Cruise the vast blue waves of Yunhu Lake, explore the emerald bamboo sea of Nanshan - Spring Road Trip Day 12

Departing from downtown Shaoxing at dawn, take Zhongxing Avenue onto the Hangzhou Bay Ring Expressway, watching as the waterways with swaying black-canopied boats and white-walled, black-tiled houses gradually recede. After entering the Changshen Expressway, about a 2-hour drive brings you to Yixing's Yunhu Lake, a scenic area centered around a reservoir that blends Buddhist culture with pastoral landscapes. From Yunhu, heading south on the Changshen Expressway for about an hour, the lush greenery of Liyang comes into view. Passing through Liyang's No. 1 Highway, its "rainbow lines" wind through tea plantations and bamboo forests, full of charm. The Liyang Rainbow Highway section is perfect for cruise control, letting your car meander through the curves like a brushstroke in an oil painting. Hengshan Reservoir is located in the mountainous southwest of Yixing, Jiangsu. Construction began in 1958 and was completed in 1969. It serves as a comprehensive water conservancy hub primarily for flood control, irrigation, and water supply, with additional benefits like aquaculture, power generation, and tertiary industries. The southern shore of Hengshan Reservoir is home to the picturesque Yunhu Scenic Area, facing Dajue Temple. The catchment area spans 154 square kilometers, with a total basin area of 154.8 square kilometers. Surrounded by rolling hills, the reservoir area boasts shimmering blue waters, over 98% green coverage, and fresh, humid air, earning it the nickname "natural oxygen bar." From the viewing platform, you can see endless blue waves harmonizing with layered mountain peaks. In spring and autumn, the lake is often shrouded in mist, resembling an ink-wash painting. Here, time seems to slow down, and everything becomes leisurely. Find a lakeside bench to sit and quietly admire the scenery, listen to birds singing joyfully in the trees, and feel the gentle breeze caressing your cheeks—all fatigue and worries vanish in this moment, leaving only peace and contentment. When the noise of urban jungles becomes suffocating, Yunhu embraces weary souls with her tranquility. Dajue Temple was first built during the Xianchun era (1265-1274) of the Southern Song Dynasty by Master Zhining, making it over 700 years old. In 1989, Venerable Master Hsing Yun returned to Yixing to pay homage to his ancestors and found the temple in ruins, inspiring him to revive this sacred site. Reconstruction began in 2005, with the second phase largely completed by late 2011. In 2015, the Grand Buddha Hall and Duobao White Pagoda were consecrated. Dajue Temple is a fusion of modern and ancient culture, featuring traditional Jiangnan architectural styles with upturned eaves, carved beams, and painted pillars, exuding classical elegance. The 18 Arhat statues at the mountain gate plaza are lifelike, each with unique postures that depict Buddhist stories, offering artistic delight and spiritual awe. The Grand Buddha Hall follows Tang-style architecture, its golden roof gleaming in the sunlight. Inside, a seated statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is flanked by colorful jade carvings of the Eastern Pure Land and Western Paradise, creating a solemn atmosphere. The Duobao White Pagoda stands 108 meters tall with 15 floors, structured around the Three Jewels of Buddhism (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). It houses the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall, Dharma Treasure Tower, and Patriarch Hall. Stepping into the temple, worldly distractions fade away, leaving only serenity. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting intricate patterns like the illumination of Buddha's light. Here, time seems to stand still, allowing visitors to listen to their inner voices and contemplate life's truths. Liyang is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province, administered by Changzhou, located at the border of Jiangsu and Anhui in the southwestern Yangtze River Delta. The mountains here are like delicate ink strokes, rolling and fading in and out of mist, creating a fairy-tale landscape. Tianmu Lake resembles a sapphire embedded in the earth, its crystal-clear waters sparkling. After tasting the exquisite Tianmu Lake fish head, listening to boatwomen's folk songs, and wandering through old town alleys, one suddenly realizes that Liyang's beauty isn't distant scenery but tangible life—a paradise where nature and human warmth coexist. Liyang Nanshan Bamboo Sea is a national 5A-level scenic area in the hilly southern region of Liyang, at the intersection of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces, renowned as "Heavenly Nanshan, Dreamlike Bamboo Sea." The area spans about 35,000 acres of bamboo, with over 98% vegetation coverage. Entering this bamboo kingdom, you're greeted by endless emerald bamboo resembling a green ocean. When the wind blows, the bamboo sways and rustles, as if nature is playing a symphony. Walking along quiet paths, the smooth stone steps polished by time produce crisp, melodious sounds. The dense bamboo groves block out the outside world, leaving only the rhythm of your heartbeat and the bamboo's whisper. Jing Lake is formed by mountain streams and rainwater, its waters clear and jade-green. Drifting on a bamboo raft, you experience the poetic feeling of "boating on blue waves, traveling in a painting." At Bird Paradise, interact with birds by feeding peacocks and flamingos or watching parrots ride bikes and raptors spread their wings in entertaining shows. Nanshan Longevity Culture Park showcases longevity traditions, featuring the "First Longevity Star of China" statue at Shouxing Plaza—a nearly 13-meter-tall, smiling copper figure. Behind it, a screen wall displays 100 variations of the Chinese character for "longevity," a masterpiece of calligraphy. The Wuyue First Peak, at the tri-province border, offers panoramic views via a glass-bottomed cable car. Standing at this "three-province intersection," you can gaze at misty mountains stretching across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui like an unfinished landscape painting, where blank spaces spark imagination. At the summit, a large bell awaits visitors to ring for blessings, symbolizing happiness, prosperity, and longevity. Nanshan Bamboo Sea is more than just a beautiful bamboo forest—it's a poetic, dreamlike escape. Here, you can shed life's burdens and immerse yourself in nature's gifts, embracing serenity and beauty. No matter where or when, the emerald hues of Nanshan Bamboo Sea will shine brightly in your heart, becoming an unforgettable memory.