Weaving Our Own Summer Joy: A Self-Drive Adventure Through Yunnan

The cicadas hadn't yet begun their summer chorus, but the sticky, oppressive air had already settled over southern Sichuan. As the mercury crept higher day by day, the urge to "escape the heat" became impossible to ignore. A road trip was our ideal choice—convenient, refreshing, and something the whole family could enjoy. After several rounds of scrapping and reworking plans, we finally locked in our destination: Yunnan.

This time, we decided on Fuxian Lake. Though my mother, my niece, and I had all been there before, we'd never truly taken the time to soak in its beauty. My husband didn't mind either way—he'd never been. In addition to Fuxian Lake, we planned to stop by Jianshui on the way, and considering my mother's health, we chose the relatively close Huize as our return stopover. A perfect route began to take shape in my mind.

Pre-Trip Preparations: A Carefully Budgeted Journey

Travel is never about impulsive decisions; it's the art of careful planning. As early as July, I started scouring the internet for guesthouses and hotels, with a clear goal—affordable yet not lacking in quality. In the end, the accommodations I booked in Fuxian Lake, Jianshui, and Huize all came with pleasantly surprising price tags. During the summer holidays, to snag such deals, I couldn't help but give myself a mental pat on the back.

Our bags were packed, snacks and drinks were stocked up, the car was checked, and everything was ready. We just had to wait for July 13th to arrive. Our story of joy was about to begin.

Day One: The Journey Itself Is the Scenery

Expense Breakdown: - Fuel: 225 yuan - Tolls: 513 yuan - Snacks and drinks: 181 yuan - Dinner: 105 yuan - Guesthouse (three nights): 550 yuan - Total: 1,574 yuan

The day of departure finally came. The morning air was thick with anticipation. We woke up early and hit the highway at 8:45 AM. Destination: Fuxian Lake in central Yunnan.

Outside the window, the sky shifted from brilliant blue to heavy gray. Fat raindrops pounded against the car, as if the heavens were playing a symphonic overture just for us. One moment we were marveling at the shifting clouds, the next watching the raindrops dance, all while casually munching on snacks. The joy of travel often hides in these small, fleeting moments.

After covering 783 kilometers, we finally exited the highway. Wildflowers by the roadside immediately caught our attention. Even with just a ten-minute break, we had to capture the play of light and shadow.

At 6:10 PM, we arrived at our accommodation by Fuxian Lake. This guesthouse offered incredible value—just 550 yuan for three nights, with free parking. Once we settled in, I couldn't wait to take credit from the family, and they all agreed it was a great choice. Okay, fine, my head swelled a little.

Right across from the guesthouse was Moon Bay Wetland Park, surrounded by a wealth of dining options—a perfect location. After dropping our bags, our growling stomachs drove us out to find food. A ten-minute walk led us to a fried skewer shop known only to locals—I'd seen it recommended by a blogger on Douyin (China's TikTok). Navigate to "Yijiu Village Primary School," take the small path beside it, turn left, then left again, and you'll see the Great Buddha Temple. The shop is five meters beside it, in Yijiu Group Five. No signboard, just word of mouth.

My niece posed playfully, pretending to drink beer. The shop was filled entirely with locals—we were the only out-of-towners. At that moment, I knew we'd picked the right place. The skewers were fried but not greasy, and dipped in chili powder or tomato sauce, they were absolutely delicious. The four of us spent 105 yuan (including two bottles of beer at 18 yuan each) and still couldn't finish—our appetites were pathetic. We strolled back to the guesthouse under the glow of streetlights, surrounded by the aroma of street food. Our first night by Fuxian Lake: happiness rating, four stars.

Day Two: Surprises and Regrets at Fuxian Lake

Expense Breakdown: - Breakfast: 32 yuan - Grapes: 4 yuan - Luchong Scenic Area entrance fee: 15 yuan - Lunch: 196 yuan - Dinner: 180 yuan - Car charging: 8 yuan - Total: 435 yuan

Fuxian Lake sits at the intersection of Chengjiang City, Jiangchuan District, and Huaning County, just over 60 kilometers from Kunming. Covering 212 square kilometers, it's the third-largest lake in Yunnan, after Dianchi and Erhai. At its deepest, it reaches 155 meters, making it the deepest lake in Yunnan and the largest deep-water freshwater lake in China. Its water storage capacity is 18.5 billion cubic meters—four times the combined volume of Dianchi and Erhai. People say Erhai is for the world, but Fuxian Lake is reserved for Yunnan.

A bowl of rice noodle rolls (juanfen) kicked off a beautiful day. Breakfast for the whole family cost just 32 yuan. We quickly realized that the older and younger members couldn't finish a full bowl each, so for the rest of the trip, we ordered only three bowls. A bunch of grapes cost a mere 4 yuan—such a heartwarming price.

On the way to Red Sand Beach, the car stereo played "Running," and the lyrics matched our mood perfectly: "Running with the wind, freedom is the direction, chasing the power of thunder and lightning..." But when we got to Red Sand Beach, we couldn't drive in—the entrance was two kilometers from the shore. Under the blazing sun, even renting a four-person bike seemed too exhausting, so we had to give up. Travel always has its unexpected twists—isn't that a metaphor for life?

We pivoted to Luchong Scenic Area, where only I paid the 15-yuan entrance fee (everyone else got in free). Boxi Bay was nearly empty. My niece played with a water gun, endlessly repeating the cycle of spraying and sucking up water, perfectly content for a full hour. The temperature was only around 30°C (86°F), but the UV rays were brutal. I braved the sun to take photos, striking all sorts of awkward poses just to capture the happy moments of our journey.

For lunch, we went to Chengjiang Niba Restaurant. It was packed, the food was decent, but the service was just so-so. Coming to Yunnan without ordering a plate of wild mushrooms would be a disservice to the long journey. The mint pork ribs became my niece's absolute favorite.

In the afternoon, we headed to the eastern side of Fuxian Lake in search of the famous S-curve. On the way, we passed the Hilton Hotel, which had a perfect location—we had to stop for photos. My niece's photo-taking moods swung from adorable to downright weird, and I had to rely on my non-professional photographer's instincts to capture the moment. My husband spent most of the time on work calls, and when he finally rejoined us, he managed to snap a few shots of me. We spent 40 minutes on one staircase, and my husband still says he'll never understand the "women's world."

The S-curve turned out to be just a winding uphill road along the mountainside. Some spots offered views, and there were a few makeshift coffee stands along the way, but honestly, it was underwhelming. Disappointment was inevitable, but it didn't dampen our spirits. As long as we're with family, anywhere is fun.

On the way back, a cloud shaped like an elephant's head added a touch of whimsy to the journey. We rested until sunset, then went to "Yilu Piaoxiang BBQ" for dinner. The flavors hit the spot, though the price was slightly higher than the night before. We tried swordfish for the first time—the meat was tender, and fried, it was wonderfully fragrant. My husband and I shared a few drinks, and it was another joy-filled day. Happiness rating: four stars.

Day Three: A Museum Adventure

Expense Breakdown: - Breakfast: 24 yuan - Mangoes: 6 yuan - Plums: 8 yuan - Lunch: 24 yuan - Car charging: 5.5 yuan - Dinner: 142 yuan - Total: 210.5 yuan

Breakfast was a bowl of rice noodles (ersi). Carbs bring happiness, but also pounds. Outside the breakfast shop, a local was selling produce from a small stall. The wild mushrooms looked great, but we couldn't buy them now. We also spotted peppers that looked like baby pumpkins. Three pounds of mangoes cost just 6 yuan—an absolute steal.

Our first stop was the Chengjiang Fossil Site Museum. As China's first and Asia's only fossil-based World Heritage site, it preserves the core area of the Cambrian biota fossils. Since its discovery by Professor Hou Xianguang on July 1, 1984, over 280 species of rare Cambrian flora and fauna fossils from 20 phyla have been found, 80% of which are new species. Almost all ancestors of modern animal phyla can be found here, earning it the title "Paleontological Holy Land" from the international scientific community.

The museum has three floors and integrates fossil collection, research, display, and education. What impressed me most was the Kunming fish (Myllokunmingia)—one of the oldest vertebrates on Earth, considered a common ancestor of all vertebrates, including humans. It lived during the Cambrian period, about 2.8 cm long and 6 mm tall, making it the highest-order animal fossil known from the early stages of life on Earth.

The fossil wall in the main hall is the museum's largest exhibit—an actual stratum containing Chengjiang fossils, like a wordless book spanning 500 million years. Back then, the land beneath our feet was a vast ocean. The ancestors of almost all animals swam freely here until a violent geological disaster buried them in mud, forming today's fossils. We searched the wall for a long time but only found a few fossils, marveling at the wonder of Earth's evolution.

For lunch, we stopped at a small local shop for cold rice noodles (liang mixian), cold rice roll noodles (liang juanfen), and soybean flour treats—all for just 24 yuan. At the market across the street, we bought nearly two pounds of plums for 8 yuan. They were incredibly sweet.

In the afternoon, we visited Mafang Village Wetland Park, another large sandy beach near Fuxian Lake. The sand was too hot, and even my niece didn't dare to dig barefoot. She found a shaded spot and started digging, only to end up with stones instead of sand. My husband lounged in the shade, watching over her, perfectly content. Meanwhile, my mother and I bravely ventured onto the beach, leaving footprints under the scorching sun.

By the lake, people swam, played, walked their dogs, and took photos. We were clearly the last group. The sun blazed down on us, but for the sake of photos, we endured. We posed, gazed at the lake, and after a short loop, couldn't take it anymore. We quickly found a shady tree to escape the sun's glare, snapping pictures of wildflowers along the way.

We returned to the guesthouse at 3:24 PM. Looking at Moon Bay Wetland Park, shimmering in the heat, I asked my niece if she wanted to dig in the sand. She waved her hands frantically: "In this scorching sun? No way, I'm not stupid." So we rested until 6:12 PM before heading out again.

For dinner, we enjoyed steam pot chicken (qiguo ji). This iconic Yunnan dish dates back to the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, invented by chef Yang Li from Jianshui County. Originally called "upright steam chicken," it gets its name from the locally made earthenware steam pot used for cooking. The marble stove was the pot itself—I initially thought another pot needed to go on top. Clearly, I hadn't seen much of the world.

After dinner, we wanted to watch the sunset at Moon Bay Wetland Park, but it was already closed. The closest spot, and we couldn't go—another twist in our journey. Keeping our spirits up, we strolled around the guesthouse complex. My niece was full of energy, directing everyone to pose for photos, and thus our first "split-body group photo" was born. Happiness doesn't require beautiful scenery; it just needs the right people by your side.

On the way back, we accidentally captured a breathtaking sunset. The day ended on a perfect note. Happiness rating: four stars.

Day Four: Farewell to Fuxian Lake, Hello Jianshui

Expense Breakdown: - Tolls: 44 yuan - Lunch: 40 yuan - Parking: 5 yuan - Water: 20 yuan - Dried fruit and peanuts: 48 yuan - Creative souvenir ice cream: 15 yuan - Entrance fees: 33 yuan (others free) - Taxi: 8 yuan - Dinner: 240 yuan - Guesthouse (two nights): 360 yuan - Total: 813 yuan

In the morning, we packed up and waited for my husband to finish work calls. Bored, I started taking selfies, and my niece's photo-taking instinct kicked in—she insisted on joining me. I pulled back the curtain and asked if she wanted to go to Moon Bay across the street. She waved her hands again: "No, no, I'm not stupid."

Once everything was sorted, we set off for Jianshui. Before getting on the highway, we took one last drive-by look at Fuxian Lake's scenery. Two hours later, we arrived in Jianshui.

We navigated straight to Zengji Banjie Tofu Workshop. The ground floor was a tofu workshop, where all the stuffed tofu (baojiang tofu) was being made fresh. The second floor was the dining area—small but packed, since it had been featured on China Central Television (CCTV). The seating fee was 5 yuan per person, including unlimited soy milk and tofu pudding (douhua), with free refills. Takeaway cost extra. The soy milk was rich, the tofu pudding silky, and the stuffed tofu and tofu skin were delicious. The fried dough sticks (youtiao) were crispy without being greasy. The only letdown was the dried tofu, which tasted a bit like fried fat—too oily. The prices were slightly higher than outside, but the craftsmanship and reputation justified it, given its status as an intangible cultural heritage item.

After eating, we followed the route of the narrow-gauge tourist train—Tuanshan Village, Xianghui Bridge, and Shuanglong Bridge—stopping to look, admire, and photograph. Tuanshan Village is a complex of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republic of China era, known for its well-preserved traditional southern Yunnan residences and multicultural fusion. It was first built during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, originally a Yi ethnic settlement. Later, the Zhang family, immigrants from Jiangxi, grew wealthy through trade and built large estates in the late Qing Dynasty. Covering about 18,000 square meters, it includes 15 traditional residences, three village gates, three temples, and one ancestral hall.

In front of the General's Mansion (Jiangjun Di), my husband posed for a masked photo. Built in the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905), the mansion covers 880 square meters with a floor area of 958 square meters, featuring seven courtyards and 38 rooms. The builder, Zhang He, led the people in quelling bandit unrest during the Xinhai Linyi Uprising and was awarded the plaque "General's Mansion" by Yunnan military governor Cai E.

The Zhang Family Garden complex covers 10,000 square meters, blending Central Plains Han-style architecture with Yi ethnic flat-roofed houses. It features a "four-courtyard, five-skywell" layout, with exquisite wood and brick carvings. The ancestral hall, beams, and pillars are inscribed with family mottos, creating an atmosphere of moral education. Even now, it looks stunning—one can only imagine its former splendor.

An oil-paper umbrella in a corner provided endless "creative inspiration" for us. In the alleyways, local vendors sold dried fruit and raw peanuts that were delicious. The friendly vendor explained the layout of the master bedroom—the second floor had a corridor connecting the entire second floor of the Zhang Family Garden, allowing the owners to stroll without stepping outside, unaffected by rain or bad weather. It seems that throughout history, the lives of the wealthy have always been beyond our imagination.

The Meaning of Travel: Finding Joy in the Unexpected

Over five days, there were surprises and regrets, sunshine and rain, laughter and exhaustion. But it was these small moments that wove together our happiest summer memories.

The crystal-clear waters of Fuxian Lake, the ancient charm of Jianshui, the tranquility of Huize—each stop left its own story. And the unexpected twists—the Red Sand Beach we couldn't reach, the closed wetland park, the lotus pond without any lotus flowers—became the most memorable talking points.

As the song we heard on the road goes: "Running with the wind, freedom is the direction, chasing the power of thunder and lightning." Travel is like life. What matters isn't the destination, but who you're with and the attitude you bring to everything along the way.

The joy of summer doesn't need to be written by anyone else. It's in our own hands—in the courage to set out, in the unplanned moments, and in every second spent with family.

Travel Tips: - For Fuxian Lake accommodation, choose somewhere near Moon Bay Wetland Park—great value and convenient - Luchong Scenic Area entrance fee is 15 yuan, with free entry for certain groups - Spend at least half a day at the Chengjiang Fossil Site Museum, especially if traveling with kids - The creative souvenir ice cream at Jianshui's Tuanshan Village is good for photos, but the taste is just okay - At Zengji Banjie Tofu Workshop, the soy milk and tofu pudding are unlimited refills—excellent value - Yunnan's UV rays are intense during summer; be sure to use sun protection

May your summer be filled with stories of joy that you weave yourself.