Discover Wuyuan

Joyce

Hallstatt Austria – A Day Trip from Salzburg

Hallstatt is a picturesque village nestled in the Austrian Alps, known for its stunning natural beauty and rich history. Located in the Salzkammergut region, Hallstatt is famous for its charming wooden houses, breathtaking mountain scenery, and its serene Hallstätter See (Lake Hallstatt). Hallstatt has been on my bucket list for a long time and finally my husband and I made the trip this year.

Highlight of the trip: Brunch by Lake Hallstatt is the mos t memorable part of the trip. We reached Hallstatt by 10am, beating most of the crowds. We found a wonderful restaurant called Braugasthof, they have lovely patio tables by the lake. Surrounded by the beautiful summer flowers, under the warm blue sky, watching sailing boats coming and going, white swans leisurely gliding on the serene lake, eating delicious dish Goulash and drinking local beer, it was just a perfect day! Oh, we also found the spot where the postcard photos of Hallstatt are taken. I used to think the iconic image of Hallstatt in those photos isn’t real, but in reality, it is as stunningly beautiful as the photos, if not more. I also took some photos myself, they look just like those postcards, mission accomplished!

How to get there: Bus 150 + train + boat to Hallstatt from Salzburg. The route may not be the most straightforward, but it is the most scenic one. Bus 150 to Bad Ischl, then you change to train to Hallstatt Station (your bus ticket also covers this). After you get off the train, a waiting ferry (we paid 7€ for the return ticket, cash) will take you across the lake. If you purchase a day ticket and have enough time, you can stop off at either Bad Ischl, Gosaul, or St Gilgen, a lovely way to experience the beauty of the Austrian countryside.

Tips: if you want to guarantee a seat on the bus, get on a bus at the Salzburg main bus station ( starting point). We got on at Mirabell Square ( the second stop), and the bus was almost full. 
 

Where to stay: Hotel am Mirabellplatz. This is our first time in Salzburg, so we want to base in the city and take a day trip to Hallstatt. I think we made the right decision. The hotel is across the Mirabell Palace & Garden, it was nice to have a stroll in the garden after the dinner. You can also catch a concert inside the magnificent Palace.

Mount Sanqing

Mount Sanqing

Mount Sanqing (also known as Mount Sanqingshan National Park) is located in the Northeast of Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province of China. Not only Mount Sanqing displays stunning views of magnificently shaped granite pillars and peaks, more importantly it is also a sacred Chinese Taoist site. The three peaks: Yujing, Yuxu, Yuhua are named after the three divine gods of Taoism, and Mount Sanqing is now a UNESCO world heritage site.

When people visit Mount Sanqing, most likely they will visit Huangling Village (A picturesque ancient village in Wuyuan County) and Jindezhen (the renowned porcelain capital of China), another two attractions in close distance with Mount Sanqing.

Travel information

  • Entrance ticket: CNY120
  • Cable car cost: CNY70 for upward ride and CNY55 for downward ride
  • Opening hours: 8:00-17:30, holidays and weekends: 7:30-17:30
  • How to get there: Take the high-speed train to Shangrao Train Station from any major cities, then take a bus or carpooling (cost around CNY50, can negotiate the fare with the taxi driver at the bus station before you get in the shared car) to Sanqing Mountain Scenic Area
  • Where to stay: There are many hotels and guest houses to choose from at the foot of the mountain, and there are accommodations on the mountain too. Hilton Sanqingshan Resort is recommended, its location is excellent, right next to the Waishuanxi Visitor Center(South Entrance/Cable Car). Rishang Villa is recommended on the mountain, it is about 15 minutes uphill walk from the South cable car top exit, reasonably priced and close to the sunset viewing point
  • Recommended photography spots: Sunrise at Yutai, Sunshine Coast, and sunset at West Coast
  • Recommended Entry to the scenic area: There are two entrances/cable car stations to the scenic area, East Entrance (Jinsha) and South Entrance (Waishuangxi). There are shuttle buses running between the two entrances, but the schedules are not very reliable sometimes, in that case, you can always use a taxi, which takes about half an hour. It is recommended to go to East Entrance (Jinsha) because you will have easier access to the major attractions after you exit the cable car on the top, also there are more hotels and services at East Entrance area, but the downside is that the East Entrance is always busy and takes longer to get in
  • Tour route: You can take the Jinsha Cable car(east side) or Waishuangxi Cable car(south side) to the top. The main attractions are covered in a big loop (follow east to west direction), which takes about 6-8 hours. you can make the loop bigger or smaller according to your fitness level or your time. The following are the key spots in this loop: Jinsha(east) Cable car – Giant Python Peak – Jade Emperor Peak – Sunshine Coast – Yujing Peak – Sanqing Palace – West Coast – Waishuangxi(south)Cable car – Wanshou Palace – One line Sky – Yutai – Goddess Peak – Jinsha(east) Cable car
  • Tips: Avoid rainy days, you won’t be able to see much on the mountain; properly manage your time, don’t miss the last cable car down( 17:30) if you don’t plan to stay overnight on the top; if you go on holidays or weekends, expect long lines to get in or you need to get there really early to beat the crowds
  • How to get to Huangling Village from Mount Sanqing: There are direct buses running from Mount Sanqing Scenic Area to Shangrao Train Station. From Shangrao Train Station, you can take a high-speed train to Wuyuan Train Station, where there are direct buses to Huangling Village in the high season. You can always take a taxi outside the train station.
  • How to get to Jindezhen from Mount Sanqing:  There are direct buses running from Mount Sanqing Scenic Area to Shangrao Train Station. From Shangrao Train Station, you can take a high-speed train to Jindezhen North Train Station, which takes about an hour.

 

Hong Kong

How to get to Wuyuan by train from Hong Kong International Airport

When you arrive in Hong Kong International Airport, you first need to take an Airport Express or a taxi to Hong Kong West Kowloon Train Station. From there, there are two convenient ways to travel to Wuyuan by trains. If you need a visa to enter China, you will have to go through the Chinese customs at Hong Kong West Kowloon Train Station, so take that into consideration when you plan your train schedules.

From Hong Kong(香港): Take a high speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Train Station to Shangrao Train Station, it takes 5 hours and 25 minutes, then transfer to Wuyuan Train Station via Shangrao Train Station. There are many trains going to Wuyuan from Shangrao Station. If you miss your connecting train, don’t worry, catch the next one. Here is the current schedule:

11:36 Hong Kong West Kowloon —— 17:01 Shangrao (G100 5h 25m)

17:48 Shangrao —— 18:20 Wuyuan (D6268 0h 32m)

From Shenzhen (深圳): Take a high speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Train Station to Shenzhen North Train Station. There are many trains going to Shenzhen North Train Station (takes 18 to 24 minutes depending on which train you take). There are two direct trains from Shenzhen North Train Station to Wuyuan daily, and it takes around 7 hours to get there. Here are the current schedules:

09:19 Shenzhen North —— 16:25 Wuyuan (G1602 7h 6m)

12:52 Shenzhen North —— 20:34 Wuyuan (G3142 7h 42m)

Recommended hotels when you need in transition:

Hong Kong(香港):Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel: Very close to the airport, free shuttle bus to and from the airport, great buffet breakfast

Shenzhen (深圳):Green Alliance Hotel Shenzhen North Railway Station: Right next to the train station, a food court attached to the hotel, friendly staff

 

The world’s best tourism villages in 2023

The World’s Best Tourism Villages initiative was launched by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with other global organizations. The program aims to highlight unique villages worldwide that excel in sustainable tourism practices, cultural preservation, and offering authentic experiences to visitors.

I am a big fan of rural travel. For travelers like me who love a slower pace, natural scenery and local traditions, I am so excited to find out that the UNWTO has just put out its list for the world’s best tourism villages 2023. The selected 54 villages across the world ” are leading the way in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions”, according to UNWTO.

From the list, one village stands out that makes me really proud: Huangling Village in China, my hometown. Here, I would like to give my fellow travelers a tour of Huangling Village in China.

Huangling village is regarded as one of the prettiest villages in China. Perched on the top of a mountain, Huangling is home to a host of original and restored heritage houses and buildings. This ancient village showcases a spectacular view of the blooming canola fields in the spring and boasts colorful harvest scenes every autumn—making Huangling an architecture lover’s delight and a photographer’s paradise.

 

Endangered blue-crowned Laughingthrushes found home in Wuyuan

Wuyuan gets attention from bird lovers and photographers around the world for its varied and rare birds. People here are very conscious about protecting and preserving its environment and bird population, as a result, more than 300 bird speices find their home in Wuyuan.

The mysterious blue-crowned thrushes have a population of fewer than 250 individuals worldwide, its scientific name is Dryonastes courtoisi. This critically endangered species is found exclusively in China. As its name suggests, it has a blue crown on the top of its head. Its face is black while its back is covered in olive feathers. The chest and neck are golden yellows. 

Rao Heyuan National Wetland Park

In Wuyuan, Blue-crowned Laughingthrushes are known to nest in a wood area between a tea plantation and the river.  One of the species’ most important habitats is Rao Heyuan National Wetland Park. Inside the park, there is a science museum that dedicates to these unique birds. If you are a bird lover or a keen photographer, you should pay a visit to this park while in Wuyuan. Sometimes these birds would show themselves and you might be the really lucky one to catch a glimpse of these extremely rare creatures.