Where to go for summer vacation? This low-cost city is too good to miss
Summer travel doesn’t have to be expensive, nor do you have to squeeze into crowded spots. I picked a few off-the-beaten-path and affordable cities, all reachable by high-speed train within two or three hours. Each place has its own unique seasonal charm. There’s the old-town vibe, wild geological parks, and artsy corners with a bookish feel. Take advantage of the low crowds and prices in July and August and save this list.
1️⃣ Shijiazhuang | Hebei
You might think Shijiazhuang is just a typical transit stop in North China, but when you step into Zhaozhou Bridge Park (📍 under the first crooked ancient locust tree at the bridgehead), you’ll know what it feels like to walk on the bridge at 5 PM in summer. The polished bluestone slabs on the bridge are a bit hot underfoot, but the breeze flowing under the stone arch is refreshingly cool.
🍜 At the alley entrance opposite the bridge, there’s a donkey meat sandwich shop that’s been open for over 20 years. The freshly baked flatbread stuffed with steaming meat is so crispy it flakes apart with every bite.
⚠️ The bridge gets crowded with visitors. Instead, head to the shallow water north of the bridge, where the water is so clear you can see the pebbles. Spend half a day wandering slowly. Tickets cost just over ten yuan.
2️⃣ Zhangjiajie | Hunan
For the Wulingyuan core scenic area in Zhangjiajie, I recommend heading straight to Tianzi Mountain.
⏰ Take the eco-friendly bus up the mountain at 7 AM. The mist hasn’t cleared yet, and the stone pillars emerge from the sea of clouds like an ink painting. Skip the newly built glass walkway; the real beauty is in Yuanjiajie’s back garden. The stone steps are so steep you’ll need to use your hands and feet, but once you reach the top and the view opens up, every drop of sweat is worth it.
🍜 After coming down the mountain, have a bowl of smoked meat stewed with mushrooms. The smoky flavor seeps into the soup. Eat two big bowls with rice.
⚠️ Tickets are valid for two days. Enter from a different entrance on the second day to save a lot of effort. If you’re with elderly people, skip the hike and take the Bailong Elevator up and down to see the full view.
3️⃣ Jixi | Heilongjiang
Few outsiders know how pleasant summer is in Jixi. At 3 PM by Xingkai Lake, the water is warmed by the sun, and the sand feels as fine as flour underfoot.
🍜 At the lakeside farmhouse, they dry their own fish. Eat it with coarse millet porridge. The salty, fresh flavor makes a perfect meal.
⏰ In the evening, go to Hutou Town. The smoke from cooking fires and the sunset blend together by the Ussuri River, with scattered fishing lights floating on the water.
⚠️ Don’t go to the riverbank at noon—you’ll feel like you’re melting. Find a shady tree, spread a mat, and drink some cool water. For Hutou Fortress, just buy the outer ticket; the underground part is crowded and smells strong.
4️⃣ Yulin | Shaanxi
The Wave Valley is most vibrant in July and August—the sun heats the red sandstone until it looks like it’s melting. The varying shades of the patterns can keep you staring for hours.
🍜 The cold noodles in Yukou Town have an extra layer of chili oil and sesame aroma compared to those in Xi’an.
⏰ Go to the Yellow River bank in Jia County at 5 or 6 AM. The morning mist hasn’t lifted yet. Pick up a gray-black stone from the riverbed and rub it to see green marks.
⚠️ The caves in Hongshixia lose sunlight after 4 PM because of the cliff walls. If you want to take photos, go in the morning. Navigate directly to “Hongshixia Rear Cave” for a quieter spot with no entrance fee, unlike the ticketed side.
5️⃣ Ningbo | Zhejiang
The area around Tianyi Pavilion and Moon Lake feels like it’s been forgotten by time.
⏰ After 5 PM, enter Tianyi Pavilion. Most visitors have left, and the stone lions in front of the library cast long shadows in the sunset.
🍜 On the old street by Moon Lake, there’s a shop selling freshly fried oil zanzi sprinkled with sesame and sugar. One bite is so crispy it makes you want to hiccup.
⚠️ In the Xikou Tengtou tourist area, it’s best to walk the entire section of the Jiang family residence instead of taking the electric cart. Along the way, you’ll see old Republic of China–style houses and a stone-paved old street.
🚄 From Ningbo Station, take a bus directly to Qiantong Ancient Town. It’s less than a 30-minute ride. By the town’s water channels, find a tea shed and enjoy a bowl of wood lotus jelly. The bluestone paths creak underfoot.
6️⃣ Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture | Yunnan
Yunnan is crowded in July and August, but if you head to the countryside around Chuxiong, you can find peace. Yuanmou Earth Forest is not suitable for midday visits—the yellow earth is hot underfoot. The best time is after 4:30 PM when the shadows stretch long, making it feel like you’ve stepped into an alien base.
🍜 At the entrance of Wumao Earth Forest, there’s a shop selling Yi-style sour fish. The fish is freshly cut, and the soup is sour, spicy, and fresh. Eat two bowls with potato rice.
⚠️ Yi Ancient Town has a bonfire party at night, but it feels too commercial. It’s better to find a local restaurant, sit down, and listen to the owner’s dialect stories.
🚄 Take the high-speed train from Kunming South Station to Chuxiong. It’s a one-and-a-half-hour ride and costs less than 100 yuan.
7️⃣ Zhengzhou | Henan
Zhenwu Water City in Zhengzhou is actually great for summer evenings.
⏰ Enter the park at 5 PM. The water surface is covered with a layer of silver light. Elderly people play chess by the riverbank, and the shade under the trees is very cool.
🍜 Turn right after exiting the east gate. There’s an old shop selling stewed noodles. The soup is white and smooth, and the mutton oil chili paste smells so good it hits your nose immediately.
⚠️ For the stone steps climbing Songshan Shaolin Temple, don’t take the main gate if you have kids. Go around the back mountain where there are fewer people and old trees for shade. The lotus flowers in Xiliu Lake Park bloom in late July. The evening light shining through the lotus leaves makes for great silhouette photos.
🚄 It takes just over ten minutes by taxi from the high-speed rail station to the museum. It’s air-conditioned and free—but remember to book in advance.
8️⃣ Zibo | Shandong
During summer vacation, many northern tourists come to Zhoucun Ancient Market to experience the water charm of northern China.
⏰ Go after 6:30 PM when no one is competing for space on the stone-paved streets. The loudspeaker outside the sesame cake shop keeps playing “Zhoucun sesame cakes made fresh to order.” 🍜 Buy one fresh out of the oven. It’s thin and crispy enough to let light through, and the white sesame on top is so fragrant it’ll make your eyebrows raise.
⚠️ The main street sells similar items. Turn east into the back street (called “Silk Market Street”). There’s an old sesame cake workshop where the chef still rolls dough by hand. The warm sesame aroma drifts half a block. Spend about 30 yuan and you can explore the whole street and bring home a box of sesame cakes.
If I had to pick the top two summer vacation spots, I’d put Zhangjiajie and Chuxiong first—one lets you see the mountain clouds, the other lets you watch the sunset over the earth forest, and both are affordable. Have you or your friends recently had any bad travel experiences? Share them in the comments, and I’ll help you avoid those pitfalls.