Quzhou Free Tour: An Unexpected Feast of Mountains and Rivers

Quzhou Free Tour: Exploring Six Scenic Spots, Encountering the Poetic Jiangnan Early winter in Quzhou, with light mist and gentle sunlight. This small mountain and water town hidden in western Zhejiang generously opens its arms during the off-season from November to December and January to March 2026 (excluding the Spring Festival holiday) — 14 core scenic spots are free to visitors worldwide. Following this invitation, I strolled through six highlights, quietly encountering the poetry and legend of Quzhou. 1. Nianbadu Ancient Town: A Border Town Forgotten by Time In the early morning, the bluestone slabs of Nianbadu glisten with dew. This millennium-old town at the junction of three provinces preserves 136 Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. Passing through the weathered threshold of Wenchang Palace, my fingers brushed the plaque inscribed with "Poetry and Courtesy Passed Down in the Family" on the carved window frames, faintly hearing the sound of horseshoes from the old merchant guilds. In the steaming tofu shop at the street corner, an elder tells stories in dialect about the Red Army’s reorganization here. With the 80 yuan entrance fee waived, the ancient town finally sheds its tourist mask, revealing the true warmth of everyday life. 2. Jianglang Mountain: A Landscape Painting on the Danxia Summit When the giant "Sanpanshi" rock peak pierces through the sea of clouds, one truly understands Xu Xiake’s awe when he said, "Among all famous mountains I visited, Jianglang stands supreme." Climbing along the cliffside plank road, the red rock walls flow like flames under the sun. Resting at Xiake Pavilion, I met an art student sketching — the free admission policy allows her to come daily to capture the mountain’s changing light and shadow. "Compared to the crowds in peak season, now is the best time to see the mountains," she said, mixing her watercolors. 3. Longyou Grottoes: A Millennia-old Underground Mystery Descending 30 meters underground into the grotto group, I was instantly awed by 200,000 cubic meters of man-made caves. The neat 45-degree chisel marks, the mysterious Big Dipper pillars, and the "concert hall" echoing with ethereal water sounds — every detail challenges understanding. A geologist quietly speculated, "This is no ordinary quarry; perhaps it was a secret military project of King Goujian of Yue?" The privilege of free entry allowed us to linger long after the guided tour, letting imagination roam through this thousand-year-old enigma. 4. Yaowang Mountain: A Poetic Abode Where Plants Have Spirits Following the scent of medicinal herbs uphill, rare plants like Sanyeqing and Qiye Yizhihua still grow where Sun Simiao once gathered herbs. Waterfalls cascade in seven tiers between giant rocks, each pool shimmering with different hues. At the mid-mountain "Yaowang Residence," an old herbalist was preparing Polygonatum. Seeing my curiosity, he handed me a piece: "Many come for free mountain tours, but few understand the wonders of traditional medicine." This insight revealed the most precious gain of travel — not just checking off sights, but awakening a sensitivity to all living things. 5. Gengong Buddha Kingdom: A Zen Universe of Reborn Deadwood Entering the world’s largest root carving art hall, millennium-old tree roots are transformed by artisans into five hundred Arhats and a 30-meter-tall Shakyamuni Buddha. The most stunning is the "Future Buddha" exhibition hall, where a whole camphor tree is carved into Maitreya Buddha; tree knots cleverly form the folds of the robe, and natural cracks create garment patterns. The caretaker smiled, "Before, visitors rushed in to snap photos and leave. Now with free admission, some sit quietly for half a day to appreciate the details." 6. Qianjiangyuan: The Epic Journey of a Single Drop of Water By Qinglan Lake in Kaihua County, watching clear springs gush from beneath the "Qianjiangyuan" stone tablet, it’s hard to imagine this is the source of the 592-kilometer-long Qiantang River. Walking along the forest trail, the Gutian Mountain waterfall falls like a white ribbon, and the negative ion monitor shows readings as high as 20,000. Environmental volunteers at the source are clearing fallen leaves: "Since opening for free, more people understand the importance of protecting water sources." Epilogue: When the evening bell of Lanke Mountain rings, I suddenly understand the deeper meaning of Quzhou’s free tour — it breaks down commercial barriers, allowing nature and culture to return to their true essence. The money saved on tickets turns into an extra plate of tangerine cakes from a homestay owner, herbal knowledge shared by a pharmacist, and root carving skills demonstrated by an old craftsman. Perhaps this is the true essence of travel: we come for the scenery but take away something even more precious than the scenery.