Head out from Shanghai to the dramatic red-rock scenery of Xinchang on this easygoing private day tour, suitable for all ages and built around gentle walking and natural wonders rather than tough hiking. Your English-speaking guide and private driver pick you up from your hotel for a comfortable drive into the heart of Zhejiang's Danxia landscape.
You'll begin in a peaceful village where the surrounding tea gardens are scattered with weird and wonderful boulders, a quirky natural sculpture park where you can clamber a little and strike fun poses for photos. From there the route follows a lovely canyon, with sheer red cliffs, clear streams threading through the rocks, and the occasional cave, the trickier sections made easy and safe by sturdy metal walkways, so you can simply enjoy the scenery.
The star of the day is the 'Great Stone Waterfall', a colossal rock face roughly 200 metres wide and 80 metres tall whose huge surface cracks make it look like a frozen cascade, especially striking in the wetter months. Your guide will explain how this surreal landscape formed and point out the best viewpoints.
The walk winds up at a postcard-pretty tea village, where three lone maple trees stand among emerald tea rows beside a sign that has become a local symbol of prosperity. With a relaxed lunch included and a private, flexible itinerary, the whole day moves at your pace before your car returns you comfortably to Shanghai.
07:30
Depart on time from the meeting point.
10:45
Arrive at the hiking starting point in Dingshan Village. After a short walk from the village, you will soon see a wide stretch of tea fields scattered with uniquely shaped rocks.
12:00
After leaving the tea fields, continue into a canyon, part of the lower section of Shili Qianxi Stream. During the dry season, this area is popular with hikers. Along the route, you will see caves of different sizes, some large enough to hold dozens of people. As the caves are close to the stream, they may be submerged during the rainy season.
The canyon is lined with cliffs and rugged rock formations, with new scenery at every turn. The winding stream flows through the rocks, accompanied by the gentle sound of running water. Lush plants grow along both banks, and birdsong occasionally echoes through the valley, adding to the peaceful and refreshing atmosphere.
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30
After passing through Qianxi Stream, continue uphill. From the top of the rock, you can see the famous Dashipu, or “Great Stone Waterfall.” This huge rock formation is about 200 metres wide and 80 metres high.
16:00
Continue walking to Dongzhi Village in Dongming Township.
Walk through the village, passing old tiled houses, simple earthen homes, and winding stone paths.
17:00
After the hike, return to Dingshan Village and begin the drive back.
20:00
Arrive back at the original departure point
