Summer Vacation by the Sea｜Zelda in Wenling! 4-Day 3-Night Road Trip Guide

Just returned from Wenling and must say Taizhou is truly a hidden gem! Previously took my kid to Tiantai and Linhai. For him, this is the summer vacation he dreamed of! This time, we rented a car for a road trip to Wenling and Ningbo, exploring from mountains and seas to lakes. Here’s my 4-day 3-night self-drive guide. 📅 4-Day 3-Night Itinerary Day1️⃣: Shanghai → Wenling Day2️⃣: Golden Beach ➡️ Xiaoruo Village ➡️ Qilin Mountain Day3️⃣: Binhai Greenway ➡️ Dui Jie Viewing Platform ➡️ Tutu Café ➡️ Ningbo Dongqian Lake Day4️⃣: Dongqian Lake · Little Putuo ➡️ Limin Village ➡️ Hanling Old Street ➡️ Shanghai 📷 Attraction Recommendations: 1️⃣ Qilin Mountain Catch the sunset over Xiaoruo Village! Arrive at the summit ahead of sunset time. Start from the path beside "Tianhou Temple" – the hike takes about 30 minutes with clear signage. Bring extra water as summers can be scorching. 2️⃣ Colorful Xiaoruo Village Dubbed the "Chinese version of Cinque Terre," it’s worth a quick visit if time allows. The village itself is average, but the best view is from Qilin Mountain – utterly fairy-tale-like on clear days. 3️⃣ Dui Jie Viewing Platform A personal favorite! It’s hard to believe such a stunning viewpoint is free. Plenty of parking nearby, making it road-trip-friendly. Climb up for breathtaking sea-sky vistas. 4️⃣ Tutu Café Wenling’s trendiest café right now, perched on a cliff with ocean views and even a retro train carriage inside. The ¥68 entry includes a drink – totally worth it for the photo ops! 5️⃣ Dongqian Lake Ningbo’s "backyard garden" lives up to its name! Highlights include Little Putuo and Limin Village, the latter dotted with lakeside cafés and guesthouses reminiscent of Erhai. Little Putuo exudes pure relaxation – lakeside picnics with kids are magical. 🚗 Drive Times: Shanghai → Wenling: ~5 hrs Wenling → Dongqian Lake: ~2 hrs Dongqian Lake → Shanghai: ~3 hrs 🚗 The overall drive is lengthy, but renting an SUV via Car Rental was hassle-free (they deliver!). Summer discounts start at 40% off, plus invite friends for a chance to win ¥1088 free. We opted for an EV – affordable rental + fuel savings, and modern EVs with assisted driving made long trips comfortable. Charging in Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai is a breeze! 🍜 Don’t miss Ningbo’s fresh seafood or Wenling’s seafood noodles – both destinations are foodie paradises. Lastly, wishing everyone their own perfect Wenling · Taizhou adventure! 🌊