Just got back from Deqing, here’s some harsh truth

✨ ​​Deqing June Summer Escape Guide｜2 Days to Explore the Little Switzerland of Jiangnan! All-inclusive for 500 RMB per person covering food, accommodation, and transport, bamboo forests and ancient towns all in one package～​​ Deqing, the "air-conditioned room" just 17 minutes by high-speed train from Hangzhou, in June looks like it’s been splashed with mint green paint—Moganshan’s bamboo forest filters sunlight into golden fragments, the reeds of Xiazhuhu Lake act as a natural humidifier, and even the air carries the salty aroma of tea cakes! A thousand-year-old ancient town on the left, a trendy wetland on the right, and a sci-fi vibe from the Geographic Information Town in the middle—you can pretend you’re in Switzerland for the weekend. 📅 ​​【2-Day Walking Route】​​ ​​Day 1: Bamboo Forest Oxygen + Ancient Town Time Travel​​ 🌞 ​​Morning​​ ​​Moganshan Yucun Trail​​: Free! Arrive before 7 AM to skip the 115 RMB entrance fee, stone steps are slightly wet with morning dew, bamboo acts as a natural sunshade, by the Jianchi Waterfall the mist will cover your face (bring a towel!). ​​Xiantan Village Rice Fields​​: Free! Rent a shared electric bike (15 RMB/hour) to cruise around, sunflower sea + creek with thatched huts, perfect for shooting healing scenes like in "Little Forest." 🌆 ​​Noon​​ ​​Fatuo Sesame Cake​​: 2 RMB each with sesame sugar filling, use the "I am Deqing" app to get 20 RMB off when spending 50 RMB, 10 RMB can buy 6! Crispy to the point of crumbling, a delight for both sweet and savory lovers. 🌙 ​​Evening​​ ​​Xinshi Ancient Town Night Tour​​: Free! The red walls of Juehai Temple with rowboats, 5 RMB to feed silkworms with mulberry leaves. Stay at the Xipo Rammed Earth Cottage, Wednesday member day is 599 RMB with afternoon tea included, watch stars from the terrace like a fairy tale. ​​Day 2: Wild Wetlands + Sci-Fi Check-in​​ 🌞 ​​Morning​​ ​​Xiazhuhu Lake Boat Tour​​: The azalea sea is past peak, but the magical valley’s pink muhly grass is free! Wear a white dress for photos, fewer people than the main scenic spots. 🌆 ​​Noon​​ ​​Zhang Yipin Lamb​​: 30 RMB for a big chunk of braised lamb, tender enough to chew the bones, slightly spicy broth mixed with noodles is legendary. 🌙 ​​Evening​​ ​​Geographic Information Town​​: Free! Music fountain + light show with full sci-fi vibes, grab a "Starry Night Special" cocktail at the bar street, your social media likes will skyrocket. ⭐ ​​【Must-Visit List】​​ ​​Moganshan Jianchi​​: Open all day, the rainbow under the waterfall is most visible at 3 PM, photos at Chiang Kai-shek’s villa café require a purchase. ​​Xiazhuhu Lake Wetland​​: 8:00-17:00, feed egrets with breadcrumbs at the boat dock, kids can play all afternoon. ​​Xinshi Tea Cake​​: 4 RMB each, Afu Tea Cake’s meat filling bursts like soup dumplings, best eaten freshly steamed. ​​Naked Heart Castle​​: You don’t have to stay overnight to spend 200 RMB on afternoon tea, cliffside pool overlooks the entire bamboo sea. ​​Qianyuan Town Alleys​​: Free! Over 70 ancient alleys hide handmade kesi silk workshops, aunties will teach you to weave rainbow threads. 🚌 ​​【Transport Guide】​​ ​​Hangzhou → Deqing​​: High-speed train 17 minutes, 10 RMB; from the station take Y1 bus 2 RMB direct to Moganshan. ​​County Bus​​: Route 304 to Xiazhuhu Lake, Route 305 to Xinshi Ancient Town, 1 RMB flat fare across the area. ​​Tough Experience​​: Moganshan trail has tons of ants! But reaching the top and drinking 20 RMB iced bayberry juice instantly revives you～ 💡 ​​【Tips: Take My Advice!】​​ ✅ ​​Why Go​​: Prices are one-third of Hangzhou! Bamboo forest + wetland + ancient town all in one, off-season homestays heavily discounted in June. ❌ ​​Warning​​: Some mountain roads may cause motion sickness; tea cakes and lamb are a bit salty, bring a bottle of water to stay safe. 🍜 ​​【5 Must-Try Foods】​​ ​​Tea Cake​​: Glutinous rice skin wrapped around soy sauce meat filling, biting into it is like eating liquid fresh meat mooncakes, perfect with soy milk. ​​Crispy Lamb Noodles​​: Lamb stewed until it falls apart at the touch of chopsticks, noodles soaked in broth make you sweat while slurping. ​​Yellow Feather Duck Noodles​​: Old duck broth so fresh it’s like drinking liquid clouds, tofu skin parcels stuffed with meat are a hidden delicacy. ​​Big Fire Cake​​: Pickled mustard greens and meat stuffed pancake with fried tofu, drizzled with sweet bean sauce that’s so fragrant you’ll stomp your feet. ​​Bamboo Forest Free-Range Chicken​​: Chicken skin so thin it’s transparent, dipping in pepper salt lets you taste the sweetness of mountain spring water. 💰 ​​【2-Day Expense List】​​ ​​Stay​​: Xipo Rammed Earth Cottage 599 RMB (includes afternoon tea), the money saved is enough for three lamb meals! ​​Eat​​: Sesame cake 10 RMB + lamb noodles 30 RMB + night market 50 RMB, 90 RMB to eat until you can barely walk～ ​​Play​​: Xiazhuhu Lake boat tour 60 RMB (20% off with app), student ID saves half again! ​​Total cost ≈ 500 RMB​​, feels like you’ve scored a great deal in Jiangnan～ Jumping and laughing like a goose after being bitten by ants in the bamboo forest, watching grandmas weave silkworm quilts by the mulberry fields in the ancient town, the lamb offal soup the shop owner insists you try is so fresh it makes your head spin… This small town uses the breeze of the wetlands and the warmth of the alleys to make you forget all your KPIs! Like and save, Deqing in June is waiting for you in the wind～👇