Yongtai Qingyun Mountain · Songkou Ancient Town

Qingyun Mountain (gorge waterfall cluster / Jiutian Waterfall), Songkou Ancient Town (a National Historic and Cultural Town of China, Ming-Qing old streets with the Crane-shaped Road, hometown of Zhang Yuanqian). Qingyun Mountain is famed for its gorge waterfall cluster: Jiutian Waterfall drops in several tiers from the cliff top, the Yuntian Stone Corridor spirals up the sheer cliff, and the mountain stays pleasantly cool in summer. Facing the green hills is Songkou Ancient Town — a National Historic and Cultural Town of China — whose Ming-Qing lanes by the Dazhang River are laid out in a "crane shape", with Hexing (Crane-shaped) Road winding like a crane's neck; the town is the hometown of Southern Song poet Zhang Yuanqian, and the old ferry crossing, the arcade-lined main street and the scholarly-farming heritage of Yuezhou Village are well preserved. Scenery at Qingyun Mountain, culture at Songkou — the two are about 20 minutes apart by car, forming a one-day Yongtai itinerary best in spring or autumn.

Getting there: Yongtai bus / self-drive