Step into the Clouds and Paint: A Complete Guide to 3 Real-Life Xianxia Secret Realms, Avoid the Crowds and Become an Immortal Painter

Who says xianxia only exists in movies and TV shows? Hidden deep in the mountains of Zhejiang, Anhui, and Hubei are three secluded secret realms—morning mist cattle herding in Jinyun Xiandu, the Danxia Taoist realm of Qiyun Mountain, and the floating boat shadows in Pingshan Gorge—all are “immortal world original scenes” that need no filters. This 4-day, 3-night guide helps you unlock carefree adventures amid mountains and waters. Pre-Trip Immortal Preparations: Pass Guide and Packing List Transportation Sword Technique - High-speed rail direct access: Take the high-speed train to Jinyun West Station for Jinyun Xiandu (a 30 RMB taxi ride directly to the scenic area); for Qiyun Mountain, arrive at Huangshan North Station then transfer to a tourist shuttle for 1 hour; for Pingshan Gorge, first reach Enshi Station, then take a direct scenic shuttle for 2.5 hours. - Self-driving preferred: All three scenic spots are suitable for self-driving. Parking at Xiandu and Qiyun Mountain costs 10 RMB/day; free temporary parking is available outside Pingshan Scenic Area, with opportunities to stop and shoot along the misty mountain roads. Ticket Pass Documents - Jinyun Xiandu combined ticket 80 RMB (includes Dinghu Peak, Little Red Cliff, etc.), 10 RMB off for advance online purchase; Zhutan Mountain trail is free to access; - Qiyun Mountain ticket 80 RMB includes scenic area transportation; Yuehua Street and Wangxian Tower require no extra fees; - Pingshan Gorge ticket 210 RMB, add 45 RMB for the “boat in and out” route to deeply experience the water immortal realm. Immortal Travel Bag - Essential artifacts: Non-slip shoes (must for bluestone slabs and plank roads), mosquito repellent (dense mountain insects), wide-angle camera (to capture sea of clouds and peaks); - Dressing tips: Light-colored Hanfu or new Chinese-style clothing, paired with oil-paper umbrellas and round fans, photos in the morning mist naturally exude immortal charm. Secret Realm Roaming: 4 Days 3 Nights Xianxia Route Day 1: Xiandu’s Tribulation Crossing, Meeting the Yellow Emperor’s Alchemy - Mao hour (5:30 AM): Rush to Zhutan Mountain for “immortal classic scenes.” Morning mist shrouds Haoxi like gauze, an old farmer leads cattle across stone pier bridge, sunlight pierces the fog onto the water, like a living “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” painting. Remember to bring baked flatbread as “extra cast fees” to double your photo success rate. - Chen hour (8:00 AM): Climb Dinghu Peak to seek the Way. The 170-meter-high stone pillar pierces the clouds, said to be where the Yellow Emperor practiced alchemy. Bats rest in the mid-mountain caves; at the summit, tie a red blessing rope at the Yellow Emperor’s temple and overlook the swirling clouds as if touching immortal energy. - Wu hour (noon): Unlock xianxia cuisine. Charcoal-baked Jinyun flatbread is crispy and flaky, paired with a bowl of minced meat soup that’s incredibly fresh; spicy duck pot is rich in sauce, farmhouse meals cost about 50 RMB per person and are filling. - Wei hour (3 PM): Seek seclusion at Little Red Cliff. Walk in a white dress along Longgeng Road plankway, Danxia rock walls glow red, wind whistles through cliffs like a hero’s call. At dusk, check in at Yandang Study Room where moonlight filters through stone cracks onto pages, more magical than Hogwarts. Day 2: Qiyun Mountain’s Taoist Quest, Living in a Cliffside Immortal Village - Si hour (9 AM): Hike up the Danxia immortal mountain. Ascend stone steps to see wonders like “One Line Sky” and “Little Pot Sky.” Red rocks burn like fire under sunlight. Midway, the Wangxian Tower viewing platform offers shots of incense burner peak and sea of clouds. - Wu hour (noon): Taste Taoist flavors on Yuehua Street. “Taoist nun tea” carries orchid fragrance, paired with Huizhou peach crisp while watching clouds roll; Taoist vegetarian dishes like mushroom vegetarian chicken and Arhat vegetarian pot hide health wisdom. - Wei hour (3 PM): Listen to Zen at Yuxu Palace. The plank road hangs over a 100-meter-deep abyss; after rain, clouds surge from the valley bottom, seeming within reach of immortals. At dusk, listen to the Taoist priest at Taisu Palace and watch the sunset gild the golden peak. - Xu hour (7 PM): Stay in the immortal village and rest with mountain breeze. Open the window of Yuehua Street guesthouse to see mountain mist, morning bells wake the dawn, and you might meet water-carrying Taoists, experiencing the tranquility of “no time in the mountains.” Day 3: Explore Pingshan’s Mysteries, Venture into the Earth’s Heart Illusion - Si hour (9 AM): Take a boat into “Xianbenna.” The wooden boat floats on clear river waters in the gorge, fish swim beneath the boat, sheer cliffs look like knife cuts, vines hang like immortal ribbons, sunlight forms Tyndall beams through the valley, like a forbidden secret realm. - Wu hour (noon): Taste fresh Pingshan food. Steamed Pingshan fish in mountain spring water melts in your mouth, paired with spicy stir-fried Tujia cured meat, and simple warm bean curd. - Wei hour (3 PM): Challenge the hanging wonders. The glass viewing platform at Ada Terrace overlooks emerald river water; distant Jiudie Gorge is shrouded in mist; hike the “One Line Sky” path that only fits one person, look up to see the “Sky Opening Line.” - You hour (5 PM): Return to Hefeng County. Recommended “Pingshan Secret Realm Guesthouse,” 20 minutes by car, with scenic rooms where you can see stars reflected in rice paddies. Day 4: Collect Lost Treasures and Flavors, Return with Immortal Aura - Chen hour (8 AM): Re-shoot morning scenes at Qiyun Mountain or Xiandu. Watch the sea of clouds change on Yuehua Street at Qiyun Mountain; shoot morning light silhouettes at Yandang Study Room in Xiandu, avoiding crowds to enjoy the immortal realm alone. - Si hour (9 AM): Intangible cultural heritage and souvenirs. Buy bamboo weaving souvenirs at Qiyun Mountain, flatbread gift boxes at Xiandu, and Tujia silver jewelry at Pingshan—each holds secret realm memories. - Wu hour (noon): The last immortal meal. Eat Fangla fish and Huizhou fermented tofu at Qiyun Mountain base, try water southern glutinous rice at Xiandu, and show off creek fish pot at Pingshan for a perfect ending. Pitfall Warnings and Hidden Easter Eggs - Pitfall warnings: Don’t buy “wild creek fish” at Xiandu, mostly farmed; be cautious eating “freshly picked wild fruit” at Pingshan; last Pingshan boat leaves at 5 PM, missing it means a 1-hour detour. - Secret tips: Every Sunday at Xiandu’s Huzhen morning market, bargain for handmade paper cuts and traditional brown sugar using the “half-split rule”; Qiyun Mountain is a snowy fairyland in winter with icy plank roads; best light for photographing floating boats at Pingshan is before noon. - Photography tips: Capture Xiandu’s morning mist, Qiyun’s sea of clouds, and Pingshan’s noon light using a tripod with slow shutter for motion effects, and a wide-angle lens for full panorama. From Xiandu’s misty stone piers to Qiyun’s Danxia Taoist realm, and Pingshan’s floating boat shadows, these secret realms have no influencer noise, only poetic blends of nature and culture. Pack your bags and set off to be an immortal painter in the clouds for a few days.