Avoid the crowds! Check in at the "Real-life Immortal World" recommended by National Geographic

In secret realms far from the hustle and bustle of the world, those "real-life immortal worlds" certified by National Geographic quietly await travelers who truly understand them, with mist as their veil and strange peaks as their bones. These hidden places not only boast stunning natural wonders but also harbor cultural charms untouched by over-commercialization. This guide takes you beyond Wangxian Valley to five immortal secret realms, offering an immersive cultivation journey with fewer people and beautiful scenery. 1. Enshi Grand Canyon: An Immortal Epic of Karst Landforms Highlights: As one of National Geographic’s "Most Beautiful Places in China," Enshi Grand Canyon is famous for its rare global "fissure-sinkhole-rock pillar" composite karst landforms. Yunlong Fissure is called "the most beautiful scar on Earth," with rock layers on both sides recording hundreds of millions of years of geological changes; the "Incense Stick" stone pillar in Qixingzhai Scenic Area stands 150 meters tall, resembling a magical artifact left by immortals in the mist. Tips to Avoid Crowds: 1. Off-peak visits: Enter at 7:30 AM on a weekday, start with Yunlong Fissure to avoid tour group peaks. 2. Reverse route: Take the cable car from the north gate up the mountain, then walk backward along the cliffside plank road to enjoy the sea of clouds rolling over White Crane Peak alone. 3. Deep exploration: Hike the undeveloped Qingjiang ancient riverbed, encounter waterfalls and caves in the primeval forest, and experience the surprise of "accidentally entering Peach Blossom Land." Trip.com Popular Experiences: - Cliffside lodging: The panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows of Zhanshan Yunju Resort Hotel face the canyon; in the morning, the sea of clouds flows past the window, as if in a heavenly palace. - Tujia cuisine: Try Zhangguan Hezha’s bean dregs hotpot with cured meat, sour and spicy to whet the appetite; at Daughter City Night Market, the crispy yet tender Youxiang’er costs only 5 yuan for authentic flavor. 2. Fanjing Mountain: A Buddhist Holy Land in the Sea of Clouds and Buddha Light Highlights: A World Natural Heritage site, Fanjing Mountain is famous for geological wonders like "mushroom stones" and the "Red Cloud Golden Summit," and is praised by National Geographic as the top "lesser-known mountain" in China. The twin peaks of the Golden Summit face each other, and in the morning mist, it looks like a Daoist arena where immortals fly on swords. Tips to Avoid Crowds: 1. Choose the East Gate: Fewer tourists than the West Gate, and you can take a cable car through the primeval forest, occasionally spotting Guizhou golden monkeys. 2. Early arrival: Book the first cable car at 7:00 AM to enjoy the breathtaking view of the sea of clouds and sunrise alone at the summit. 3. Hiking route: Hike up from Yu’ao (about 4 hours), passing secret spots like "Ten Thousand Scrolls Cliff," with almost no other tourists. Trip.com Popular Experiences: - Zen lodging: Fanjing Mountain Qixi Resort Hotel offers meditation rooms with mats; at night, stargaze from the terrace and feel the ethereal "Pure Land of Brahma." - Cloud cuisine: The vegetarian restaurant near Huguo Temple serves "Fanjing’s Three Treasures" (bamboo fungus, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms) stew, light yet infused with mountain spirit. 3. Shenxianju: An Immortal Dream on the Cliffside Plank Road Highlights: Known for "sea of clouds, strange peaks, and steep cliffs," Shenxianju’s S-shaped Ruyi Bridge is hailed as "China’s most beautiful bridge," and when shrouded in mist, it looks like a heavenly palace. The scenic area has a high negative ion concentration of 88,000 per cubic centimeter, making it a natural "lung cleansing sanctuary." Tips to Avoid Crowds: 1. Enter from the North Gate: Fewer tourists than the South Gate, and you can take a cable car directly to Beihai Scenic Area, avoiding the hiking trail crowds. 2. Off-peak photography: Arrive at Ruyi Bridge before 7:30 AM when the mist still lingers, making portrait shots look like you’re in the clouds. 3. Deep hiking: Hike from the Beihai cable car upper station to Nantian Peak, passing lesser-known spots like "Flying Waterfall" and "Lovers’ Forest," with almost no other visitors. Trip.com Popular Experiences: - Immortal lodging: Xianju Yueliu Hotel’s creekside rooms offer bamboo views; at night, listen to insects by the stream and feel the poetic mood of "walking to the water’s end, sitting to watch the clouds rise." - Mountain delicacies: The "Eight Big Bowls" restaurant in Shenxianju Oxygen Bar Town serves farmhouse dishes like native chicken stew and dried bamboo shoots with cured meat, all for about 50 yuan per person. 4. Qiyun Mountain: A Taoist Secret Realm in Danxia Landforms Highlights: Qiyun Mountain is famous for its "Danxia red cliffs and Taoist culture." The "Heavenly Street" buildings on Yuehua Street hang on cliff walls, looking like a fairyland in the mist. The "True Immortal Cave" cliff inscriptions record Taoist culture from the Tang and Song dynasties. Tips to Avoid Crowds: 1. Travel on weekdays: Most visitors come on weekends; on weekdays, you can almost enjoy the tranquility of the "Cloud Heavenly Street" alone. 2. Hiking route: Hike from Dengfeng Bridge (about 2 hours), passing secret spots like "Longevity Rock" and "Elephant Trunk Rock," with almost no other tourists. 3. Night visits: The scenic area is open until 9:00 PM; the lights on Yuehua Street at night are dazzling, perfect for photos combining starry skies and ancient architecture. Trip.com Popular Experiences: - Taoist lodging: Rooms at Qiyun Mountain Wangxianlou Inn are named after famous quotes from the Tao Te Ching; in the morning, join a Taoist master to learn Tai Chi and experience the "unity of heaven and man." - Health cuisine: The vegetarian noodle shop near Xuantian Taisu Palace serves "Tai Chi noodles," shaped like yin-yang fish, paired with mushroom soup made from mountain spring water, light and nourishing. 5. Zhaoxing Dong Village: A Dong Ethnic Peach Blossom Land on the Edge of Time Highlights: Zhaoxing Dong Village is rated by National Geographic as one of the "33 Most Enticing Travel Destinations Worldwide." The five drum tower clusters appear faintly in the morning mist, like magical castles from a fairy tale. The heavenly sound of Dong grand songs echoes between the Wind and Rain Bridges, making visitors forget worldly troubles. Tips to Avoid Crowds: 1. Early morning and evening: Arrive at the viewing platform before 6:00 AM when the terraced fields are still asleep, with almost no other tourists for panoramic shots; return after 6:00 PM to enjoy the dazzling night view of thousands of lights. 2. Deep experience: Join a "Dong indigo dyeing" workshop to make a unique Dong cloth scarf under the guidance of a master, avoiding the main street crowds. 3. Surrounding hikes: Hike from Tang’an Dong Village to Zhaoxing (about 3 hours), passing the "Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon" terraced fields, with almost no other visitors. Trip.com Popular Experiences: - Dong lodging: Zhaoxing Dong Village Tianzhiyi Resort Hotel’s stilt house rooms have wooden bathtubs; at night, listen to Dong pipa songs on the terrace and feel the blend of "poetry and distant places." - Sour soup cuisine: The "Dong Sour Soup Fish" restaurant on the main street serves rice field fish hotpot with litsea cubeba oil and local chili, sour and spicy to whet the appetite, all for about 40 yuan per person. Travel Tips 1. Transportation planning: These secret realms are mostly in mountainous areas; self-driving or chartering a car is recommended for flexible itineraries. For example, Enshi Grand Canyon, Fanjing Mountain, and Shenxianju can be connected via the "Hunan-Hubei-Chongqing-Guizhou" self-driving loop, about 1,200 kilometers and 5-7 days. 2. Gear suggestions: Bring waterproof hiking shoes, lightweight raincoat, thermos (due to large temperature differences in mountains), and telephoto lens (for shooting distant strange peaks and rocks). 3. Cultural respect: When visiting ethnic minority areas, respect local customs, such as not touching the beams and pillars of drum towers in Dong villages to avoid disturbing villagers’ daily lives. 4. Off-peak travel: Avoid public holidays and weekends; choose weekdays to not only avoid crowds but also enjoy better accommodation prices. These immortal secret realms privately treasured by National Geographic not only have breathtaking natural landscapes but also cultural charms untouched by over-commercialization. By mastering the tips to avoid crowds, you can experience the true charm of the "immortal world" in these secret places and create unforgettable travel memories.