I visited 8 places during off-peak season in September, and surprisingly, no one knew about the first one.
Off-peak travel in September and October: 8️⃣ places with fewer crowds and beautiful scenery. Visiting 3 of them makes you a winner!
1️⃣ Zhangjiajie City | Hunan Province
In September, Zhangjiajie experiences half the rain and fog of summer, revealing clean, knife-cut peaks. Don't rush straight to Tianmen Mountain; dedicate a whole day to Wulingyuan first.
📍 Enter through the main gate and take the Bailong Elevator up. The "Hallelujah Mountain" viewing platform in Yuanjiajie is less crowded before 10 AM, allowing you to have a panoramic view all to yourself. In the afternoon, circle around to Tianzi Mountain. After taking the cable car down, walk along the Ten-Mile Gallery. Don't take the mini-train; hiking is the best way to see the wild monkeys on the cliffs.
⚠️ Don't just walk the first few hundred meters of Jinbian Stream; walk further in to Tiaoyu Pool, where there are 60% fewer tourists. Dedicate the second morning to Tianmen Mountain. Choose option A: ascend via the road and descend via the highway. Get there early for the glass walkway; after 9:30 AM, tour groups will flood in, and you'll miss the experience.
🍜 For lunch, have a bowl of cured pork hot pot near the cable car company outside the scenic area. It costs around 40 yuan per person, much more substantial than the boxed lunches on the mountain. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park tickets are valid for four days, so don't throw them away; they can be used again the next day.
2️⃣ Jilin
Many people only know to come to Jilin in winter to see the rime ice, but Songhua Lake in late September is truly comfortable. The summer heat has subsided, the lake water is a deep blue, and a boat trip on the lake is neither too hot nor too cold, with the air filled with the scent of pine needles.
📍 Depart from Fengman Dam Wharf, a 40-minute boat ride takes you to Wolongtan. After disembarking, walk along the lakeside boardwalk; the red leaves are just beginning to turn red, and the reflections are even more beautiful than the actual scenery.
🍜 For lunch, head back to the city and have a bowl of Jilin fried noodles with tea eggs and meat skewers. A bowl costs only 5 or 6 yuan at a street stall, much better than the restaurants in the scenic area. There's no rime ice on Wusong Island at this time, but the reed beds and sunsets on the island are worth a special trip.
⚠️ Don't trust the touts offering "chartered island tours" on the street. Take a bus to Wula Street and then a taxi; you'll save half the money. On your way back to the city in the evening, pass Songjiang Middle Road and enjoy the sunset along the riverside promenade. It's a popular spot for locals to stroll, more comfortable than any paid viewing platform. If you only have two days, one day at the lake and one day on the island is perfect—a leisurely pace.
3️⃣ Quzhou City | Zhejiang
Quzhou is a small city I've kept hidden away. I went a week before National Day, and the whole city seemed to be on slow motion. Kaihua Root Palace Buddhist Kingdom was more breathtaking than I imagined. The over 500-meter-long root carving corridor was filled with the scent of camphor wood; walking around it felt like strolling through an art museum in a forest.
📍 Be sure to climb to the top of the Drunken Root Heavenly Craft Pagoda in Root Palace Buddhist Kingdom for a panoramic view of the entire park, where the tree canopies form a green wave. In the afternoon, head to Jianglang Mountain. Don't rush to take the cable car; first, walk through the "One Line Sky," where sunlight filters through the walls, and a chilly wind seeps in through the gaps, giving you goosebumps.
⚠️ Admission to Ershibadu Ancient Town is free after 5 PM, but the small exhibition halls inside also close. If you want to see architectural details, buy a ticket during the day; if you just want to photograph the empty alleys, then go at 5 PM.
🍜 In the evening, eat copper gong cake and swallow skin wontons in Ershibadu. The owner at the end of the old street makes them fresh; the wrappers are so thin they're translucent. The night view of Shuitingmen in Quzhou city is more beautiful than during the day, with lights shining on the old city gate, perfect for an after-dinner stroll to digest.
4️⃣ Qujing City | Yunnan
September in Qujing perfectly embodies the concept of "off-peak travel." The rapeseed flowers in Luoping bloom in spring, but the Jiulong Waterfalls in September coincide with the tail end of the high-water season. The water flow is powerful, and the mist from the viewing platform can soak your hair in just ten minutes.
📍 Enter from the east gate of the scenic area and walk upstream against the current. First, see the largest waterfall, then climb the steps to see the emerald pool upstream. There are so few people that you'll be the only one on the entire boardwalk.
🍜 For lunch, eat steamed rice noodles in Banqiao Town, served with sour soup and fried potatoes. The owner will ask if you want a spoonful of chili oil—don't hesitate, add it! It's fragrant but not overly spicy. In the afternoon, don't rush off. Go rafting on the Duoyi River. The bamboo rafts drift slowly on the shallows, with yellow-green rice paddies on both banks. At the end of September, the rice ears droop low, almost within reach.
⚠️ Buying tickets for the Jiulong Waterfalls online in advance can save you ten yuan. Queuing at the ticket window is expensive and slow. Qujing has a high altitude and large temperature differences between day and night, so a light jacket is a must.
5️⃣ Zunyi City | Guizhou
September in Zunyi is neither too hot nor too humid. The red cliffs of Chishui Danxia are most vibrant after rain. The plank road at Foguangyan is built on a cliff face, with a deep valley below and the Danxia cliffs above. When the sunlight shines obliquely, the cliffs look as if they are on fire.
📍 Shizhangdong Waterfall is worth walking to the lowest viewing platform. You can see rainbows in the mist. The best light is around 10 am.
⚠️ Some sections of the trails in Chishui River Valley are slippery. Wear non-slip shoes and don't try to walk in flip-flops.
🍜 The chili sauce with bamboo rice at the entrance of the scenic area looks simple, but it's refreshingly spicy. A cup of Lao Ying tea after the meal is just right to cut through the richness. It's worth spending a night in Zunyi city. The grilled small intestines at the night market along the Xiangjiang River are a local favorite for late-night snacks, best enjoyed with ice jelly.
🚄 It takes about two and a half hours to drive from Zunyi city to Chishui Scenic Area. It's recommended to hire a car or drive yourself. Don't overschedule; focusing on just one key point per day is the most comfortable.
6️⃣ Ningde City | Fujian
Ningde is great because you won't be crowded. Taimu Mountain is like a giant bonsai, with rocks piled on top of rocks. Exploring the caves requires you to bend over and squeeze sideways, like playing a natural escape room game.
📍 The Hulu Cave section is the most fun. Turn on your headlamp, walk through the crevices for ten minutes, and you'll emerge onto a suspended walkway with a breathtaking view. At Baishuiyang's shallow water plaza, the water temperature is perfect at the end of September, just ankle-deep. Walking barefoot on the rocks, the water flowing over your feet is a fun activity for children, enough to keep them entertained for an afternoon.
⚠️ Yuanyangxi is different from other canyons; it's best to visit in the afternoon when the sunlight shines at an angle, creating a double rainbow over the waterfall. The best time to photograph the mudflats of Beiqi in Xiapu is around sunrise, but if you don't want to get up early, the sunset at 5 pm is also stunning; after the tide recedes, the mudflats resemble shattered mirrors covering the ground.
🍜 In Xiapu County, a seafood stall offers a delicious meal of fried rice noodles with mantis shrimp, costing around 50 yuan per person.
🚄 There are direct buses from Ningde Station to Taimushan, but the last bus back departs before 5 pm, so don't miss it.
7️⃣ Jinzhou | Liaoning
Jinzhou isn't immediately striking, but it's captivating upon closer inspection. Yiwulü Mountain is at its most vibrant in September, with maple leaves just beginning to turn red, and smoke trees and pines blending together like an overturned palette.
📍 The section of the Great Wall ruins from the mountain gate to Wanghai Temple is half-covered in autumn leaves, crunching underfoot. The mountain isn't high, but there are many steps. Those with knee problems are advised to take the western route and descend the eastern route, which is less strenuous and offers panoramic views.
🍜 After descending the mountain, head straight to Goubangzi. The smoked chicken must be eaten fresh out of the pot—the skin is firm and the meat is tender. Paired with a bowl of mutton soup from the Daling River, you'll willingly indulge in some autumn fattening.
⚠️ Some farmhouses at the foot of Lushan Mountain will try to solicit customers for meals, starting at 60 yuan per person. It's better to bring your own food and save your budget for Goubangzi. In the afternoon, visit Beizhen Temple. The ancient pines and cypresses are more impressive than the temple itself. The 800-year-old tree has a pine resin scent when you stand beneath it. Jinzhou barbecue is famous nationwide. In the evening, find any old-fashioned restaurant in the city; lamb skewers are 1.5 yuan each, paired with garlic and ice-cold beer—a perfect ending.
8️⃣ Chongqing
September in Chongqing finally transitions from scorching heat to a comfortable, livable temperature, perfect for a long walk. It's recommended to visit the Dazu Rock Carvings in the morning to avoid tour groups. The reclining Buddha at Baodingshan is clearest around 9:30 am under sidelight, with details mostly in shadow.
⚠️ Don't take photos inside the halls where photography is prohibited in the rock carving scenic area. Staff are watching closely, and it can be quite embarrassing if you get warned. In the afternoon, go to Jinyun Mountain. From Lion Peak, the Jialing River looks like a green ribbon, and the mountain breeze carries the scent of bamboo leaves—a completely different world from the 37-degree Celsius city below.
🍜 In the evening, go back to the city for hot pot. Avoid the popular restaurants with long queues. 📍 Laozao Hot Pot, located in the residential area near Yanghe Road in Guanyinqiao, offers a nine-compartment hot pot for 18 yuan. Tripe and duck intestines are ordered by portion, and you'll eat until you're stuffed for about 70 yuan per person. Wulong Karst is best explored in two days. The Three Natural Bridges hike takes about three hours; wear comfortable shoes, as the steps in the crevice section are slippery, especially on rainy days. Late September is a window of opportunity for Yangtze River Three Gorges cruises as the season transitions between peak and off-peak. Tickets are 20% cheaper than in the summer, and the panoramic view of the sunset over Qutang Gorge from the deck is so breathtaking it's worth taking a couple of days off.
September-October Off-Peak Travel: 8️⃣ Places with Fewer Crowds and Beautiful Scenery – Visit 3 or More and You're a Winner!
1️⃣ Zhangjiajie City | Hunan Province
In September, Zhangjiajie experiences half the rain and fog of the summer, revealing clean, knife-cut peaks. Don't rush straight to Tianmen Mountain; dedicate a whole day to Wulingyuan first.
📍 Enter through the main gate and take the Bailong Elevator up. The "Hallelujah Mountain" viewing platform in Yuanjiajie isn't crowded before 10 AM, allowing you to have a panoramic view all to yourself. In the afternoon, circle around to Tianzi Mountain. After taking the cable car down, walk along the Ten-Mile Gallery. Don't take the mini-train; hiking is the best way to see the wild monkeys on the rock faces.
⚠️ Don't just walk the first few hundred meters of Jinbian Stream; go further in to Tiaoyu Pool, where there are 60% fewer tourists. Dedicate the second morning to Tianmen Mountain. Choose Route A: ascend via the path and descend via the road. Get there early for the glass walkway; after 9:30 AM, tour groups will flood in, and you'll miss the experience.
🍜 For lunch, have a bowl of cured pork hot pot near the cable car company outside the scenic area. It costs around 40 RMB per person, much better than the boxed lunches on the mountain. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park tickets are valid for four days, so don't throw them away; they can be used again the next day.
2️⃣ Jilin
Many people only know to come to Jilin in winter to see the rime ice, but Songhua Lake in late September is truly comfortable. The summer heat has subsided, the lake water is a deep blue, and a boat trip on the lake is neither too hot nor too cold, with the air filled with the scent of pine needles.
📍 Depart from Fengman Dam Wharf, and after a 40-minute boat ride to Wolongtan, disembark and walk along the lakeside boardwalk. The red leaves are just beginning to turn, and the reflections are even more beautiful than the actual scenery.
🍜 For lunch, head back to the city and have a bowl of Jilin-style fried rice noodles with tea eggs and meat skewers. A bowl costs only five or six yuan at a street stall, much better than restaurants in tourist areas. There's no rime ice on Wusong Island at this time of year, but the reed beds and sunset are worth the trip.
⚠️ Don't trust the touts offering "chartered island tours" on the street. Take a bus to Wula Street and then a taxi; you'll save half the money. On the way back to the city in the evening, pass Songjiang Middle Road and watch the sunset along the riverside promenade. It's a popular spot for locals to stroll, more comfortable than any paid viewing platform. If you only have two days, one day at the lake and one day on the island is perfect—a leisurely pace.
3️⃣ Quzhou City | Zhejiang
Quzhou is a small city I've kept hidden away. I went a week before National Day, and the whole city seemed to be on slow motion. Kaihua Root Palace Buddhist Kingdom was more impressive than I imagined. The 500-meter-long root carving corridor was filled with the scent of camphor wood; walking around it felt like visiting an art museum in a forest.
📍 Be sure to climb to the top of the Zuigen Tiangong Pagoda in Gengong Buddhist Kingdom for a panoramic view of the entire park, where the treetops form a continuous green wave. In the afternoon, head to Jianglang Mountain. Don't rush to take the cable car; first, walk through the "One Line Sky," where sunlight filters through the walls, and the wind seeps in through the gaps, giving you goosebumps.
⚠️ Admission to Ershibadu Ancient Town is free after 5 PM, but the small exhibition halls inside also close. If you want to see architectural details, buy a ticket during the day; if you just want to photograph the empty alleys, then wait until 5 PM.
🍜 In the evening, eat copper gong cake and swallow skin wontons in Ershibadu. The owner at the end of the old street makes them fresh; the wrappers are so thin they're translucent. The night view of Shuitingmen in Quzhou city is more beautiful than during the day, with lights illuminating the old city gate, perfect for an after-dinner stroll.
4️⃣ Qujing City|Yunnan
September in Qujing perfectly embodies the concept of "off-peak travel." The rapeseed flowers in Luoping bloom in spring, but the Jiulong Waterfalls in September coincide with the tail end of the high-water season. The water flow is powerful, and the mist from the viewing platform can soak your hair in just ten minutes.
📍 Enter from the east gate of the scenic area and walk upstream against the current. First, see the largest waterfall, then climb the steps to see the emerald pool upstream. There are so few people that you'll be the only one on the entire boardwalk.
🍜 For lunch, eat steamed rice noodles in Banqiao Town, served with sour soup and fried potatoes. The owner will ask if you want a spoonful of chili oil—don't hesitate, add it! It's fragrant but not overly spicy. In the afternoon, don't rush off. Go rafting on the Duoyi River. The bamboo rafts drift slowly on the shallows, with yellow-green rice paddies on both banks. At the end of September, the rice ears droop low, almost within reach.
⚠️ Buying tickets for the Jiulong Waterfalls online in advance can save you ten yuan. Queuing at the ticket window is expensive and slow. Qujing has a high altitude and large temperature differences between day and night, so a light jacket is a must.
5️⃣ Zunyi City | Guizhou
September in Zunyi is neither too hot nor too humid. The red cliffs of Chishui Danxia are most vibrant after rain. The plank road at Foguangyan is built on a cliff face, with a deep valley below and the Danxia cliffs above. When the sunlight shines obliquely, the cliffs look as if they are on fire.
📍 Shizhangdong Waterfall is worth walking to the lowest viewing platform. You can see rainbows in the mist. The best light is around 10 am.
⚠️ Some sections of the trails in Chishui River Valley are slippery. Wear non-slip shoes and don't try to walk in flip-flops.
🍜 The chili sauce with bamboo rice at the entrance of the scenic area looks simple, but it's refreshingly spicy. A cup of Lao Ying tea after the meal is just right to cut through the richness. It's worth spending a night in Zunyi city. The grilled small intestines at the night market along the Xiangjiang River are a local favorite for late-night snacks, best enjoyed with ice jelly.
🚄 It takes about two and a half hours to drive from Zunyi city to Chishui Scenic Area. It's recommended to hire a car or drive yourself. Don't overschedule; focusing on just one key point per day is the most comfortable.
6️⃣ Ningde City | Fujian
Ningde is great because you won't be crowded. Taimu Mountain is like a giant bonsai, with rocks piled on top of rocks. Exploring the caves requires you to bend over and squeeze sideways, like playing a natural escape room game.
📍 The Hulu Cave section is the most fun. Turn on your headlamp, walk through the crevices for ten minutes, and you'll emerge onto a suspended walkway with a breathtaking view. At Baishuiyang's shallow water plaza, the water temperature is perfect at the end of September, just ankle-deep. Walking barefoot on the rocks, the water flowing over your feet is a fun activity for children, enough to keep them entertained for an afternoon.
⚠️ Yuanyangxi is different from other canyons; it's best to visit in the afternoon when the sunlight shines at an angle, creating a double rainbow over the waterfall. The best time to photograph the mudflats of Beiqi in Xiapu is around sunrise, but if you don't want to get up early, the sunset at 5 pm is also stunning; after the tide recedes, the mudflats resemble shattered mirrors covering the ground.
🍜 In Xiapu County, a seafood stall offers a delicious meal of fried rice noodles with mantis shrimp, costing around 50 yuan per person.
🚄 There are direct buses from Ningde Station to Taimushan, but the last bus back departs before 5 pm, so don't miss it.
7️⃣ Jinzhou | Liaoning
Jinzhou isn't immediately striking, but it's captivating upon closer inspection. Yiwulü Mountain is at its most vibrant in September, with maple leaves just beginning to turn red, and smoke trees and pines blending together like an overturned palette.
📍 The section of the Great Wall ruins from the mountain gate to Wanghai Temple is half-covered in autumn leaves, crunching underfoot. The mountain isn't high, but there are many steps. Those with knee problems are advised to take the western route and descend the eastern route, which is less strenuous and offers panoramic views.
🍜 After descending the mountain, head straight to Goubangzi. The smoked chicken must be eaten fresh out of the pot—the skin is firm and the meat is tender. Paired with a bowl of mutton soup from the Daling River, you'll willingly indulge in some autumn fattening.
⚠️ Some farmhouses at the foot of Lushan Mountain will try to solicit customers for meals, starting at 60 yuan per person. It's better to bring your own food and save your budget for Goubangzi. In the afternoon, visit Beizhen Temple. The ancient pines and cypresses are more impressive than the temple itself. The 800-year-old tree has a pine resin scent when you stand beneath it. Jinzhou barbecue is famous nationwide. In the evening, find any old-fashioned restaurant in the city; lamb skewers are 1.5 yuan each, paired with garlic and ice-cold beer—a perfect ending.
8️⃣ Chongqing
September in Chongqing finally transitions from scorching heat to a comfortable, livable temperature, perfect for a long walk. It's recommended to visit the Dazu Rock Carvings in the morning to avoid tour groups. The reclining Buddha at Baodingshan is clearest around 9:30 am under sidelight, with details mostly in shadow.
⚠️ Don't take photos inside the halls where photography is prohibited in the rock carving scenic area. Staff are watching closely, and it can be quite embarrassing if you get warned. In the afternoon, go to Jinyun Mountain. From Lion Peak, the Jialing River looks like a green ribbon, and the mountain breeze carries the scent of bamboo leaves—a completely different world from the 37-degree Celsius city below.
🍜 In the evening, go back to the city for hot pot. Avoid the popular restaurants with long queues. 📍 Laozao Hot Pot, located in the residential area near Yanghe Road in Guanyinqiao, offers a nine-compartment hot pot for 18 yuan. Tripe and duck intestines are ordered by portion, and you'll eat until you're stuffed for about 70 yuan per person. Wulong Karst is best explored in two days. The Three Natural Bridges hike takes about three hours; wear comfortable shoes, as the steps in the crevice section are slippery, especially on rainy days. Late September is a window of opportunity for Yangtze River Three Gorges cruises as the seasons transition from peak to off-peak. Tickets are 20% cheaper than during the summer. The breathtaking sunset over the Qutang Gorge from the deck is so expansive that it's worth taking a couple of days off work for it.