Overview
A relaxed two-day private escape to eastern Zhejiang combining ancient cliff-carved Buddhas, a famous old-town street-food scene and a playful river-crossing walk through eighteen scenic fords.
About This Tour
This private two-day tour explores Xinchang, a small mountain county in eastern Zhejiang that sits on the historic 'Road of Tang Poetry' once travelled by China's greatest classical poets. The cultural highlight is Dafo (Great Buddha) Temple, founded in the Eastern Jin dynasty and home to some of southern China's only surviving early Buddhist cliff sculptures - a route weaving past the Thousand-Buddha Chan Temple, the Reclining Buddha Hall, the Banruo Valley and the Ten-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda, where millennium-old stone carvings, hanging stairways and a slender waterfall come together in a setting so atmospheric it has served as a backdrop for more than a dozen popular Chinese costume dramas. You also dive into Xinchang's beloved 'carbohydrate kingdom' old street, a restored lane of 68 historic buildings and fifty-plus snack stalls full of steam, lanterns and authentic local flavours. The second day is a gentle, family-friendly hike along the 'Eighteen Fords' of the cool Xiaoquan Creek, a former salt-smugglers' path of cobbled trails, shaded forest and a string of distinctively named river crossings where you can wade, splash and shoot photos. Ideal for travellers who enjoy a blend of living heritage, easy walking and authentic small-town China. Best enjoyed spring through autumn. Itinerary may adjust based on weather, road and local regulations. Good to know: • Best season: spring to autumn; the river fords are most enjoyable in warm weather • Fitness level: easy; gentle cobbled trails with shallow water crossings on Day 2 • Bring spare shoes and quick-dry clothing as your feet may get wet at the fords • Depending on the entry gate used, a Dafo Temple ticket of about RMB 80/person may apply • Light walking shoes with grip recommended
Itinerary
1
Day 1: Xinchang Old Street | Dafo Buddhist Grottoes
Your guide meets you in the morning for the drive (about 4 hours) into eastern Zhejiang's hills. Around midday you reach Xinchang's 'carbohydrate kingdom' old street for lunch - a restored lane of 68 heritage buildings and more than fifty snack stalls, lantern-strung eaves, billowing steam and sizzling griddles, where you can graze on hand-made taro dumplings, crisp griddle cakes wrapped around fried dough, steamed soup buns and sauce-soaked rice cakes for just a few dozen yuan. In the afternoon you ascend to Dafo (Great Buddha) Temple, founded in the Eastern Jin dynasty and one of the only sites of early Buddhist cliff carvings surviving in southern China. A single scenic route links the Thousand-Buddha Chan Temple, Reclining Buddha Hall, Banruo Valley and the Ten-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda, blending grand stone Buddhas, ancient grottoes and cliff-side waterfalls; the temple's golden walls and dramatic setting have featured in many hit costume dramas, making it superb for photography. In the evening you transfer to your accommodation in Xinchang town for a free dinner. Meals: self-arranged/AA. Overnight: Xinchang town (standard room). Note: if entering via the alternate gate, a ticket of about RMB 80/person may be required.
2
Day 2: Eighteen Fords River Trek | Return
Enjoy a relaxed morning and breakfast at the hotel before driving to the trailhead at Lijiaxi for the 'Eighteen Fords' walk along Xiaoquan Creek. After a warm-up, you set off on a well-laid cobbled path, shaded by forest, with the creek murmuring below and the steep Shangchen ridge rising ahead like an eastern Mount Fuji. The route then becomes a playful series of river crossings - green hills, clear water and eighteen distinctively named fords, where you hop stones, wade the cool stream and stop often for photos (the path was historically used by salt smugglers slipping between Ninghai and Xinchang). This is an easy, leisurely trail with plenty of time to splash and relax. You reach the end of the walk in the early afternoon, then begin the drive back, arriving in the late afternoon/evening. Meals: breakfast included; bring a packed lunch. Drive back included.
What's Included
✓ Included
English-speaking guide Private vehicle & transfers 1 night accommodation (twin/standard room) Dafo Temple area visit Breakfast on Day 2
✕ Not included
International & domestic flights China visa Travel insurance Most meals (self-arranged or AA) Dafo Temple entrance ticket if charged at the alternate gate (approx. RMB 80/person) Personal expenses Tips
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
4.7★★★★★Based on 75 reviews
Alex D.🇦🇪 UAE★★★★★2024-07
One detail from the day: what I remember is the change from one stop to the next: different room, different smell, different crowd. The trail was only one part of it.
Elena O.🇲🇽 Mexico★★★★★2025-04
Dietary questions in Xinchang 2 were handled before we started, not halfway through the first tasting. That made the session much easier to enjoy.
James P.🇮🇹 Italy★★★★☆2026-01
A practical note: this is not technical hiking, but it isn't a city stroll either. Starting early gave us a cooler, quieter stretch on the trail. With 2 days to work with, the balance felt sensible.