Detailed Guide for a Couple's Self-Drive Trip on the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Highway, Staying at the Stunning Guyue Tower B&B in Banqiao
Considering that faraway places were out of reach and popular spots were too crowded, I spent several days searching online and decided to explore the newly emerging internet-famous Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Highway. After discussing it with my wife, she was also very supportive. So we began preparing and choosing the travel dates. After checking guides and experiences, we finally settled on a two-day, one-night weekend trip!
The mysterious Southern Anhui "Sichuan-Tibet Highway," also known as the "Jiangnan Sky Road" or "Southern Anhui 318," starts from Qinglong Township in Ningguo City in the east and ends at Caicun Town in Jing County in the west. Its highlight section is about 120 kilometers. It winds through steep cliffs and mountains, offering breathtaking views above the clouds. It also passes through rustic and natural water towns, showcasing the unique elegance of Jiangnan. There are deep primeval forests and hidden秘境, attracting countless tourists to check in.
For first-time visitors, most follow the recommendation from fellow travel enthusiasts: starting from Ningguo and ending at Moon Bay in Jing County. However, both places can serve as either the start or end point. Since I departed from Zhenjiang, the distances to both points were similar, but considering there might be heavy traffic at the end of the holiday, returning from Moon Bay would require passing through several highways. So I chose to start from Moon Bay and end at Ningguo. Based on my personal experience, this plan proved to be correct.
We set off at 7 a.m., took over two hours on the highway, and then over an hour on county roads to arrive directly at Moon Bay Scenic Area. From Moon Bay, we officially entered the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The road was surrounded by mountains, with streams flowing at the foothills. The water was clear and shallow, reaching about calf height. Children were even playing directly in the water. Overall, Moon Bay is shaped like a crescent formed by the stream, more suitable for kids. So I didn't take photos. After wading in the water for a while with my wife, we headed to the next stop, Ink and Wash Tingxi.
Ink and Wash Tingxi is the second major stop on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. It takes about 1.5 hours from Moon Bay, all on mountain roads with many curves and narrow paths. Cars frequently meet each other, and the speed is maintained at 30-40 km/h. It's a test of driving skills and attention. But compared to the later Taoling Six Bends and the mountain highway, this is just an appetizer. A reminder for fellow travelers: since most tourists choose to depart in the morning and arrive around noon, Ink and Wash Tingxi, as the second stop, can be very congested around 2 p.m., especially during holidays. Normally, it should be fine.
Taoling Six Bends is on County Road 076, and the mountain highway is on County Road 061. They are connected, so be careful not to get lost. Because the road is narrow, vehicles with more than 7 seats are restricted. It's better to take a small car. The Six Bends and the mountain highway must be experienced in person to feel the thrill and difficulty.
Next came Banqiao. The Banqiao Nature Reserve currently preserves over 50,000 acres of lush natural sweet beech forest. It is the best-preserved and most intact virgin forest on the northeastern edge of the subtropical zone. It contains more than 10 species of nationally protected plants and nearly 30 species of national first- and second-class protected animals, as well as nearly a thousand species of provincial protected animals. It boasts a unique and spectacular patch of sweet beech forest. We stayed that night at the Guyue Tower B&B at No. 75 Banqiao Street. The B&B features a small bridge and flowing water landscape in front, offering 360-degree mountain views, surrounded by mountains. It was incredibly beautiful, and my wife loved it!
Following County Road 061 toward Ningguo, we entered Qinglong Bay Scenic Area and Chujiatan. Qinglong Bay Scenic Area integrates mountain scenery, water scenery, and cultural landscapes. It has rich ecological resources, with a forest coverage rate of 78%. It mainly offers electric boat rides on the water, which is very wide. You can go boating there. Chujiatan is 3 km from Qinglong Bay and belongs to the same water area. Because of a hydropower station, there is a small waterfall. You can have barbecue there, which is quite beautiful.
The short two-day, one-night trip ended from Chujiatan. Overall, the Six Bends and the mountain highway were the most attractive. For those who haven't experienced the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, I recommend taking this route. If conditions permit, you can drive or ride motorcycles. We met many motorcyclists along the way, and they looked very cool. For cars, automatic transmission is recommended; manual transmission with frequent gear changes can be really tiring. Camping would also be a great choice!
