National Day "reverse travel" is a huge win! Four niche cities around the Yangtze River Delta: fewer crowds, beautiful scenery!
Don't want to squeeze into Wuzhen, Xitang, or the main attractions in Yangzhou during the National Day holiday? Avoid the popular influencer hotspots. These 4 small cities in the Yangtze River Delta have few tourists, affordable prices, and are accessible by direct high-speed train without traffic jams. They cover landscapes, ancient villages, canals, and forests, perfect for a relaxing vacation.
1. Gaoyou, Jiangsu | An ancient canal city bustling with local life, avoiding the Yangzhou crowds
Reason to avoid crowds
Close to Yangzhou but almost no tour groups. An original ancient city on the Grand Canal. Most old town streets are free, prices are very low. The water town life described by Wang Zengqi remains peaceful during the National Day holiday.
Transportation
1. High-speed train (preferred)
Shanghai Hongqiao → Gaoyou Station, about 1h 20min; Nanjing → Gaoyou only 22 minutes. Second-class seats are 40–110 yuan. Plenty of trains, easier to book tickets for the National Day holiday.
2. Driving
About 2.5h from Shanghai, all highway, free parking at attractions.
3. Local transport
Taxi from the high-speed train station to Nanmen Street is only 15 minutes; old town attractions are concentrated, walkable + shared bikes are enough to explore.
3-day, 2-night itinerary
Day 1: Arrive → Morning tea on Nanmen Street → Check in at Yucheng Post (the best-preserved Ming Dynasty post station in the country), visit the ancient post office to get a commemorative stamp. In the evening, walk to the canal embankment and wait for the sunset at the ancient pagoda in the middle of the lake at Zhenguo Temple.
Day 2: Take a boat at Zhuhu Small Town to tour the reed wetlands. The reed flowers on the lake are dense, perfect for taking photos of the water town. In the afternoon, visit Wenyoutai, walk through the old streets, and visit local shops—no influencer shops here.
Day 3: Sleep in, visit the old town wet market, buy salted duck eggs with oily yolks as souvenirs, and head back slowly.
Must-try food
Gaoyou pouch meat, crab roe soup dumplings, Wang tofu, hot dried tofu, red-hearted oily salted duck eggs. Street shops cost about 50 yuan per person to get full.
Accommodation tips
Prioritize homestays in the old town near Nanmen Street. National Day room rates are only 200–350 yuan, avoiding the price hikes of major attractions.
2. Songyang, Zhejiang | The last secret realm of Jiangnan, ancient villages with zero commercialization
Reason to avoid crowds
Avoid the crowds of Wuzhen and Hongcun. A niche mountain city in southern Zhejiang. Most ancient villages don't charge admission, almost no tour groups, very few tourists during the National Day holiday, perfect for relaxing in the mountains.
Transportation
1. High-speed train
Shanghai/Hangzhou → Songyang Station, 2.5h direct, no transfer needed.
2. Driving
2h from Hangzhou, 3h from Shanghai; mountain roads from the county to the ancient villages are gentle, suitable for beginners.
3. Local transport
Taxi from the county to Chenjiapu Village is about 40 minutes; driving is best for connecting between ancient villages.
3-day, 2-night itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Songyang County, walk through Songyang Old Street, eat local snacks. In the afternoon, head to Chenjiapu Village, check in at the cliffside Pioneer Bookstore, watch the sunset over the mountain village in the evening, and sleep to the sound of the mountain breeze at night.
Day 2: Wake up early and go to the golden ancient village of Yangjiatang. The autumn scenery of yellow mud rammed earth walls and terraced fields is stunning, perfect for pastoral photos. In the afternoon, head to Shuangtong Mountain Scenic Area, walk the glass skywalk, check out the strange peaks and rocks, and get some fresh air in the forest.
Day 3: Cycling at Damushan Tea Garden. The ten-thousand-acre tea fields are vast and empty, perfect for relaxing. Head back slowly in the afternoon.
Must-try food
Fermented intestine noodles, farmhouse stewed chicken, salt-baked chicken, handmade rice cakes. Farmhouse restaurants in the mountains cost about 60 yuan per person.
Accommodation tips
For ultimate relaxation, stay at a homestay in Chenjiapu Ancient Village; for value, stay at a hotel in Songyang County, where National Day price hikes are minimal.
3. Langxi, Anhui | A niche secret realm in eastern Anhui, enjoy both grasslands and tea mountains
Reason to avoid crowds
A niche small city on the edge of the Yangtze River Delta. Very few tourists during the National Day holiday. You can visit tea mountains and take photos with the Northwest-style atmosphere of grasslands and lakes without squeezing into the popular ancient villages of southern Anhui.
Transportation
1. High-speed train
Shanghai South → Langxi South Station, about 1h 26min, frequent trains, sufficient ticket supply.
2. Driving
2h from Shanghai, 1.5h from Nanjing, all highway.
3. Local transport
20-minute drive from the county to Yangxingu. Public transport is infrequent, so driving is recommended.
3-day, 2-night itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Langxi County, visit Jinghu Park for free. The Hui-style covered bridges and lake scenery are great for walking and taking photos. Explore the county night market in the evening.
Day 2: Spend the whole day at Dafoshan Yangxingu. Climb to the top to overlook the ten-thousand-acre golden tea garden, take the cable car to overlook the bamboo sea, and check out the popular paper umbrella corridor. The family park can be played for a whole day, and most areas are free, offering great value.
Day 3: Drive to Xinhua Village, check out the grasslands, lakes, and herds of cattle and sheep to take "Little Altay" style photos. Head back in the afternoon.
Must-try food
Southern Anhui local dishes: bamboo shoot stir-fry with pork, farmhouse chicken, fermented rice steamed buns, dried sweet potatoes. Local restaurants cost about 50 yuan per person.
Accommodation tips
County hotels offer great value, around 200 yuan. For a mountain stay, choose a wooden cabin homestay around Yangxingu for peace and quiet.
4. Dongtai, Jiangsu | Forest + ancient town, a coastal city with fewer people
Reason to avoid crowds
Avoid the crowds of Zhoushan and Qidong. A niche coastal city in northern Jiangsu. Dual experience of ancient town + forest. The live performances are spectacular. Far fewer tourists during the National Day holiday compared to cities in southern Jiangsu, and no price hikes for accommodation.
Transportation
1. High-speed train
Shanghai Hongqiao → Dongtai Station, about 2h; 2.5h from Nanjing.
2. Driving
3h from Shanghai, free parking at all attractions.
3. Local transport
Taxi from the high-speed train station to Xixi Scenic Area is only 10 minutes; driving is recommended for visiting the Yellow Sea Forest Park.
3-day, 2-night itinerary
Day 1: After arriving, head straight to Xixi Tourism and Culture Scenic Area, visit the free Xixi Ancient Town, and check in at the popular romantic photo spots. Watch the "Tianxian Yuan" live performance in the evening, with lights + fireworks for a great atmosphere.
Day 2: Spend the whole day at Yellow Sea Forest Park, the largest artificial forest in East China. Take the forest train through the misty forest, cycle among the trees, and camp for fresh air. Japanese-style film photos are easy to take here, and there are no queues during the National Day holiday.
Day 3: Visit the Dong Yong and Seven Fairies Cultural Park, check out the old locust tree and Magpie Bridge. Head back in the afternoon.
Must-try food
Dongtai fish soup noodles, Dongtai crispy cakes, seafood snacks. Old street snacks cost about 30 yuan per person to get full.
Accommodation tips
Homestays around Xixi Scenic Area offer great value; for a forest stay, choose the Yellow Sea Forest wooden cabins and book in advance.
Summary
If you want a cultural canal route: choose Gaoyou; if you want to relax in the mountains and ancient villages: choose Songyang; if you want to drive and take photos in the wild: choose Langxi; if you want a forest + ancient town leisure vacation: choose Dongtai. All four small cities avoid the National Day crowds, are accessible by direct high-speed train, have friendly prices, and offer great value for reverse travel!