Yinghu Lake floating, Ankang

Ankang city is situated in the south part of Shaanxi Province, 380 kilometers away from Xian. You can get there by soft seat train N360/N357 (12:34 to 17:29) or 4910/4907 (16:50 to 21:17) at the cost of about CNY61.00 net per ticket, and the journey takes about 5 hours. Ankang is a city with four distinct seasons. The best time to visit Ankang is in spring and autumn when it is neither too cold nor too hot.

Upon arrival, please lodge yourself in a local hotel. For your information, Jiuhua Hotel (2 stars; Add: Middle Jiangbei Avenue; Tel: 0915 - 2236118) is located 500 meters away from the railway station. The most attractive scenic spots in Ankang are Yinghu Lake (admission fee: CNY60.00net per person) and Xiangxi Cave (admission fee: CNY8.00 net per person).

The Yinghu Lake is located at the foot of the Mountain Tianzhushan which is 18 kilometers southwest of the urban area. You can reach there by tourist bus from Anhuo bus stop at the cost of around CNY8.00 net per person in about 40 minutes. Or you may rent a taxi to get to the sightseeing spot, which will cost you about CNY40.00 net. With 540 kilometers in perimeter and 77.5 square kilometers in water area, Yinghu Lake was formed due to the construction of Ankang hydropower station in 1992 and is claimed to be the largest man-made freshwater lake in northwest China. A group of small islands spread on Yinghu Lake, among which the most famous are Golden Spiral Shell Island, Golden Leaf Island, Juxian Island and Cuiping Island. You could rent a boat or share a boat with other travelers, placing you into the picturesque scenery - the green hills and the crystal clear water, away from any industrial pollution. It will take you about 3 hours for touring the Yinghu Lake. You are suggested to have lunch at a restaurant on one of the islands to taste the local flavor. Return to the city area by the tourist bus.

Yinghu Lake, Ankang

For the afternoon, you are advised to visit the Xiangxi Cave Scenic Area, which is only 3 kilometers to the south of Ankang city. It is very convenient for you to take a taxi (about CNY6.00 net) for about 10 minutes to get there. Xiangxi Cave is a garden scenic area boasting flourishing vegetation and ancient Tang Dynasty buildings repaired in Ming and Qing dynasties. According to the legend, it was said that one of the eight immortals, Lv Dongbin, has cultivated himself with vital energy by Taoist religious doctrine and finally turned into an immortal. People can't help imagining the religious life of the ancients while seeing those various lifelike Taoist statues. In early spring, the flower fragrance spreads far and wide, filled with the valley. There you can experience the beauty of natural scenery and appreciate the classic Chinese featured constructions. In recent years, the scenic area has been well remedied. Kiosks, thatched cottages, ladders, pavilions and caves, bridges and statues are all repainted and repaired. It is more beautiful and attractive than ever.

In the next morning, you can take soft seat train 4908/4909 (07:30 to11:59) back to Xian. Or you may soft seat train 4905 (07:50 to12:30) at the cost of CNY31.00 net per ticket to Hanzhong, where you can visit many ancient sightseeing spots.