Tonglu Tianzi Di: Step into a Secret Realm in the Clouds

Prologue: Entering the Cloudy Secret Realm

Tonglu Tianzi Di, a dreamlike name, like a graceful young lady, hidden deep in the winding mountains. Stepping inside, mist swirls around, and you drift into a dream.

Legend has it that 1,600 years ago, Liu Yu, the founding emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, was born here. Every mountain, every stream, every blade of grass and tree here is quaint yet elegant, beautiful yet mellow.

“The Fuchun landscape, the essence at Tianzi Di.” Hazy distant mountains, veiled in a light gauze, appear and vanish in the drifting mist. A scene that seems only to exist in heaven—lost in a trance, one forgets what year it is!

The Sky Mirror at Tianzi Di, built between high mountains and valleys, is a huge circular mirror that reflects the blue sky, white clouds, forests, and canyons—a dreamy vision that has become a popular Instagram-worthy spot.

Standing on the vast mirror surface, gazing at the distant mountains, it's breathtakingly beautiful like a fairyland. Wearing Hanfu and dancing gracefully on the Sky Mirror, all worries seem to be forgotten.

A gentle breeze brushes by; the lingering mist after the rain, like elegant silk, wraps around the mountainside in wisps. Lush greenery leaves a lasting aftertaste—everything is just perfect.

Surrounded by green hills and clear waters, it feels like stepping back into ancient times. Like a fairy who has stumbled into a paradise, I sit on the Sky Mirror watching clouds unfurl beyond the sky, fully immersed and carefree.

Below the Sky Mirror lies the Zijinhua Cliff Viewing Platform, covering a full 600 square meters—the world's largest double-decker glass viewing platform, like a blooming bauhinia flower set amidst the green mountains, dreamlike and ethereal.

Stepping onto the cliff viewing platform, there's a popular photo spot below—a bird's nest—where you can capture a shot of yourself with the distant sky and valley. Of course, the steps themselves are also great viewpoints and photo ops.

Walking on the viewing platform after rain feels like strolling above the clouds. As the mountain breeze stirs in the distance, green shadows dance, and suddenly a wave of emotion wells up.

Across the valley, a purple sky bridge spans between two mountains—this is the Yunti Sky Bridge. Stretching 300 meters across the valley with a drop of around 200 meters, walking on it offers stunning mountain views.

The purple bridge is romantic and dreamy, and even those afraid of heights needn't worry. Far from the city's hustle, breathing in the fresh air, it's utterly refreshing.

Next to the Yunti Sky Bridge is the Step by Step Thrill, an extremely challenging and thrilling attraction. Put on your safety gear, step onto the planks, and proceed with caution—this one tests your balance even more than the bridge.

On the bridge, the sky is so serene, as if embracing all that is beautiful; white clouds set against the blue sky look just like a fairyland.

The Zilong Gorge Drift at Tianzi Di is the world's longest all-glass water slide, taking over ten minutes for the whole run. Built in the valley, it winds like a dragon through the mountains, from top to bottom, in a magnificent rush.

This is the ultimate summer water fun. I've tried many other glass drifts, but none compare to Zilong Gorge Drift. It has a huge drop and plenty of turns—thrilling and fun.

A drift that doesn't get you wet lacks soul, so make sure to wear a raincoat beforehand. In just over ten minutes, you'll rediscover long-lost exhilaration amidst screams of joy.

Tianzi Cave is praised as the 'Penglai Fairyland.' As one of the largest shaft-type karst caves in Asia, it spans over 10,000 square meters, with a maximum height difference of 148 meters inside. It consists of three interconnected chambers, with a tour route of over 1,200 meters, taking about half an hour.

The cave is a perfect summer retreat, with water gently flowing all year round. Lofty caverns, deep underground rivers, and dense stalactites—nature's stunning workmanship created this bizarre subterranean spectacle.

Tianzi Lake is said to be where Emperor Liu Yu caught shrimp, fished, and played in the water. Crucian carp, common carp, and grass carp swim leisurely, occasionally surfacing. When white mist rises from the lake, it adds a touch of mystery.

In leisurely moments, stroll by the lake or simply sit quietly, brew a cup of tea, and like the ancients, immerse yourself in nature, living a poetic life of drifting clouds and wild cranes. And with black swans for company—how delightful and beautiful.

Dinosaur Valley is perfect for family visits, like instantly traveling back to the Jurassic era. Children will be thrilled by the lifelike dinosaurs.

The natural scenery here is also wonderful, surrounded by a tranquil bamboo grove. As you descend the steps, you'll see different species of dinosaurs, each with an information plaque below, so children can learn about dinosaurs.

Scenic Area Address: Luoshan Village, Baijiang Town, Tonglu County, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province.

Public Transport: From Hangzhou, take a bus to Tonglu. Buses depart from Hangzhou West Bus Station and South Station every 20 minutes. After arriving in Tonglu, transfer to a bus heading to Baijiang Town.

Self-Drive Routes: 1. Take Hangzhou Ring Expressway to Hangxinjing (Hangqian) Expressway directly to Tonglu and exit the highway. Drive through Tonglu County via Provincial Highways 16 and 05 towards Qiandao Lake, passing Yaolin and Fenshui, then reach the scenic area.

2. From Shanghai, enter the Huhang Expressway at Xinzhuang. Exit at Hangzhou North, then directly take the Ring Expressway to Zhuantang exit. Follow National Highway 320 towards Fuyang and Tonglu. After reaching Fuyang, take Provincial Highways 23 and 05 towards Qiandao Lake, passing Yaolin and Fenshui, then arrive at the scenic area.

1. All attractions are free for children under 1.2 meters, limited to one child per adult. 2. The drift lasts about ten minutes; helmets and raincoats are included at no extra cost. Drift-only ticket: 159 RMB. Pets allowed: 80 RMB per pet. 3. Tianzi Di entrance ticket + Magic Carpet Ride + Step by Step Thrill/Yunti Sky Bridge + Sky Mirror and Zijinhua Cliff Viewing Platform + Zilong Gorge High-altitude Glass Drift = around 259 RMB, may vary slightly across platforms.