Tested with zero complaints! An underrated choice for peace and quiet
What’s the biggest worry when traveling during holidays? Crowds, doubled prices, and a diminished experience. So I turned my attention to those underrated hidden gems—from the local vibe of Hubei to the green wonderland of Guizhou, from the Zen-like mountains of Zhejiang to the 3,000 peaks of Hunan, from northern hot springs to the everyday life of western Sichuan, and then to surfing in Hainan and flower seas in Xinjiang. These places are reachable within a 2-hour high-speed train ride or direct flight, each with a unique vibe, but they all share one thing: almost no negative reviews from visitors. Let’s explore them—your next destination might be right here.
01 Wuhan | Hubei
Is going to Yellow Crane Tower in the morning a bad choice? I prefer 3 PM.
⏰ Climb the tower at 4 PM. The sunset turns the glazed tiles golden, and the traffic on the Yangtze River Bridge below shrinks to toy size.
⚠️ Don’t crowd the main tower’s top floor. The west corridor is less crowded and offers a silhouette view of a lone sail fading into the distance.
East Lake is the true essence of Wuhan. No need to squeeze into the popular trails at Moshan. Enter through Liyuan Gate, bike along the lakeside greenway toward Luoyan Scenic Area. In two hours, you’ll see dawn redwoods, lotus ponds, and sunsets reflected in the water.
🍜 After biking, find a “Guangtou Lu” on Lumo Road for beef offal hot pot. The spicy and numbing flavors of chili and Sichuan pepper will have you asking for two extra bowls of rice.
Songyang Temple is hidden deep in Longquan Mountain, Jiangxia. Park at the foot of the mountain and walk up 15 minutes of stone steps. At the temple entrance stands a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree, turning golden in autumn.
⚠️ After 4 PM, the light is blocked by the mountain. It’s best to arrive before 10 AM.
Huangpi Mulan Cultural Ecological Tourism Area: If you’re with kids, avoid the crowded grassland ranch. Instead, hike the canyon trail at Mulan Tianchi, where streams flow all the way to the lake, and you can raft on bamboo rafts at the end.
🚄 Take the bus from Hankou Station to Huangpi. It takes two hours and is more convenient than driving.
02 Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture | Guizhou
The green of Libo Zhangjiang is the kind you see in dreams.
📍 Start at the Xiaoqikong ancient bridge and follow the Xiangshui River. The 68-step waterfall roars all along, and the mist hits your face.
⚠️ Don’t linger at the Wolongtan photo spot. Walk 200 meters upstream to a quiet shallow pool with jade-green water like emerald, perfect for wading.
🍜 “Yaoweiju” near the park entrance is great. Their sour soup fish is made with local cherry tomatoes and fermented chili, a perfect balance of sour and spicy that opens your appetite for three bowls of rice.
⏰ It’s best to enter the park by 7:30 AM. Before 10 AM, the valley is all yours before the crowds arrive.
03 Quzhou | Zhejiang
Is Gen Gong Buddhist Kingdom in Kaihua worth visiting? If it’s your first time, I recommend buying a full-day ticket. Don’t trust the “half-day visit” guides.
⏰ Enter at 9 AM and start with the Buddhist root carving area. Each of the 500 arhats has a unique expression. Light streams through the skylights, and the wood grain and shadows create a peaceful power.
🍜 Don’t eat inside the park at noon. Exit the main gate, turn right, and walk five minutes to “Genyuan Small Restaurant.” Their Kaihua green snails and clear-water fish are authentic, spicy with a fresh taste.
At Jianglang Mountain and Nianbadu, I recommend staying overnight in the ancient town. Most locals in Nianbadu are descendants of ancient guards, and there’s a tofu workshop on the street selling freshly ground tofu.
🚄 Take a bus from Quzhou Station to Jianglang Mountain, about 1 hour, then transfer to Nianbadu. The whole trip takes half a day, but if you’re short on time, head straight to Nianbadu for an overnight stay.
04 Zhangjiajie | Hunan
Should you visit Wulingyuan or Tianmen Mountain? My answer: both, but in a specific order.
⚠️ Visit Wulingyuan Scenic Area first (two days), then Tianmen Mountain (half a day). Wulingyuan’s mountains rise as 3,000 stone pillars, and the cable car up Tianzi Mountain lets you walk through clouds like a fairyland.
🍜 Try the “Three Pot” dish on Xibu Street at the mountain base. The smoky flavor of cured meat and dried chili, paired with crispy rice, instantly refuels you after hiking.
⏰ Get to Tianmen Mountain early. The first cable car leaves at 7:30 AM. Walk the glass skywalk when the clouds and mist swirl—it’s nerve-wracking but worth it.
⚠️ Wear flat shoes. The temperature varies on the mountain, so bring a jacket. 🏠 Stay near the Wulingyuan entrance for easy early departures and late returns.
05 Heihe | Heilongjiang
Wudalianchi isn’t unpopular; it’s just far away. But is it worth a special trip? I think it is.
⏰ Late summer to early autumn is the golden season. Take a bus to Old Heishan, hike 30 minutes to the volcanic crater. Black lava is covered with moss and wildflowers, creating a striking contrast.
🍜 After descending, visit “Mineral Spring Fish Restaurant.” Fish stewed with Wudalianchi mineral water has a milky broth and an incredibly fresh taste.
⚠️ The volcanic landscape has no shade. Bring sunscreen and water.
🚄 Take the high-speed train from Harbin to Heihe, about 4 hours, then hire a car to the park. It’s best to stay overnight. The next morning, visit Beiyinquan to drink cold spring water, said to be good for digestion.
06 Chengdu | Sichuan
How to choose between Qingcheng Mountain and Dujiangyan? My advice: spend half a day at Dujiangyan and stay overnight at Qingcheng Mountain.
⏰ Visit Dujiangyan in the morning to see the fish mouth water diversion glowing gold in the sunlight.
⚠️ Avoid long lines at the main gate. Enter faster through the side gate at Erwang Temple.
🍜 Afterward, go to “Laohao You Rabbit Head” for a five-spice rabbit head and a bowl of cold fermented rice wine. That’s how summer in Chengdu is spent.
Tiantai Mountain is a local secret for summer cooling.
⏰ Enter the mountain at dusk in summer. Fireflies emerge from the grass, and the whole canyon looks dusted with silver powder.
🚄 Take a bullet train from Chengdu West Station to Qionglai, then transfer to Pingle Ancient Town. Stay overnight and visit Tiantai Mountain after 9 PM when it’s less crowded and more beautiful.
Anren Ancient Town is quieter. I haven’t visited Liu’s Manor, but the Republican-era mansions and alleys in the town are worth a slow stroll.
⚠️ After 4 PM, the light softens, perfect for portraits.
🍜 At the street corner, “You Xue Wang” offers spicy pork intestine and blood curd that’s incredibly satisfying.
07 Wanning | Hainan
Shimei Bay and Riyue Bay: one is like a shy maiden, the other a cool, trendy street.
⏰ Shimei Bay is best in the morning. The beach is dazzlingly white, and the sea shifts from light blue to deep blue. Compared to the bustle of Sanya, it’s so quiet you can only hear the waves.
📍 The coastline is nine miles long. I recommend renting an electric bike to ride to the wild beach at China Resources Shimei Bay, where almost no one goes.
🍜 At noon, try “Shimei Bay Seafood Restaurant.” Their steamed grouper and garlic oysters cost one-third less than in Sanya.
⏰ Riyue Bay is a surfing paradise. The best waves are from 3 PM to dusk.
⚠️ Beginners shouldn’t surf alone. Take a two-hour lesson where instructors teach you how to lie on the board and catch waves.
08 Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture | Xinjiang
Summer in the Ili Valley is like God spilled a palette of colors.
⏰ In late May, the apricot blossoms in Tulgen Apricot Blossom Valley bloom all over the hills. The grass isn’t fully green yet, and the flowers with snow-capped mountains look like an oil painting.
⚠️ Avoid weekends; it’s too crowded. I recommend renting a car from Yining and leaving early to arrive by noon when the light perfectly filters through the branches.
The three-dimensional landscape of Karalun Grassland is stunning. In the afternoon, ride a horse to Falconry Platform, with flower meadows underfoot and snow mountains in the distance.
🍜 At night, eat hand-pulled lamb at a herder’s home, paired with onions and naan bread. The rich flavor melts in your mouth.
🚄 Fly from Urumqi to Yining, then rent a car. Gongnaisi Grassland is even more beautiful in autumn but less visited, so you can enjoy the valley’s quiet alone.
Honestly, among these 8 places, the green of Qiannan and the tranquility of Quzhou surprised me the most. If you’re unsure where to go on your holiday, leave a comment, and I’ll help you pick the best spot.
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