First time visiting Xinyang? Just copy this itinerary

My dears, I'm the kind of person who hates crowded tourist spots👣. I love exploring lesser-known places with beautiful scenery! I discovered a treasure this May—Xinyang, Henan, a "Southern-style landscape in Northern China" hidden among mountains and rivers. With fragrant tea gardens and picturesque lakes, a three-day trip here is super healing✨! 🌿Three-day, two-night in-depth tour itinerary Day 1: Nanwan Lake 👉 Tea Island 👉 Bird Island Day 2: Jigong Mountain 👉 Buerden Forest Park Day 3: Haotang Village 👉 Return trip 🌟 Day 1: Lakeside Scenery + Tea Culture Nanwan Lake In May, Nanwan Lake's water is as clear as a sapphire💎! Taking a boat tour is a must. Enjoy the breeze and the distant, rolling green hills. The first stop is "Tea Island." As soon as you step ashore, you'll be surrounded by tea gardens. Learn to pick and roast tea with the tea farmers, and even make your own Xinyang Maojian tea🍃. It's so fulfilling! Bird Island In the afternoon, go to Bird Island to see flocks of birds soaring! Egrets and mandarin ducks play on the lake. If you're lucky, you might even catch the spectacular sight of "ten thousand birds flying together"🕊️! There's also a cute pet park on the island, so kids can have a great time too! 🌳 Day 2: Oxygen Therapy + Republican Era Charm Jigong Mountain Head straight to Jigong Mountain in the morning. Take the cable car to the top of the mountain, where clouds roll among the peaks, making you feel like you've stepped into a traditional ink painting🌫️! This used to be a summer resort during the Republican era. Visit century-old villas such as the "Meiling Dance Hall" and "Yi Lu," and feel as if you've traveled back in time🏡. As you hike down the mountain, you'll pass babbling streams and wildflowers everywhere. In May, the greenery is so lush it seems like it could drip! Buerden Forest Park In the afternoon, take a detour to Buerden Forest Park. The century-old ginkgo forest and bamboo forest are perfect for taking photos📸! Sunlight filters through the leaves and onto the stone paths, making every shot a forest-style masterpiece. When you're tired, take a break in the forest pavilion, listen to the wind and birds, and let your whole being quiet down～ 🏡 Day 3: Fairytale Village + Slow-Paced Country Life Haotang Village Rated by National Geographic as the "Most Beautiful Village," Haotang Village is like a real-life Shangri-La! The white-walled, gray-tiled southern Henan houses are scattered in an orderly fashion, with streams flowing in front of the doors and verdant tea gardens behind the houses🌿. Rent a bicycle and wander around at a leisurely pace. Visit the "Lotus Pond in Moonlight" viewing platform. In May, the lotus flowers are half-bloomed, with pink buds dotting the green leaves, a sight that will stir your heart～ There are also handicraft workshops in the village where you can experience pottery and tie-dye. Before leaving, take home a handmade souvenir for a perfect ending! 🚗 Transportation Guide • High-speed train: Direct to Xinyang East Station. It's about 1.5 hours from Wuhan/Zhengzhou. After getting off, it's super convenient to take a taxi to the city center or scenic spots🚖. • Self-driving: It's a 3–4 hour drive from surrounding provinces and cities. Along the way, you can see large wheat fields and tea gardens. The pastoral scenery in May is incredibly healing🌈! 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations • Near Nanwan Lake: Stay in a lake-view homestay. Open the window to see the lake view, and enjoy tea and chats on the balcony in the evening🌙. • At the foot of Jigong Mountain: Choose a Republican-style inn to experience the romance of "sleeping under the stars in the mountains." You can also go directly up the mountain to watch the sunrise in the morning～ 🍲 Must-Eat Xinyang Cuisine • Xinyang Hot Dry Noodles: Different from the Wuhan version! The noodles are chewier, the sesame sauce is richer, and with a spoonful of pickled cowpeas and spicy radish, they're so delicious you'll stomp your feet🍜! • Nanwan Fish Hot Pot: Freshly caught Nanwan Lake fish, with a milky white and sweet broth. Cooked with tofu and greens, it's so fresh you'll lose your eyebrows😋! • Bamboo Tube Fish: A local specialty of pickled fish, salty, savory, and slightly spicy. You can eat three bowls of rice with it～ Xinyang in May is neither cold nor hot, with tea fragrance everywhere. Any spot is a healing landscape～ My dears, quickly save this and come here to enjoy a few days of slow living away from the crowds🌿!