7 Days in Longnan

Wudu, the prefecture seat on the Bailong river; the karst cave about 10 km out of town cools the afternoon, and the riverside promenade runs to peppercorn-scented food stalls.

1. longnan wanxiang cave
2. longnan bailong riverfront

About 100 km north to Dangchang — the national 5A area's Guanzhu valley strings green lakes and falls below peaks near 4,000 m; sleep in the county town, some 5 km from the gate.

1. longnan guanegou

A second day inside the park for the Eman valley, quieter and meadow-topped, with boardwalks toward the high basins; another county-town night keeps the pace unhurried.

1. longnan guanegou

About 35 km down the valley, the memorial and preserved old street correspond to the September 1935 halt when newspapers found here set the Red Army's course — a quiet, factual visit — then the drive back to Wudu.

1. longnan hadapu memorial

A long southern day — the mountain lake sits near 1,700 m in forested folds some three hours from Wudu, then the river town of Bikou below, an old ferry head on the Sichuan trade route; sleep in Bikou.

1. longnan wenxian tianchi
2. longnan bikou ancient town

Across into Kang County, Yangba's subtropical folds and the Meiyuan valley make one of Gansu's few tea-growing corners; terraced rows, gorge boardwalks and a village lunch, overnight toward Chengxian.

1. longnan yangba

The Eastern Han cliff inscription of 171 AD — one of the "Three Odes" of Han calligraphy — inside the Xixia gorge, then Jifeng's forest paths; Chengxian holds both the railway stop and the prefecture's airport, opened in 2018.

1. longnan xixia song
2. longnan jifeng mountain