Where to go for a 3-day, 2-night trip to avoid crowds? Add these to your itinerary!
🌿 Cool plateau destinations
1. Liupanshui, Guizhou
Highlights: Average summer temperature of 19℃, known as the "Cool City." Features alpine grasslands, forests, and lakes. Rich festivals with few tourists.
Best time: Early July – late September
Transportation: High-speed rail directly to Liupanshui Station from across the country. Take a shared car from the city to the grassland scenic area. Self-driving offers more flexibility.
Must-visit: Wumeng Grassland, Yuyuhai Mountain Train, Jiucaiping, Shuicheng Ancient Town.
Photo guide: Shoot portraits from a low angle against the windmill grassland, capture dynamic shots of the small train on the tracks, photograph the high-mountain cloud sea at sunrise.
Cuisine: Shuicheng lamb noodles, Guizhou hot pot, Panxian ham, buckwheat jelly.
Tips: Bring a jacket as temperatures drop sharply in the evening on the grassland. Do not climb cliffs casually. Be wary of low-priced horseback riding promotions by the roadside.
Accommodation: Well-equipped chain hotels in the city. Many scenic B&Bs in the grassland area with terraces, quiet at night for stargazing.
2. Arxan, Inner Mongolia
Highlights: A small border town in the Greater Khingan Mountains, integrating forests, volcanoes, and sky lakes. Cool from July to September, with vibrant autumn colors in September.
Best time: July – mid-to-late September
Transportation: Fly to Arxan Airport, or take a train to Arxan Station. Charter a car in the city to tour the forest park.
Must-visit: Arxan Tianchi, Bu Dong River, Tuofengling Tianchi, Bailang Deer Park.
Photo guide: Backlit shots of birch forests, mirror reflections on the river, strong atmospheric shots in the early morning mist.
Cuisine: Hand-torn lamb, assorted wild vegetables, milk skin, wild fruit jam.
Tips: The forest park is large, plan your route in advance. No signal in mountainous areas, prepare offline maps. Open fires are prohibited in the wild.
Accommodation: Modern hotels are available in the city. The scenic area mainly features log cabins in the forest, with good sound insulation and pine forests outside the window.
🏞️ Mountain and canyon summer retreats
3. Lichuan, Hubei
Highlights: A natural summer resort city in western Hubei. Caves maintain a constant temperature of 18℃. Qiyueshan Grassland is vast. No air conditioning needed in midsummer.
Best time: July – all of September
Transportation: High-speed rail directly to Lichuan Station. There are special scenic area buses at the station. Roads to Qiyueshan are smooth for self-driving.
Must-visit: Tenglong Cave, Qiyueshan Windmill Grassland, Sumadang Trail, Fobaoshan Canyon.
Photo guide: Use lighting to compose shots inside the cave, low-angle shots of the sloping meadows along the windmill road, slow-shutter photography of streams.
Cuisine: Tujia cured meat hot pot, Enshi small potatoes, Hezha, Baiyang dried tofu.
Tips: The temperature difference in the cave is large, easy to catch a cold. Slow down on winding mountain roads. Do not pick unknown wild mushrooms.
Accommodation: Many business hotels in the urban area. Farmhouses and mountain-view B&Bs are common in the mountain areas. Many rooms are cool even without air conditioning.
4. Chongzuo, Guangxi
Highlights: Karst peaks paired with transnational waterfalls. Dense waterways provide a cool feel. Unique border customs, low tourist density.
Best time: Mid-July – late September
Transportation: High-speed rail to Chongzuo South Station. Take a taxi or shared car from the city to Detian Waterfall and Mingshi Pastoral.
Must-visit: Detian Transnational Waterfall, Mingshi Pastoral, Taiping Ancient City, E Spring.
Photo guide: Eye-level shots of peaks and water from a bamboo raft, reflections of ancient city lights on the water at night, distant compositions of border markers.
Cuisine: Vietnamese spring rolls, river fish pot, loquat noodles, Zhuang five-color glutinous rice.
Tips: Do not approach steep riverbanks during flood season. Choose private guides around scenic areas carefully. Do not cross the border into controlled areas.
Accommodation: Well-equipped hotels in the county. Riverside B&Bs are dominant in the pastoral area, with balconies directly facing karst peaks.
🌊 Coastal leisure towns
5. Shanwei, Guangdong
Highlights: A less-known coastline in eastern Guangdong. Beaches are gentle and clean. Seafood is affordable and fresh. Avoid the crowded coastal areas of the Pearl River Delta.
Best time: Late July – September (September is best for seafood)
Transportation: High-speed rail from Guangzhou and Shenzhen directly to Shanwei Station in 1 hour. Rent an electric scooter at the station for island tours.
Must-visit: Red Bay Zhulang Peninsula, Windmill Island, Fengshan Ancestral Temple, Ermalu Food Street.
Photo guide: Capture the two-color sea on both sides of the peninsula in one frame, backlit silhouettes on the sunset coastline, humanistic shots of fishing ports and boats.
Cuisine: Shanwei pancakes, Spanish mackerel fish balls, seafood porridge, salted tea.
Tips: Check typhoon warnings in advance. Reefs by the sea are slippery. Try to choose restaurants with clearly marked prices for seafood stalls.
Accommodation: Dense affordable hotels in the city. Fisherman's inns and sea-view B&Bs by the sea. Some rooms have private sea-view balconies.
6. Weihai, Shandong
Highlights: The coastal road features a long stretch of "jellyfish" sea. Rocky coastlines make for artistic photos. September's fishing season offers excellent value for seafood.
Best time: July – late September
Transportation: High-speed rail to Weihai Station. City buses cover major attractions. Self-driving along the coastal road offers a better experience.
Must-visit: Maotou Mountain, Naxianghai, Huoju Bajie, Yangma Island.
Photo guide: Overlook the sea from the cliffside boardwalk, use the road extending forward as a leading line in compositions, warm-toned portraits on the sunset coast.
Cuisine: Mackerel dumplings, Weihai menzi, seaweed buns, various fresh small seafood.
Tips: Parking spaces by the sea are tight during peak season. Do not climb seaside cliffs casually. Be wary of street vendors shortchanging customers.
Accommodation: Well-equipped chain hotels in the city. Many luxurious sea-view apartments around Huoju Bajie and the coastal area, within walking distance to the beach.
🏕️ Grassland and wilderness towns
7. Duolun, Inner Mongolia
Highlights: A preferred short-distance grassland destination near Beijing. Duolun Lake has clear waters, lush grasslands, and comfortable temperatures. No need to travel deep into Inner Mongolia.
Best time: Early July – mid-to-late September
Transportation: 4-hour drive from Beijing, or train to Duolun Station. Take a taxi or rent a car in the county.
Must-visit: Duolun Lake, Huizong Temple, Xishan Bay, Grassland Skiing Camp.
Photo guide: Side shots of the lake and grassy slopes from the lakeside road, the lake dyed red by the sunset in the evening, backlit silhouettes of horseback riding.
Cuisine: Copper pot lamb offal, oat noodles, Mongolian milk tea, roasted lamb ribs.
Tips: Refuse roadside ultra-low-priced horseback riding projects. Do not drive over pristine grasslands. Prepare mosquito repellent as there are many mosquitoes in summer and autumn.
Accommodation: Mature hotel facilities in the county. Yurts on the lakeside grassland and scenic B&Bs are available. Quiet at night, suitable for stargazing.
🏯 Cultural ancient city slow travel
8. Jianshui, Yunnan
Highlights: A warm and humid plateau ancient city in eastern Yunnan. Concentrated Ming and Qing ancient buildings. The meter-gauge train is retro and nostalgic. Comfortable in summer, not stuffy or damp.
Best time: July – late September
Transportation: High-speed rail directly to Jianshui Station. Shared electric bikes and sightseeing cars are available in the county. Short-distance self-driving offers flexibility.
Must-visit: Jianshui Small Train, Zhu Family Garden, Chaoyang Tower, Daban Well, Shuanglong Bridge.
Photo guide: Symmetrical reflections of ancient bridges on the water, French-style small train passing through fields, ancient-style portraits in ancient city streets.
Cuisine: Jianshui grilled tofu, Crossing-the-Bridge noodles, grass sprouts, steam pot chicken.
Tips: Some private courtyards in the ancient city charge fees, inquire in advance. Do not touch wooden carvings of ancient buildings casually.
Accommodation: The ancient city mainly features Qing Dynasty courtyard B&Bs with strong wooden carving atmosphere. High-value chain hotels are available outside the city.