Before May Day : Shennongjia and Wushan

Just before the May Day holiday, I can go home a few days early, so I've arranged to visit Shennongjia and Wushan on my way home.

DAY 1: I got off the high-speed train at Xingshan Station and then looked for a car rental from Hertz. It's very cheap during the off-season—I rented a car for two days for just over 300 yuan. Delightedly used my Capital One Venture X card to book a room on Trip.com, so I could later use points to offset the costs at a 1:1 ratio. In the evening, I enjoyed a delicious wood-fired chicken. Nearby Xingshan County, there's the "most beautiful water highway" which you can visit along the way; it's especially pretty at night.

DAY 2: Depart from Xingshan, pass through Muyu Town, and then visit several attractions besides the Nine Lakes with the 299 yuan ticket package. If you're short on time, make some trade-offs; definitely focus on Shennong Valley and Shennong Peak! The other places can just be quick stops; don't spend too much time there!

Tiansheng Bridge: If you're rushing, just stop here; it's quite ordinary inside and time-consuming!

Shennong Altar: Just go up the first two steps for a quick photo, and that's it. Those with more energy can continue—I need to conserve mine!

Guanmen Moutain

Shennong Valley and Shennong Peak are definitely worth savoring—(the pinned video is also from Shennong Peak).

Stay overnight in Pingqian Ancient Town, as the next day is planned for visiting the nearby Nine Lakes.

DAY 3: Sob, sob, sob—it’s raining! The Nine Lakes were completely shrouded in fog, and I even spent 70 yuan on the tour bus fee (this expense is mandatory, as private cars are not allowed in). However, on the way back, seeing that Shennongjia was also like this, I felt fortunate that I visited it the day before. (When it rains, definitely consider changing your plans! Otherwise, there's a high chance of regret, and driving can be dangerous with many sharp turns in the mountain roads.) In the evening, arrived at Wushan County—ta-da, Wushan grilled fish is delicious!

DAY 4: Wushan Xiaoxia Gorge is worth a visit! The boat ticket is only 120 yuan! It's a 4-hour round trip. Although they keep selling things on the return journey, just put on some headphones and you'll be fine! The scenery along the way is beautiful, and it's very cost-effective.

If you have enough time, you could also consider adding Fengjie and Yichang to your plan. Since I was in a hurry to get home, this is where my trip ended.

I hope you all can visit some interesting places during the May Day holiday too.

Happy May Day to everyone!