Xichuan County Travel
Xichuan County, Nanyang, Henan – the core water source area for the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, integrating the vast waters of the Danjiang, the thousand-year Zen charm of Xiangyan Temple, and the natural wonders of Meditation Valley. A 3-day 2-night in-depth tour explores the water source culture, appreciating the unique charm of the integration of landscape and Zen.
Xichuan County Three-Day Two-Night Water Source and Zen Charm Tour
Tour the Danjiang's blue waters to trace the source, visit ancient temples to comprehend Buddhist principles, explore deep valleys and strange gorges to admire waterfalls, stroll through thousand-year-old ancient towns to taste folk customs, unlocking the beauty of landscapes and humanities in Southwest Henan
Spend the whole day exploring Danjiang Grand View Garden, visit the South-to-North Water Diversion Memorial Hall to learn about the project's history, take a boat cruise to enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Danjiang River, and watch the Danjiang sunset and light show in the evening.
- Danjiang Fishing Village B&B
- Grand View Garden Scenic Area Hotel
- Xichuan County Town Business Hotel
- Danjiang Whole Fish Feast
- Xichuan Pickled Vegetables
- Steamed Pork with Rice Flour
- Sesame Leaf Noodles
- The scenic area is large, recommend taking the sightseeing vehicle (30 yuan/person)
- Boat cruise tickets need to be purchased 30 minutes in advance
- Sun protection in summer, reservoir area is windy, prepare a light jacket
Visit the thousand-year-old ancient temple Xiangyan Temple in the morning to experience the charm of Buddhist culture, explore Meditation Valley in the afternoon to admire waterfalls, flowing streams, and Danxia landforms, and explore the Eight Immortals Cave to see the wonders of stalactites in the evening.
- Direct tourist bus from the county town to Xiangyan Temple (twice daily)
- Xiangyan Temple and Meditation Valley are 3 km apart, can walk or take a taxi
- Eight Immortals Cave is about 25 km from the county town, recommend self-driving
- Danjiang Grand View Garden: 65 yuan
- Xiangyan Temple: 60 yuan
- Meditation Valley: 60 yuan
- Eight Immortals Cave: 80 yuan (includes boat)
- Photography is prohibited inside Xiangyan Temple, need to follow Buddhist etiquette
- Meditation Valley paths are slippery, recommend wearing anti-slip shoes
- Eight Immortals Cave visit takes about 1 hour, the cave is dark, pay attention to safety
Stroll through Jingziguan Ancient Town in the morning to experience Ming and Qing architectural style and commercial culture, visit the South-to-North Water Diversion Canal Head Dam in the afternoon to learn about the engineering marvel, and purchase Xichuan specialties in the evening for the return journey.
- Jingziguan Ancient Town Folk Performance
- Canal Head Dam VR Experience
- Danjiang Fish Rubbing Production
- Xichuan Pickled Vegetables Pickling Experience
- Danjiang Whitebait
- Xichuan Pickled Vegetables
- Xiangyan Temple Zen Tea
- Jingziguan Fairy Leaf Jelly
- Jingziguan Ancient Town is about 75 km from the county town, about 1.5 hours by car
- Xichuan Bus Station has buses to Nanyang and Zhengzhou
- County specialty markets are concentrated on Danyang Road Pedestrian Street
Must-try Foods in Xichuan County
Danjiang Whole Fish Feast
A signature food of Xichuan, made with fresh fish from the Danjiang Reservoir as ingredients, using various cooking methods such as frying, deep-frying, stewing, and boiling. One table can taste over ten kinds of fish dishes, with "Braised Croaker" being the most famous.
Xichuan Pickled Vegetables
A traditional snack of Xichuan, made from radish leaves, mustard greens, etc., through pickling, sour and fragrant, can be stir-fried or stewed, a must-have dish on local people's dining tables, with the saying "Different flavors every ten li, different sourness every hundred households".
Steamed Pork with Rice Flour
A classic dish of Xichuan, made mainly with pork belly, mixed with rice flour and seasonings, then steamed, with tender meat, fat but not greasy, rich aroma, a must-have dish for festivals and entertaining guests.
Fairy Leaf Jelly
A specialty snack of Jingziguan, made with the local specialty "fairy leaf" as the ingredient, emerald green in color, smooth texture, cool and refreshing, a summer delicacy, known as "natural jelly".
- Spring (Apr-May): Mountain flowers bloom on both sides of the Danjiang, pleasant climate
- Autumn (Sep-Oct): Reservoir water level is stable, suitable for boat sightseeing, fish are plump
- Summer (Jun-Aug): Meditation Valley, Eight Immortals Cave are good places to escape the heat
- Danjiang Whole Fish Feast
- Xichuan Pickled Vegetables
- Steamed Pork with Rice Flour
- Fairy Leaf Jelly
- Sesame Leaf Noodles
- Tickets: About 260 yuan
- Accommodation: 100-220 yuan/night
- Dining: 50-90 yuan/day
- Transportation: About 70 yuan
- Total: 500-900 yuan
- Best time for Danjiang boat cruise? → 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM, light is suitable for photography
- Need reservation for Xiangyan Temple? → No reservation needed, holidays have high traffic, recommend arriving early
- Need tickets for Jingziguan Ancient Town? → The ancient town is free, some attractions charge separately
- Where to buy the most authentic Xichuan pickled vegetables? → Farmers' self-pickled products at the county agricultural market