Coolest cities that aren't stuffy? See if your favorite is here
🏔️Cool and dry plateau cities
1. Maqin (Guoluo), Qinghai
Highlights: A small plateau city at the source of the Yellow River, with an average temperature of 16℃ from July to September. The air is dry and clear, with continuous snow-capped mountains and grasslands, and almost no tour groups.
Best time: Mid-July – late September
Transportation: 4-hour drive from Xining. Long-distance buses depart daily. Take a taxi or chartered car within the county to wetlands in the suburbs.
Must-visit: Ani Machen Snow Mountain viewing, Laga Monastery, Yellow River Source Wetland Boardwalk, Jungong Grassland Flower Sea.
Photo guide: Capture snow-capped mountains and grasslands in the same frame from a distant road view. Shoot wetland morning mist against the light in the early morning. Use a low angle to capture the vast wilderness.
Cuisine: Yak noodles, hand-torn yak meat, plateau yogurt, highland barley steamed buns.
Tips: Act gradually to prevent altitude sickness. UV rays are extremely strong. Do not venture alone into uninhabited grasslands. Prepare a windproof jacket.
2. Lincang, Yunnan
Highlights: A Wa ethnic secret in western Yunnan, with a comfortable and dry average temperature of 21℃ in summer. The rainy season has short, intermittent showers. It features ancient tea gardens and primitive villages.
Best time: July – late September
Transportation: High-speed rail directly to Lincang Station. City buses go to the Cangyuan area. Self-driving through mountain roads offers more freedom.
Must-visit: Wengding Primitive Wa Village, Cangyuan Cliff Paintings, Qianmi Guohua Corridor, Bingdao Ancient Tea Garden.
Photo guide: Pair village wooden architecture with distant mountain views. Use vertical tea fields for composition in tea gardens. Shoot cliff paintings with soft light on cloudy days.
Cuisine: Wa chicken stew with rice, lemongrass grilled fish, rice jelly, southern Yunnan pickled vegetables.
Tips: Respect ethnic minority customs and taboos. Drive slowly on winding mountain roads. Do not pick wild mushrooms randomly.
🌲Forest and moist cool cities
3. Diebu (Zhagana), Gansu
Highlights: A Tibetan village secret in the Gannan stone mountains, with an average temperature of 20℃ in summer and autumn. The climate is dry and not humid. The valley flower sea combined with the stone mountain landscape is highly distinctive.
Best time: Early July – mid-late September
Transportation: 4-hour drive from Lanzhou. After arriving at Diebu County by bus, carpool for 20 minutes to the village. Suitable for long-distance self-driving tours.
Must-visit: Xiannvtan Meadow, Lasang Monastery, Locke Observation Deck, Yeri Village Canyon hiking trail.
Photo guide: Overlook the entire Tibetan village valley from the mountaintop. Capture clouds and mist swirling around stone peaks in the early morning. Shoot portraits in the hillside flower sea against the light.
Cuisine: Tibetan noodles, butter tea, cured yak and pork, highland barley cakes.
Tips: Do not camp or graze in private grasslands. Watch out for falling rocks during the rainy season. Avoid driving on winding mountain roads at night if possible.
4. Guidong, Hunan
Highlights: A natural cool city in southern Hunan, with a stable and dry temperature of 22℃ from July to September. High-altitude meadows + streams and waterfalls make it an excellent choice for short summer getaways in South China.
Best time: July – late September
Transportation: 1.5-hour drive from Chenzhou. County buses connect to major scenic spots. High-speed rail + short-distance bus from Guangzhou can reach it on the same day.
Must-visit: Wanyangshan Alpine Meadow, Longxi Waterfall, Qing'e Immortal Hiking Trail, Shatian Red Ancient Town.
Photo guide: Overlook continuous mountains from a high point on the meadow. Use slow shutter speed for streams. Shoot distant cloud seas with front light in the afternoon.
Cuisine: Guidong cured duck, firewood cured meat, farmhouse rice cakes, wild bamboo shoot stew.
Tips: Large temperature difference between day and night in mountainous areas. Wear non-slip shoes on slippery waterfall boardwalks. Do not enter undeveloped wild mountains and dense forests.
🏜️Dry cities in northern Xinjiang
5. Altay City, Xinjiang
Highlights: At the foot of the Altai Mountains, with daytime temperatures of 24℃ in summer and autumn, and a sharp drop at night. It's dry with little humidity and heat. Glacier meltwater valleys are cool year-round.
Best time: July – late September (September gradually enters early autumn colorful forests)
Transportation: Direct flight to Altay Airport. Rent a car for self-driving in the city. Short-distance buses go to surrounding canyons and grasslands.
Must-visit: Irtysh Grand Canyon, General Mountain Observation Deck, Birch Forest Park, Kanas River bank trail.
Photo guide: Shoot the emerald glacier river water from the side of the valley. Capture the panoramic city view of General Mountain at sunset. Use vertical lines for composition in the birch forest.
Cuisine: Coldwater pike, hand-torn lamb, Kazakh milk tea, nang pit roasted meat.
Tips: Extreme temperature difference between day and night, a thin down jacket is essential. Stay away from flood-prone areas of rivers. Be cautious when choosing low-priced roadside chartered cars.
🌊Dry coastal cities
6. Dandong, Liaoning
Highlights: A border city along the Yalu River. Monsoons regulate the temperature, with an average of 23℃ from July to September. The dry sea breeze completely lacks the stuffy humidity of the south.
Best time: Late July – late September (September is best for seafood after fishing season opens)
Transportation: High-speed rail directly to Dandong Station. City buses cover riverside attractions. Self-driving along the border highway offers a better experience.
Must-visit: Yalu River Broken Bridge, Hushan Great Wall, Lujiang Village, Zhangdao beachcombing.
Photo guide: Shoot the scenery of the opposite bank from a flat view of the river. Overlook the river valley from the Great Wall ridge. Shoot the sunset glow by the river against the light at dusk.
Cuisine: Yellow clams, Dandong fried noodles, sauerkraut and pork hotpot, Korean rice cakes.
Tips: Crossing fences is prohibited in border control areas. Strictly adhere to tidal times for beachcombing. Do not buy wild protected aquatic products of unknown origin.
🏞️Constant temperature cool cities in canyons
7. Hechi, Guangxi
Highlights: A karst secret in northwest Guangxi. Caves maintain a constant temperature of 16℃ year-round. The mountains and forests are well-ventilated, bidding farewell to the stuffy and sticky summer feeling of South China.
Best time: All of July – September
Transportation: High-speed rail directly to Hechi West Station. Tourist special lines from the station go directly to Sanmenhai and Fengshan scenic areas, making travel convenient.
Must-visit: Sanmenhai Water Cave, Fengshan Geological Park, Bama Longevity Village, Longjiang Canyon Trail.
Photo guide: Shoot the karst skylights on the water from a boat. Use natural light for composition inside the caves. The mountain mist creates a strong atmospheric feel.
Cuisine: Hechi boiled noodles, sour snacks, free-range chicken and mushroom hotpot, glutinous rice oil cakes.
Tips: Underground caves are cold, bring a light jacket. Stay away from rivers and cliffs during flood season. Refuse unlicensed tour guides around scenic areas.
🌤️Sunny cool cities on the plateau
8. Xichang, Sichuan
Highlights: A sunny small city on the western Sichuan plateau, with an average temperature of 21℃ from July to September. The climate is dry with little plum rain. The breeze by Qionghai Lake continuously cools it down, preventing stuffiness.
Best time: Mid-July – late September
Transportation: High-speed rail directly to Xichang West Station. Lake-circling buses and electric vehicles are available. Self-driving around Qionghai has flat road conditions.
Must-visit: Qionghai Wetland Park, Lushan Mountain, Luoji Mountain Hot Spring Waterfall, Daliangshan Yi ethnic villages.
Photo guide: Shoot lake reflections at sunset on the lake-circling road. Overlook the valley from Luoji Mountain. Take human interest photos in the ancient city streets.
Cuisine: Xichang basin barbecue, Qionghai lake fish, buckwheat cakes, rolled noodles.
Tips: Plateau UV rays are strong. Slow down your pace at higher altitudes on Luoji Mountain. Choose clearly priced barbecue restaurants to avoid overcharging.