High-speed train 2h direct! 4 super comfortable off-the-beaten-path family trip cities, start your summer vacation now
Traveling with kids in summer means avoiding crowds. Long lines, crying kids, and tired adults.
This year, I tried 4 small cities about 2 hours by high-speed train. They’re uncrowded, comfortable, and budget-friendly.
📍 Zhangzhou, Fujian
A small city full of Minnan local life, with sea, tulou, and an old town.
What to do: Qicai Guanshe (colorful tea mountain village, cool), Lingtong Mountain (hanging temple + waterfall), Dongshan Island (sand digging and beachcombing).
2 days 1 night: Day 1 high-speed train to Zhangzhou station → Dongshan Island Nanmen Bay; Day 2 morning at Qicai Guanshe, afternoon at Lingtong Mountain, then return.
What to eat: shacha noodles, oyster omelet, four-fruit soup. Old town meals cost about 30 per person to fill up.
Budget: second-class high-speed train about 230 yuan per person, half price for children; homestays 300–400 yuan per night; about 2,000 yuan for a family of three for 2 days 1 night.
📍 Quzhou, Zhejiang
An underrated treasure city with mountains, water, culture, and low costs.
What to do: Liangtou Cave + Jinjidong Cave (hundred-million-year-old karst caves, 18°C, very refreshing in summer), Taoyuan Qili (100,000 mu bamboo forest, free), Shuitingmen (ancient city night view).
2 days 1 night: Day 1 high-speed train to Quzhou station → Shuitingmen for night stroll; Day 2 morning bamboo forest, afternoon cave exploration, then return.
What to eat: baked cakes 3 yuan, duck head 5 yuan, rice noodles 10 yuan. Ask ahead if you don’t eat spicy.
Budget: 1.5h high-speed train from Hangzhou, stay near Shuitingmen, about 100+ per person for 2 days 1 night.
📍 Chaozhou, Guangdong
Worth visiting just for the food, plus stunning geological wonders.
What to do: Qinglan Strange Mortar Valley (hundred-million-year-old glacial stone mortars, cool underground river cave, easy trails for strollers), Han Wengong Temple (quiet), Paifang Street (food and shopping).
2 days 1 night: Day 1 high-speed train to Chaoshan station → taxi to old town (30 min) → Paifang Street food stroll → Guangji Bridge night view; Day 2 morning at Qinglan Strange Mortar Valley (3–4h) → afternoon return.
What to eat: beef balls, rice noodles, oyster omelet, fermented bean curd chicken wings.
Budget: 2h high-speed train from Shenzhen North, second-class seat 128 yuan per person, many old town homestays, about 2,500 yuan for a family of three for 2 days 1 night.
📍 Jingdezhen, Jiangxi
Not just for buying porcelain, kids can play with clay all day.
What to do: Sanbao International Ceramic Village (wade in the creek, make pottery, fire it and ship home), Taoxichuan (old factory arts district), Yaoli ancient town (quiet Jiangnan village).
2 days 1 night: Day 1 high-speed train to Jingdezhen North station → Taoxichuan for creative shopping; Day 2 morning at Sanbao Village making pottery + playing in water → afternoon return.
What to eat: cold noodles (can be non-spicy), fried dough sticks with sticky rice cake, dumpling cakes.
Budget: 1.5h high-speed train from Hangzhou East, many homestays near Taoxichuan, about 2,000 yuan for a family of three for 2 days 1 night.
A few tips: bring sunscreen and mosquito repellent in summer; wear comfortable shoes; bring a light jacket for caves; book weekend accommodations in advance.
Each place has a different vibe. Pick one you want to visit and head out this weekend. 🌿