi-Sichuan specialty biangbiang noodles and hot and sour noodles. Of course, there are also many tasty snacks like pancakes, Hunan stinky tofu, etc. You could say that whatever snacks you like, you can find them here. Also, we recommend a hidden gem: 'Lao She Teahouse.' You can choose to have lunch or dinner there, right across from the Baixi Tower. The location is quite good. Inside the teahouse, you can watch wonderful performances of traditional dance, opera, tea art, and more while savoring delicious food. Outside the teahouse, there is an immersive performance and a stunning light show at 7 PM every night.

[Tips]: During the May Day holiday for a whole month, Xiguan Impression is hosting the Book of Songs Hanfu Tourism Month. It is recommended to bring your own Hanfu costume, paired with hair accessories, necklaces, Chinese-style fans, wine cups, oil-paper umbrellas, and so on. Of course, there is also a Hanfu rental service at the visitor center near the scenic area entrance. There are currently no buses nearby, so it is recommended to drive, take a taxi, or ride a bicycle.

Fang County, known since ancient times as the land of nine provinces, is an ancient and charming city. Today's Xiguan Impression features a renovated old street with retro brick tiles blue-green, carved beams dyed with rosy clouds, painted rafters facing clear waters, and bustling visitors. Who would have thought this was once an ancient salt route connecting Hubei, Henan, Sichuan, and Shaanxi? At Xiguan Impression, the azure sky is clear and bright, and the white clouds in the sky are like cotton candy, fluffy and beautiful.

'Brocade like clouds, silk like snow, the elegance of Chinese silk, unparalleled beauty.' As soon as the Hanfu event started, it attracted many ancient-style enthusiasts from all over the world who came to take photos. Each of them was dressed in gorgeous Hanfu, some holding wine cups, some holding lotus flowers, some holding oil-paper umbrellas, some holding Chinese-style fans. Even the handsome and chic young ladies carried long flutes. Every single one of them was super beautiful, truly dazzling and irresistible.

The mist fills Xiguan Street, making it ancient and rich in charm. The Hanfu ladies couldn't help but dance gracefully. There were also ladies wearing veils playing the guzheng, their beauty half-hidden, making people want to see more. One after another, young women walked by leisurely, 'dazzling in their splendid robes and earrings of jade,' as if traveling back a thousand years to savor the fragrance of timeless charm.

Of course, on Xiguan Impression Ancient Street, you must not miss the [Xiguan Impression Circus Grand Theater]. A series of performances themed 'Xiguan Wonderful Night, Circus Carnival' are staged spectacularly. The Xiguan Impression Circus Grand Theater is the largest international circus theater in northwest Hubei, with a building area of about 3,000 square meters and capacity for over 800 viewers at the same time. During the May Day event, the venue was packed with enthusiasm, and the audience applauded thunderously.

Know that here you can see nearly 30 wonderful programs, including Lion King Competition, Bear Parallel Bars, Globe of Death, Aerial Balance Beam, Russian Dance, Equestrian Performances, and more. There will always be a few performances you like best. Additionally, the world's top circus performance team has been brought in, presenting original themed wonderful programs that skillfully combine thrilling high-difficulty acrobatics, spectacular carnival parades, diverse animal shows, and humorous clown interactions, offering everyone a splendid array of performances.

The overall architecture is themed around hot air balloons and cartoon animals, integrating circus, stage plays, and performances. Through dazzling stage sets, lighting, costumes, and styling designs, it presents breathtaking stage scenes. This is a world-class circus performance, right at Xiguan Impression in Fang County, Shiyan—a great place to see the best circus acts from around the world without leaving the country.

Xiguan Impression Circus Grand Theater Address: Chama Street, Xiguan Impression Scenic Area, Fang County (behind Baixi Tower)

Xiguan Impression Scenic Area, originating in the Tang and Song dynasties and flourishing in the Ming and Qing, is nestled south of Fenghuang Mountain and north of Fenshui River, stretching from the Book of Songs Avenue in the east to Nanning Road in the west, with a total length of 1,680 meters. Strolling slowly along this ancient street, rows of antique-style buildings line the road. The bluestone slab path is dotted with vibrant spring greenery. Wander under the eaves in front of guild halls, opera towers, plazas, guesthouses, antiques, specialty snack shops, etc., savoring Fang County's local delicacies and enjoying the beauty of Xiguan Impression.

As night falls, approaching this small town's ancient street in the evening, it is brightly lit. In this ancient, charming street, don't miss the special performance at Baixi Tower at 7 PM.

Watch up close the unique Sichuan opera face-changing, the twelve Flower Goddesses singing and dancing, and the most immersive light show, experiencing the stunning impact of sound, light, and electricity in the night. Listen to countless stories of Fang County, appreciate its thousand-year history, and feel the profound traditional culture.

The entire Balishan area is a cherry orchard, a spectacular sight. In spring, when cherries ripen, many tourists come to pick cherries and experience the rustic pastoral charm. Pick the 'identity card' Baliwang cherries. Know that these cherries are special—plump, juicy red cherries with an unforgettable sweet taste.

You can personally experience the joy of picking, or you can directly buy from roadside vendors. The prices are affordable, and they are picked just at dawn, very fresh and delicious.

A half-hour drive from the cherry orchard brings you to Fang County's famous natural wonder—Yeren Cave (Wild Man Cave). Upon entering Yeren Cave, it may seem similar to other karst cave attractions, but as you go deeper, you will feel nature's incredible craftsmanship, thrilling and exciting. It is said that in Yeren Cave, there are large footprints left by the Shennongjia wild man and various legends.

Yeren Cave has a beautiful environment and great scenery, especially suitable for summer visits, cool, comfortable, and a good place to escape the heat. After exploring the cave, you can return here. So we chose to have lunch at the flowing stream 'Lüye Mizong' (Green Field Trace), with delicious flavors, worth recommending to everyone.

Inside the cave, there are thousands of years of stalactites and stalagmites everywhere. Under the colorful lights, these ancient formations present ever-changing postures. Facing such natural wonders, one can't help but be sincerely impressed.

The most thrilling part is climbing the Yeren Cave Sky Ladder, an almost 90-degree vertical ladder. Without some physical strength, it's impossible. Friends who love excitement can really come and try it. It is said that the sky ladder is as high as a 25-story building. Basically, you climb along an underground river from the foot of a mountain to the top, with several difficult sections where you need to travel light to squeeze through.

The Yeren Cave Sky Ladder divides the cave into upper and lower levels, with three or four halls inside. The naturally formed stalactite groups are vivid and wonderful. There are also photo spots inside, with terraced underground river water reflecting the ever-changing karst cave, truly beautiful.

After exiting Yeren Cave, the scenery is quite nice. You can slowly walk down while enjoying the view. After descending a few steps, you can also choose to slide down a slide to avoid walking. The ticket price is not expensive: 20 yuan per adult, half price for children. They give you a cushion to put under your bottom, and you control your speed by braking with your feet. There are also gloves, so you can use both hands and feet. The whole process is so fun, like sliding down a slide as a child. Endless joy!

After lunch, you can head to the magnificent Yeren Valley in the afternoon. Experience the simplicity of Fang County's nature and enjoy the beautiful green landscape.

For this year's May Day holiday, I recommend you come to Shiyan Fang County. Dress up in a Hanfu and explore Xiguan Ancient Street. Watch a spectacular circus performance at the largest international circus theater in northwest Hubei—Xiguan Impression Circus Grand Theater. Visit the thrilling Yeren Cave and feel the serene beauty of Yeren Valley, traveling through the fragrance of a thousand years of timeless charm.