Songzi City Travel

Songzi City, Jingzhou, Hubei Province – a landscape city on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, known as the "Golden Songzi". It boasts unique resources such as the Weishui Reservoir (Asia's famous artificial earth dam), Xinshen Cave (a karst cave), and Xiejiaoping (a Tujia ethnic settlement), integrating lake and mountain scenery, karst cave wonders, and folk customs.

9+
Core Scenic Areas
1
4A-Class Scenic Area
25+
Featured Restaurants & Homestays
6
Historical & Folk Custom Attractions
Panoramic view of Weishui Reservoir in Songzi City, Jingzhou
Weishui Scenic Area
A national 4A-level tourist scenic area, consisting of Weishui Reservoir, Weishui Auto Campsite, Xinshen Cave, etc. The reservoir has Asia's largest artificial earth dam, with a vast misty lake surface and numerous scattered islands. It is an eco-tourism resort integrating sightseeing, camping and adventure.

2-Day 1-Night Landscape & Folk Custom Tour in Songzi City

Visit Weishui Lake to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery, explore caves to see geological wonders, visit Tujia villages to taste folk customs, and try Songzi Chicken to enjoy authentic flavors

Trip Duration
2 Days 1 Night
Main Destinations
Weishui Reservoir, Weishui Auto Campsite, Xinshen Cave, Xiejiaoping Tujia Township, Kuzhu Temple, Songzi Museum
Suitable For
Family with kids, outdoor enthusiasts, folk custom experience seekers, cave explorers
Per Capita Budget
¥650-¥1100
01
Exploring Weishui
Weishui Reservoir · Weishui Auto Campsite · Xinshen Cave
Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, take a cruise to enjoy the thousand-island scenery of Weishui Lake. Have Weishui fish head for lunch. In the afternoon, experience recreational activities at the auto campsite. In the evening, explore the stalactite wonders of Xinshen Cave.

Attraction Arrangement
Weishui Reservoir
Asia's famous artificial earth dam reservoir, with a dam length of 8968 meters, storage capacity of 1.41 billion cubic meters, and a lake surface area of 37 square kilometers. There are more than 500 islands distributed in the lake, known as the "Fairyland of Southern Hubei". You can take a cruise to the islands or cycle around the lake.
Weishui Auto Campsite
China's first five-star auto campsite, covering an area of 407 mu (about 27 hectares). It has characteristic accommodations such as RV campsites, tree houses, and starry sky rooms, with supporting projects such as jungle adventure, water park, and karting. It is a popular choice for outdoor leisure.
Xinshen Cave
A large karst cave with a total length of 1380 meters. There are more than 30 landscapes such as "Dragon Palace Hall" and "Thousand Buddha Pagoda" inside the cave. The stalactites are in various shapes, especially the "Heaven and Earth Divine Pillar" and "Heavenly Palace Curtain" are the most spectacular. The cave temperature is a constant 18℃, suitable for visiting all year round.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Weishui Holiday Hotel
  • Campsite Tree House/Starry Sky Room
  • Weishui Lake Homestay
Food Recommendations
  • Weishui Fish Head Hot Pot
  • Songzi Chicken (Du's Chicken)
  • Weishui Whitebait Steamed Egg
  • Fried Lotus Flower
  • Rice Dumpling (Mi Tuanzi)
Travel Tips
  • Tickets for cruise ships need to be purchased 30 minutes in advance
  • The cave floor is slippery, it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes
  • Campsite projects need to be booked in advance (peak season)
02
Folk Custom Exploration
Xiejiaoping Tujia Township · Kuzhu Temple · Songzi Museum
Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, go to Xiejiaoping to experience Tujia singing and dancing and folk customs. Have Tujia characteristic dishes for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the thousand-year-old Kuzhu Temple. In the evening, visit Songzi Museum to learn about local history.

Attraction Arrangement
Xiejiaoping Tujia Township
The only Tujia ethnic township in Songzi, located at the junction of Hunan and Hubei provinces. It retains complete Tujia culture, including Tujia stilted buildings, hand-swinging dance, folk songs and other folk customs. There are attractions such as Quchi River Hot Spring and Huanglin Ancient Bridge in the territory, making it an excellent place to experience Tujia customs.
Kuzhu Temple
An ancient temple built in the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, named after the many bitter bamboos beside the temple. It has existing buildings such as the Mahavira Hall and Guanyin Pavilion. There are relics such as a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree and a Tang Dynasty ancient well in the temple. Literati of all dynasties have written poems about it, and the incense has lasted for a thousand years.
Songzi Museum
A comprehensive local museum with a collection of more than 3,000 cultural relics, covering artifacts from the Neolithic Age to the Ming and Qing dynasties. It focuses on displaying Songzi's ancient civilization, the integration of Ba and Chu cultures, and modern development history, and has a special exhibition on the folk culture of "Songzi Chicken".
Practical Information
Transportation Guide
  • About 70 km from Weishui to Xiejiaoping, self-driving is recommended (1.5 hours)
  • There are buses from the urban area to Kuzhu Temple and Museum
  • Walking is recommended for visiting Tujia villages
Ticket Information
  • Weishui Reservoir Cruise: ¥80
  • Xinshen Cave: ¥60
  • Campsite Basic Ticket: ¥30 (Projects charged separately)
  • Xiejiaoping Folk Performance: ¥50
  • Museum: Free (Reservation required)
Travel Tips
  • The mountain roads in Tujia villages are steep, pay attention to driving safety
  • The ginkgo tree in Kuzhu Temple is the most beautiful in autumn (November)
  • For authentic Songzi Chicken, choose free-range local chicken with vacuum packaging

Must-Try Foods in Songzi City

Songzi Chicken (Du's Chicken)

The signature dish of Songzi, originating from Du's Restaurant in Xinjiangkou Town. It uses local free-range chicken, stir-fried with secret sauce and then braised. The meat is firm and chewy, and the soup is rich and spicy. It can be served with side dishes such as potatoes and green peppers. It is one of the "Top Ten Famous Dishes of Jingchu".

Weishui Fish Head Hot Pot

A specialty food of Weishui Lake, using the head of bighead carp from the lake, cooked slowly with ingredients such as tofu and radish in lake water. The soup is milky white, the fish head is tender, and the soup is sweet, showing the original flavor of lake fresh food. It is a must-try delicacy in Weishui.

Rice Dumpling (Mi Tuanzi)

A traditional breakfast in Songzi, with glutinous rice flour as the wrapper, filled with cured meat, preserved mustard, vermicelli and other fillings, and steamed. It has a round shape and a soft, glutinous and fragrant taste. It is a traditional food for Songzi people during festivals such as "Beginning of Spring" and "Lantern Festival".

Tujia Hezha (Lazy Tofu)

A characteristic dish of the Tujia ethnic group in Xiejiaoping, also known as "lazy tofu". It is made by grinding soybeans into pulp and cooking with vegetables. It has a dense texture and a strong bean aroma. It is a daily diet of the Tujia people, and it is more flavorful when eaten with chili dip, reflecting the dietary wisdom of the Tujia people.

Songzi City Travel Tips
Best Travel Time
  • Spring (April-May): Flowers bloom by Weishui Lake, suitable for spring outings and camping
  • Summer (June-August): Cool and suitable for water activities, cave tours are comfortable
  • Autumn (September-October): Pleasant climate, many Tujia harvest festivals and activities
Must-Try Foods
  • Songzi Chicken (Du's Chicken)
  • Weishui Fish Head Hot Pot
  • Rice Dumpling (Mi Tuanzi)
  • Tujia Hezha (Lazy Tofu)
  • Weishui Whitebait Steamed Egg
Budget Reference
  • Tickets: About ¥250
  • Accommodation: ¥200-450/night (Characteristic accommodation at campsite is slightly higher)
  • Catering: ¥100-150/day
  • Transportation: About ¥120 (Including self-driving fuel costs)
  • Total: ¥650-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Do I need to bring my own equipment to Weishui Campsite? → Can bring your own or rent, characteristic accommodation needs to be booked in advance
  • Is there Tujia costume experience in Xiejiaoping? → There is a rental service, some homestays provide it for free
  • Where to get the most authentic Songzi Chicken? → Time-honored Du's Chicken Restaurant in Xinjiangkou Town and farmhouses along Weishui Lake
  • Is Weishui suitable for cycling? → There is a lake-loop greenway, bicycles (single/double) can be rented

Explore Travel in Districts and Counties of Jingzhou City