National Day short trips from Xi'an rival Xinjiang | Hidden gems that rival Switzerland
Hey everyone👭! Don't want to deal with the National Day crowds? There are so many incredible landscapes hidden around Xi'an🌿. No need to travel all the way to the Northwest to get alpine pastures, emerald lakes, scenic ancient towns, and mountain villages. It's less crowded, beautiful, and perfect for a short road trip🚗. Say no to the crowds!
🌟 Core highlights
✔ No long-distance travel, 1–2.5 hours drive from Xi'an
✔ Features vast grasslands, green mountains, blue lakes, misty ancient towns, and mountain secrets
✔ Suitable for families👨👩👧👦, friends, and camping🏕
✔ Great for photos📸, full of atmosphere
📍 Hidden gems
1. Luojiaba Ancient Town🏞
Hanzhong City, Xixiang County. An ancient town surrounded by green mountains, waterwheels, and flowing water, full of atmosphere🎋
2. Liuba Shizigou💎
Hanzhong, Liuba County. Emerald alpine lake, grasslands, and canyons. Truly the "Little Switzerland" of Shaanxi
3. Lijiaping Village⛰
Baoji. An original village hidden deep in the mountains, with layered peaks and pastoral scenery
4. Guanshan Pasture🐎
Baoji, Long County. Northwest alpine grassland, wooden cabins, and sheep and cattle. Replicates the vast scenery of Xinjiang grasslands
🚗 Transportation guide
· Driving is recommended🚙. Most spots are 1–1.5 hours apart, offering the most freedom
· Public transport: Some spots require multiple transfers, better for those with plenty of time
· Route recommendation: Xi'an → Guanshan Pasture → Lijiaping Village → Liuba Shizigou → Luojiaba Ancient Town. A loop route
📸 Must-visit projects
🏞 Luojiaba Ancient Town
▫ Visit the giant ancient waterwheel, green mountains and clear water, ancient streets by the water, full of Jiangnan greenery
▫ Bamboo rafting, walking along the riverside, soothing streams
▫ Stroll the Ming/Qing ancient streets, taste local snacks, feel the vibe of southern Shaanxi towns
▫ Photos by the mountain streams, green trees and blue water, perfect for traditional-style photos
💎 Liuba Shizigou
▫ Emerald green lake water, surrounded by green mountains, stunning scenery
▫ Picnic on the lakeside lawn, feels like the Alps
▫ Hike along the lake, surrounded by canyon peaks, scenery at every step
▫ Blue sky and white clouds with green lakes and grass, looks great straight from the camera📸
⛰ Lijiaping Village
▫ High-altitude pastoral village, wooden cabins scattered among layered green mountains, quiet and peaceful
▫ Climb high to look at the continuous mountains, sea of clouds and sunset, wide and shocking view
▫ Walk on the mountain grass, cattle and sheep grazing, feel the original mountain atmosphere
▫ Watch the sunset in the mountains, twilight covering the valley, full of atmosphere
🐎 Guanshan Pasture
▫ Endless alpine meadows, herds of cattle and horses, enter Xinjiang grasslands in a second
▫ Colorful fairy-tale wooden cabins, super exotic for photos, high photo rate
▫ Experience horseback riding on the grassland, hot air balloon, rich activities
▫ Set up a canopy on the hillside to camp🏕, blow the mountain evening breeze, watch the grassland sunset
💰 Consumption/Ticket info
· Luojiaba Ancient Town: Free admission🆓, no main gate ticket, some experiences charged separately
· Liuba Shizigou: Free admission🆓, no reservation needed
· Lijiaping Village: Free🆓, original village, convenient parking
· Guanshan Pasture: Need to buy a main ticket to enter. Horseback riding and hot air balloons are charged separately
💡 Tips
1. Leave early on holidays to avoid afternoon traffic jams🚦
2. Lots of mosquitoes in mountains and grasslands, remember to bring repellent🦟
3. Few convenience stores in mountain villages, bring your own snacks and water
4. Wear light-colored clothes👗 for better photos on grasslands and lakes
5. Large temperature difference in mountains, bring a thick jacket even for National Day🧥
6. Be safe when playing by the lake or pasture, stay away from cliffs and steep slopes
🚫 Reverse travel | Tips to avoid crowds
✅ Avoid popular Xi'an attractions, prioritize niche spots like Shizigou and Lijiaping Village
✅ Travel off-peak, go into the mountains in the morning, camp on the grassland in the afternoon, no need to rush
✅ Don't crowd popular photo spots; hillsides and lake corners are just as beautiful
There are such amazing mountains, waters, and grasslands around Xi'an🌼. No need to travel far for National Day; you can experience the same scenery as Switzerland and Xinjiang right at your doorstep! Save this, invite your friends, and let's go🥳