A Trip to Qiaojia, Zhaotong

Tired of the crowded "follow-the-crowd" check-ins at popular tourist spots, this year's May Day holiday I deliberately chose a small riverside county → Qiaojia County. Two days and one night were spent experiencing the slow-paced life of a small town. **Liming Wharf**: The white tower against the backdrop of the blue evening sky and orange-red sunset makes for a highly atmospheric photo. The blue hour after sunset is also worth capturing. The only downside is that it's a bit far from the main urban area, and the surrounding roads are still under repair, making transportation less convenient (I rented an e-bike to get there. There's also a red windmill viewpoint about 1 km to the west). **Tiansheng Park**: One of the great spots for photos and check-ins. Easily accessible, it attracts quite a few visitors and is also a popular place for locals to stroll or go on dates. **Longtan Park**: Highly recommended! A small but very distinctive park with dense ancient trees, stone bridges, and rockeries. Many elderly folks gather here to sing folk songs or play cards. At the center of the park is a small, crystal-clear pond teeming with fish. Spring water continuously overflows from the pond, forming a small stream where many children play. The pond also serves as one of the local backup water sources. **Tanglang Cultural Square**: A spacious square planted with jacaranda trees in the green belts. Worth a visit if you have time, though not a must-see. **Riverside Park**: Built along the river, the experience here is decent. In the evenings, warm ambient lights line the riverbank, making it a pleasant stroll if you have time to spare. **Accommodation**: I stayed at Hanting Hotel, which I found to be a great value. The hotel offers free three meals a day, and the food is quite good. Amenities are complete, and rooms on the main road side offer partial river views. **Transportation**: ① **Inter-regional travel**: - Zhaotong → Qiaojia: No highway yet; the journey takes about 2.5 hours. - Xichang → Qiaojia: The national highway route takes about 3.5 hours. One-way fares are under 100 yuan. ② **Local transportation**: - 🚗 **Taxis**: Starting fare is 6 yuan, and most areas in the county can be reached for around 10 yuan. - 🚲 **E-bike rental**: 19.9 yuan for 24 hours, with a single-charge range of about 40 km. Battery swaps are available mid-ride. Evening rides along the river are very pleasant. 💞 **Tips**: 1. Summers in Qiaojia can be quite hot with strong UV rays, so sun protection is a must when going out. 2. Food wasn’t part of my experience, but if you’re interested, check out Tiansheng Night Market for local nighttime delicacies.