Three-Day Longnan Travel Guide: Exploring the Mountains, Rivers, and Culture of the "Jiangnan of Long"

1. Overview Longnan is located at the junction of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan provinces, featuring a mild climate and high forest coverage, earning it the reputation of the "Jiangnan of Long." In three days, you can experience spectacular karst caves, alpine grasslands, emerald lakes and waterfalls, and ancient Three Kingdoms trails. The trip is suitable for self-driving or chartered cars, with good road conditions throughout, accessible by ordinary family sedans. 2. Itinerary Summary Date Route Highlights Accommodation Suggestions D1 Wudu → Wanxiang Cave → Yaozhai Valley → Wudu Overnight 250 million-year-old karst cave + Qiang ethnic night market Wanxiang Street Vienna Hotel or Maple Forest Lodge D2 Wudu → Qianba Pasture (25 km mountain road) → Cheng County Overnight Cloud Grassland Camping/Horseback Stargazing Mongolian Yurt at the pasture or hotel in Cheng County urban area D3 Cheng County → Xixia Ode → Kang County Yangba → Return Han Dynasty clerical script cliff inscriptions + primeval forest waterfalls Return stay in Kang County or back to Wudu 3. Daily Details Day 1 Geological Wonders + Vibrant Night Market - 08:30 Depart, take Bus No. 9 or drive 30 min to Wanxiang Cave (ticket 100 RMB including shuttle, cave temperature 14°C, bring a jacket). Must-see: Moon Palace area "Rhino Gazing at the Moon," Dragon Palace area 30 m "Stabilizing Sea Needle," and the newly opened 2025 "Crystal Canyon" light and shadow show. - 11:30 Qiang-style lunch at Yaozhai Valley: order cured pork stewed with bamboo shoots and homemade Zagan wine. - 14:00 Easy 3 km hike in the valley (Huanglong Pool - Ancient Plank Road), autumn foliage rating ★★★★☆. - 17:30 Check in near Wanxiang Street, then explore the night market: - Sweet fermented dough milk tea 8 RMB/cup - Old sauce shop beef sauce 25 RMB/bottle (souvenir) - 20:00 On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, enjoy Hanfu costume parades + 21:00 drone light show with 300 drones, best viewed at the central square. Day 2 Cloud Grassland + Stargazing Camping - 08:00 Depart Wudu, drive 25 km along S206 mountain road (1.5 h, last 5 km unpaved, drive slowly). - 09:30 Qianba Pasture (free entry) - Horse riding 50 RMB/30 min - Pasture coffee cart + Tibetan yogurt - Picnic on the grass or eat hand-pulled lamb at herders’ home for lunch - 15:00 Hike to the top of "Pasture East Ridge" (round trip 2 h), overlooking Bailong River Gorge. - 18:00 Camp or stay in a Mongolian yurt (150 RMB/unit, includes electric blanket), watch the core of the Milky Way rise (best from 22:00 to 02:00). Tips: Night temperatures 0-5°C, bring fleece; no signal at the pasture, inform family of your itinerary in advance. Day 3 Han Clerical Script Inscriptions + Forest Waterfalls - 07:30 Descend, drive 70 km (1.5 h) to Cheng County. - 09:00 Xixia Ode Scenic Area (ticket 50 RMB, free for 2025 high school and middle school exam candidates) View Eastern Han Dynasty "Xixia Ode" cliff inscriptions (one of China's "Three Han Odes") + Xixia plank road, 1.5 h. - 11:00 Eat "Ma Zhanxiang Beef Wontons" on South Street, Cheng County, 15 RMB/bowl. - 12:00 Head to Yangba Town, Kang County (80 km, 2 h highway). - 14:00 Yangba National Forest Park (ticket 60 RMB + sightseeing bus 20 RMB) Walk the "Swan Lake - Plum Garden Valley - Begonia Valley" loop, see primeval forest, waterfalls, and golden monkeys, 3 h. - 17:30 Return: - To Wudu direction (110 km, 2 h) - To Tianshui/Lanzhou via Chengwu Expressway - G75 Lianhuo Expressway 4. Transportation & Ticket Prices - External: - Longnan Station high-speed rail: 2.5 h to Lanzhou, 4 h to Chengdu; Cheng County Airport has 1-2 daily flights to Xi’an/Chongqing. - Internal: - Taxi starting fare in Wudu District 5 RMB, ride-hailing covers main attractions; - Charter car between scenic spots 400 RMB/day (4 people), including driver and fuel. - Total ticket cost (adult): Wanxiang Cave 100 + Xixia Ode 50 + Yangba 80 = 230 RMB. 5. Accommodation List Area Recommended Price Notes Wudu Vienna International Hotel (Wanxiang Street branch) ¥260 includes breakfast, charging stations, 5 min walk to night market Wudu Maple Forest Lodge B&B ¥320 Loft + rooftop terrace, overlooking Bailong River night view Qianba Pasture Mongolian Yurt ¥150 Public restroom without shower, electric blanket provided Cheng County Chengzhou International Hotel ¥220 Four-star, near Xixia Ode, good breakfast 6. Must-Try Food Map - Wudu breakfast: Lao Ma’s mashed potato cake + pickled vegetable soup 8 RMB - Cheng County: Ma Zhanxiang beef wontons/noodles 15 RMB - Wen County: Tianchi cold water fish hotpot 60 RMB (reservation required) - Late-night snack: Liangshui Town "Lao San BBQ" lamb skewers 3 RMB/skewer, spicy noodles, open until 2:00 AM 7. Season & Gear - June to August: average temperature 18-26°C, strong UV, bring sunscreen + rain gear; - September to October: crisp autumn air, possible early snow at Qianba Pasture, bring a windbreaker; - In caves/pasture: phone flashlight, down jacket or fleece, non-slip shoes. 8. Souvenirs - Wudu "Xiangyu" premium extra virgin olive oil 88 RMB/500 ml (freshly pressed on Wanxiang Street) - Xihe embroidered Shaga hats 120 RMB/each (intangible cultural heritage workshop) - Yuhe Mingqian Maojian tea 280 RMB/jin (freshly roasted at Tangba Village tea factory) 9. Pitfall Tips 1. The last section of the road to Qianba Pasture is rough; sedans can pass slowly, SUVs recommended in rain; 2. No signal in some areas of the pasture and Yuhe; travel in groups and inform relatives in advance; 3. 2025 high school and middle school exam candidates can enter Wanxiang Cave and Xixia Ode free with exam ID, verified on site; 4. Official Goose Valley and Yangba sightseeing bus last run at 17:30, watch your exit time; 5. Night market drone show may be canceled in bad weather; check the "Longnan Culture and Tourism" WeChat official account for daily announcements. > With this guide, you can check off caves, grasslands, forests, inscriptions, and night markets in 3 days, deeply experiencing the mountains, rivers, and culture of the "Jiangnan of Long"! Have a great trip.