I've been to Yizhang and I'm back, honest review, no exaggeration

🌿【Yizhang | May's Secret Paradise in the Nanling Mountains】 Yizhang, a hidden gem at the southern gateway of Hunan, with rolling clouds of Mangshan Mountain on the left and the weathered ancient Hunan-Guangdong trail on the right, nestled in the folds of Qitian Ridge where even the air feels wild! In May, the mountain breeze is gentle, the streams are lively, and for just 600+ yuan per person, you can experience cloud walking, cave exploration, and Yao village life—this place is so untamed even GPS navigation gets intimidated! 📍【Day 1: Mangshan Five Finger Peak · Cloud Walking】 🌅Morning 7:00 Head straight to Mangshan Five Finger Peak Scenic Area (150 yuan entrance fee, half-price for students), take the shuttle to Tiantai Mountain viewing platform. May's sea of clouds looks like cotton candy, and the cliff walkways make every photo look straight out of a fantasy drama! Remember to wear non-slip shoes—some sections are like playing "slippery snake" 🐍. 🌞Noon At the Yao Family Restaurant near the entrance, bamboo tube rice + fern root cake will fill you up (30 yuan per person). The bamboo rice has a charcoal aroma, and the fern root cake is slightly sweet without being heavy—instant energy boost after eating! 🌇Evening Stay at a Mangshan Yao Village Homestay at the foot of the mountain (100 yuan/night including breakfast). The owner will bring you freshly ground soy milk and pickled radish. After dark, step outside to see the Milky Way stretching across the mountain ridge—even phone cameras capture it beautifully! 🎫Free attraction: The viewing platform at the scenic area entrance also offers cloud sea views—be a "fairy" without spending a penny! 📍【Day 2: Tiantan Town Red Sandstone + Cave Exploration】 🌅Morning Take a minibus to Tiantan Town for 10 yuan, then rent a three-wheeled motorcycle (15 yuan) to "Little Gaoyi Ridge." This off-the-beaten-path hike with red cliffs and green waters is more exciting than any popular tourist spot! Wear water shoes to splash through puddles—the water spray will keep you cool all day 💦. 🌞Noon Order "one fish three ways" at a farmhouse restaurant at the foot of the mountain (40 yuan/person). The fish head soup is incredibly fresh, the fried fish tail is crispy, and you'll be tempted to nibble even the fish scales! 🌇Evening Return to the county town and stay at Youth Hostel · Bamboo Cottage (50 yuan/bed). The rooftop terrace offers stargazing, and the neighbor playing guitar is incredibly soothing. 💡Tips: Three-wheeler drivers might not understand navigation apps—simply say "take me to the waterfall" for better results! 📍【Day 3: Guizi Village Waterfall + Yao Market Day】 🌅Morning Charter a car (50 yuan per person) to Guizi Village in Mangshan Yao Township. Follow herb-gathering grandmas along the hillside path to find the three-tiered waterfall in 30 minutes. Water volume is high in May, and the mist will dampen your clothes for that perfect atmospheric feel! Remember to use waterproof phone cases to prevent "ambush" by the waterfall 📸. 🌞Noon Eat bamboo tube chicken (35 yuan) at the Yao market. The meat is so tender it falls off the bone, and dipping it in chili powder is heavenly! Pick up a Yao embroidered belt (20 yuan)—your girlfriends will love it! 🌇Evening Before heading home, slurp a bowl of Nanguan Old Street pork noodles (12 yuan), add a fried egg, and enjoy the thick broth that clings to your spoon! 🎫Free attraction: The undeveloped section of Guizi Village Waterfall, but confirm safe routes with locals! 🏨【Accommodation Recommendations】 🏨Forest View Homestay (280 yuan per person) A cave homestay hidden in bamboo forest with panoramic windows and private hot spring pools. Soak at night under the stars and wake up to a sea of clouds! The owner serves homemade bamboo tube tea, and even the pillows are filled with fragrant herbs. 🚌【Transportation Guide】 ✅ Chenzhou City → Yizhang: Shared car 30 yuan/person (1.5 hours), or intercity bus (25 yuan). ✅ Within the county: Shared electric bikes 20 yuan/day, or chartered cars averaging 50 yuan per person is most economical! 💔 Painful lesson: Never take motorcycle taxis in the county town! Drivers might not understand "go to Old Liu's place" and could take you on a three-lap village tour... 📌【Tips】 1️⃣ Yao markets with handmade embroidery happen every Wednesday/Saturday. Bargaining tip: flash your student ID! 2️⃣ Bag storage at Mangshan Scenic Area costs 5 yuan/time, half the price of lockers! 3️⃣ Waterfalls are most spectacular during rainy season (May-July), but bring raincoats! Mountain winds can turn umbrellas into parachutes 🌂 4️⃣ Bring headlamps for cave exploration—phone flashlights aren't bright enough! 5️⃣ When locals sell wild loquats, you can bargain from 10 yuan to 5 yuan per bag! 🍜【Must-Try Foods】 1️⃣ Old Cao's Pork Noodles: Fresh bone broth made at dawn, crispy pork offal, and a fried egg is the soul of the dish! 2️⃣ Grandma's Oil Cakes: Radish-filled fried pastries, 0.5 yuan each with free bean porridge—a carb bomb of happiness! 3️⃣ Yao-style Cured Meat with Chili: The smoky flavor hits your senses instantly—perfect with rice! 4️⃣ Fern Root Rice Cake: Soft and chewy, dipped in brown sugar syrup that sweetens your heart. 5️⃣ Vinegar Tofu: Dongfeng Township specialty with rich bean flavor, crispy outside and tender inside—perfect with alcohol! 💰【Expense Breakdown】 🏠 Accommodation: Homestay 100 yuan + Hostel 50 yuan = 150 yuan 🍜 Food: 30+40+12+35+12 = 139 yuan 🚗 Transportation: Shared car 30 + Three-wheeler 15 + Charter car 50 = 95 yuan 🎫 Entrance fee: Mangshan 150 yuan (75 yuan with student ID) 📸 Others: Embroidered belt 20 + Raincoat 5 = 25 yuan Total: About 559 yuan per person (students can save another 200!) 🌈【Why Choose Yizhang?】 Here you won't find crowded Instagram filters, just howling mountain winds on cliff edges, glowing stalactites in caves, and grilled rice cakes stuffed into your hands by Yao grandmas. May in Yizhang is a backpacker's secret list, a photographer's inspiration source, and a wild healing space away from urban chaos. Bring your 25°C good mood and be a "wild child" for three days—after all, you need to go crazy at least once in life to truly live! ✨