Lishui travel guide
For those who cherish unspoiled nature and nostalgia for rustic life, Lishui's "Linhai Forest Sea" beckons. Wander through pristine mountain vistas not yet overly manicured. Stroll down ancient bluestone paths, listen to rain under arched bridges, and browse timeworn shops. Experience craftsmen intricately forging fine swords in a traditional studio.
Equally alluring is Lishui's vibrant cultural heritage. As the largest She ethnic minority settlement in China, Jingning She Autonomous County offers glimpses into traditions like colorful garb, cuisine, weddings, and indigenous religion.
Beyond nature, Lishui rewards cultural immersion. Appreciate heritage enterprises like handmade ink sticks or silk parasols. Visit a traditional Chinese medicine market to see ancient remedies still used today. Absorb artistic heritage at former homes of eminent calligraphers and painters. Allow the enduring charms of unspoiled landscape and rich folk customs to leave an impression.
Consumption level
Lishui offers relatively affordable costs of travel. Attraction tickets are inexpensive and the main expense is lodging. In the city, five-star hotels average around 650RMB, four-stars about 400RMB, and three-stars range 140-190RMB. Small family-run inns can cost just 100-120RMB. In surrounding counties, basic hotels are around 100RMB. Dining runs around 50RMB per person in the city, while countryside home-style meals at farmhouses cost a set 30RMB per head.
To maximize your budget, opt for family inns or mid-range chain hotels, and eat at humble local joints. Use public transit to access Lishui's natural highlights like Laojun Mountain for under 50RMB admission. Focus spending on one or two top sites or activities per day. With mix-and-match choices, Lishui offers visitors lovely scenery, ancient villages, temples and waterfalls for under 300RMB daily.
Best Travel Time
Lishui is a subtropical area, located near mountains and waters, with both marine and mountainous climate characteristics. It is also lush with trees, making it warm in winter and cool in summer. The climate is pleasant, and visitors can experience different landscapes and experiences in different seasons. The misty rain in early spring and the cicadas in midsummer, Longquan Mountain Fengyang Mountain, Baishanzu, and Ruoliao primitive forest areas are all summer resorts. In midsummer, the mountains are cool and lush with vegetation; Shan Kou Qian Si Yan, Da Ji, and Shimen Dong are famous for their magnificent waterfalls. Of course, one must go there in the rainy summer to experience the coolness in the waterfalls. In addition, the She ethnic culture in Lijiang is unique. Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, it is also a good choice to go to Shuanghougang She Ethnic Culture Village and Jiangnan She Ethnic Culture Village for festivals.History
Archaeological evidence confirms human activity in Lianyungang's ancient Mount Qushan and present-day Mount Jinping area as early as 10,000 years ago. In 1959 and 1978, the oldest Paleolithic sites in southeast China were discovered at Erjian and Daxian Village with clear stratigraphic layers. Mount Jinping has 19 Neolithic sites, with Erjian being one of China's earliest farming areas.
The 20-meter long, 10-meter wide "General Cliff Painting" discovered in 1979 was appraised by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage as "an extremely important cultural relic and rare major discovery, the earliest 'book' in China."
The Donghan era art treasure "Kongwang Mountain Grottoes Statues" are the earliest Buddhist grotto statues in China, 100-200 years earlier than the Dunhuang Grottoes, and protected at the national level.
The area is also steeped in history, with attractions related to Confucius' sea gazing, Emperor Qin's inspections, and famous poets and officials like Tao Yuanming, Li Bai, Su Dongpo, Shen Kuo, Li Qingzhao, Wu Cheng'en, Li Ruzhen, Wu Jingzi, Lin Zexu, Zhu Ziqing and more.
Arriving at the airport
Lishui does not have its own airport. To fly to Lishui, you can take a connecting flight to Wenzhou Yongqiang Airport and then take a direct shuttle bus to Lishui.
The shuttle bus ride is 160km and takes around 2 hours 10 minutes. The fare is 60 RMB.
Airport Shuttle Schedule:
From Airport: 9:00am, 10:40am, 12:10pm, 1:30pm, 3:00pm, 4:30pm, 6:00pm, 7:20pm, 8:30pm
From Lishui: 6:20am, 7:50am, 9:10am, 10:30am, 12:05pm, 1:30pm, 3:05pm, 4:20pm, 5:50pm
Lishui Pickup: Lishui West Station
Contact in Lishui: 0578-2261221
To get from Wenzhou Airport to Lishui, take the direct shuttle bus for a convenient onward connection. The bus runs multiple times per day and takes around 2 hours.
