Where's the best place to go? Add these to your travel plans
🌊 Yanji, Jilin
Yanji: A small city with exotic Korean ethnic charm, bustling with street food, comfortable in August, and an immersive border experience
✅ Best time to visit: All of August. Comfortable day and night. Avoid the midday sun; evenings are great for strolling and eating
🚗 Transportation: Yanji West High-Speed Railway Station. Use e-bikes or taxis within the city; carpooling is best for suburban spots
🎒 Summer must-dos: Yanbian University "bullet screen" wall, Korean Folk Custom Park, Mao'er Mountain, Water Market, and Tumen border check-in
📸 Photo tips: Night view of the "bullet screen" wall, portraits in traditional Korean ethnic costumes at the Folk Custom Park, and panoramic city views from the mountain observation deck
🍜 Food: Cold noodles, bibimbap (stone pot rice), Korean-style BBQ, rice cakes, and soybean paste soup
⚠️ Travel tips: Compare prices when renting costumes at the Folk Custom Park; go to the Water Market as early as possible; be cautious about buying overpriced local specialties
🏞 Hechi, Guangxi
Hechi: A niche landscape hidden gem in northwest Guangxi, featuring karst waters and peaks. Few tourists, making it a great place for water activities and escaping the heat in August
✅ Best time to visit: August. Plenty of rain makes the landscape lush and green. Expect occasional showers, so bring rain gear
🚗 Transportation: Hechi High-Speed Railway Station. Attractions are spread out; self-driving or short-distance carpooling is recommended
🎒 Summer must-dos: Sanmenhai, Xiangbei Shangri-La, Sanli Yangdu, Huixian Mountain, and the Longjiang River banks
📸 Photo tips: Karst cave entrances on the water, bamboo rafts on the river, and reflections of the peaks for fresh, scenic shots
🍜 Food: Fragrant pig, sour soup fish, Hechi rice noodles, and tofu balls
⚠️ Travel tips: Confirm boat ticket prices in advance; slow down on winding mountain roads; watch your step on slippery rocks near the water
🌅 Zhanjiang, Guangdong
Zhanjiang: An old coastal city in western Guangdong with volcanic lakes and a long coastline. Cool sea breezes in August make it an affordable seaside destination
✅ Best time to visit: August. Keep an eye on typhoon warnings; early mornings and evenings are best for seaside activities
🚗 Transportation: Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway Station. Use city buses; take taxis or rent e-bikes for suburban spots
🎒 Summer must-dos: Huguangyan Maar Lake, Chikan Old Street, Seaview Corridor, Techeng Island, and Xuwen Ancient Port
📸 Photo tips: Sunset over Maar Lake, cultural shots of the arcade buildings on Old Street, and "orange sea" sunsets by the beach
🍜 Food: Oysters, seafood rice noodles, rice noodle rolls, sweet soup, and sand worm congee
⚠️ Travel tips: UV rays are very strong by the sea; ask for seafood prices in advance; do not visit the islands during typhoon weather
🏔 Linxia, Gansu
Linxia: A niche treasure in the Northwest, featuring the green waters of the Yellow River and ancient grottoes. Dry and comfortable in August, perfect for experiencing the local Hui culture
✅ Best time to visit: August. The climate is dry, with large temperature differences between day and night. It is recommended to visit historical sites in the morning
🚗 Transportation: Linxia High-Speed Railway Station. Use taxis in the city; carpooling is available for boat trips to Bingling Temple
🎒 Summer must-dos: Bingling Temple Grottoes, Liujiaxia Reservoir, Bafang Thirteen Alleys, Taiji Lake, and Dong Mansion
📸 Photo tips: Buddha statues on the grotto cliffs, the green waters of the Yellow River reservoir, and cultural shots of the ethnic alleys
🍜 Food: Hand-grabbed lamb, Hezhou steamed buns, liangpi (cold skin noodles), and tianpeizi (fermented oat dessert)
⚠️ Travel tips: Check if the grottoes are closed on Mondays before you go; use sun protection on the plateau; confirm round-trip boat tickets
🌿 Xuancheng, Anhui
Xuancheng: A hidden gem of ancient villages in southern Anhui, featuring Hui-style architecture, bamboo forests, and streams. Lush and green in August, and a great way to avoid the crowds of Hongcun and Xidi
✅ Best time to visit: August. The forests are cool, though there are frequent afternoon showers. Perfect for leisurely exploring ancient villages away from peak crowds
🚗 Transportation: Xuancheng High-Speed Railway Station. Carpooling is recommended for reaching ancient villages; use e-bikes within the county
🎒 Summer must-dos: Chaji Ancient Village, Jixi Longchuan, Jingting Mountain, Peach Blossom Pool, and light hiking on the Huihang Ancient Trail
📸 Photo tips: Sunset in the stone-paved alleys of the ancient village, light and shadow in the ancestral hall courtyards, and forest-style shots of bamboo forests and streams
🍜 Food: Jixi stir-fried vermicelli, stinky mandarin fish, hairy tofu, and braised pork with dried bamboo shoots
⚠️ Travel tips: Distinguish between scenic area entrances to avoid buying the wrong tickets; there are many mosquitoes in the mountains; be cautious about buying expensive antiques in ancient villages
🌋 Gejiu, Yunnan
Gejiu: A mountain city known as the "Tin Capital" and a great summer retreat. Cool climate in August, perfect for a slow-paced, relaxing trip around Jin Lake
✅ Best time to visit: August. Cool mornings and evenings, slightly sunny at noon. Perfect for a laid-back, unhurried trip
🚗 Transportation: Gejiu High-Speed Railway Station. Taxis are cheap in the city; you can rent e-bikes to ride around the lake
🎒 Summer must-dos: Jin Lake loop, Laoyin Mountain, Baohua Park, old factory creative district, and Shadian Grand Mosque
📸 Photo tips: Night view of the city over Jin Lake, overlooking the mountain city from Laoyin Mountain, and the vibrant street life of the mountain city
🍜 Food: Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, paoluda (dessert drink), small rice noodle rolls, and braised chicken
⚠️ Travel tips: Bring a jacket if going up the mountain; be careful when riding e-bikes due to the steep slopes in the mountain city; be rational when purchasing tin handicrafts
🌁 Suqian, Jiangsu
Suqian: A wetland water town in northern Jiangsu, featuring thousands of acres of reeds and lotus ponds at Hongze Lake. Flowers are in full bloom in August, making it a low-cost trip with fewer crowds
✅ Best time to visit: August. Cool lake breezes and blooming lotus flowers. It is best to visit the wetlands in the morning to avoid the midday sun
🚗 Transportation: Suqian High-Speed Railway Station. Attractions are far apart; taxis or self-driving are more suitable
🎒 Summer must-dos: Hongze Lake Wetlands, Santai Mountain Forest Park, Hometown of Xiang Yu, and Luoma Lake loop
📸 Photo tips: Wetland reed marshes and lotus ponds, water birds on the lake, and sunset views over Luoma Lake
🍜 Food: Hongze Lake icefish, white shrimp, Huanggou pig head meat, and Suqian rolled noodles
⚠️ Travel tips: The wetlands have many mosquitoes, so take precautions; book scenic spots in advance; reduce outdoor exposure at noon
🏔 Luotian, Huanggang, Hubei
Luotian: A mountain city in the Dabie Mountains and a summer retreat. Tiantangzhai features sea of clouds and waterfalls. Comfortable average temperatures in August, perfect for both hiking and water activities
✅ Best time to visit: August. Cool in the mountains with large temperature differences between day and night. It is best to go up the mountain early in the morning to see the sea of clouds
🚗 Transportation: Luotian High-Speed Railway Station. The distance from the county to the scenic area is long; carpooling or self-driving is recommended
🎒 Summer must-dos: Tiantangzhai, Bodaofeng, Jiuzihe Ancient Town, and Dabie Mountain canyon rafting
📸 Photo tips: Sea of clouds from the mountain top, waterfalls and streams, Dabie Mountain forests, and pastoral scenery of the ancient town
🍜 Food: Luotian hanging pot, chestnut stewed chicken, Dabie Mountain wild vegetables, and ciba (glutinous rice cakes)
⚠️ Travel tips: The cable car stops running in the evening, so manage your time well; wear non-slip shoes for hiking; bring mosquito repellent for the mountain area