4 off-the-beaten-path cities for National Day reverse travel! Fewer crowds, beautiful scenery!
Every National Day, we fall into the trap of visiting viral cities😭!
Crowds everywhere, suffocating queues, doubled hotel prices, and terrible experiences!
Experienced travelers have already started their National Day reverse travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations!
We've selected 4 super low-key hidden gems✅
Almost no tour groups, stable prices without price gouging, and god-tier autumn scenery
No need to rush around, just low-cost relaxation and maximum healing!
🌾NO. 1 Fuzhou, Jiangxi | The forgotten ancient city of scholars
📍Location: Fuzhou in eastern Jiangxi. A low-key ancient city with a thousand-year history, an extremely niche destination around the Yangtze River Delta for the National Day holiday
🚄Transportation tips
High-speed rail direct to Fuzhou Station, 1 hour from Nanchang and Fuzhou, super convenient!
City attractions are very concentrated; Wenchangli and Nixian Terrace are all within walking distance, zero transportation costs.
City buses cost 1 RMB for unlimited rides, making short trips stress-free.
National Day accommodation is very reasonable, with homestays around the ancient city averaging 75 RMB per person, no price hikes!
💖Real travel experience (National Day seasonal)
The ceiling for avoiding crowds in Jiangxi during National Day🍂!
Avoid the crowds at Wuyuan and Lushan; Fuzhou is truly peaceful and healing!
As the hometown of scholars for a thousand years, the whole city is full of ancient charm without being overly commercialized.
Wenchangli Ancient Street features blue bricks and black tiles with deep, ancient alleys; the atmosphere is superb when the lanterns light up in the evening.
Climb Nixian Terrace to overlook the river view of the whole city; the autumn breeze is super comfortable, and the local life is authentic and full of vitality!
📅3 days 2 nights relaxed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and rest → Night tour of Wenchangli Historical Ancient Street🌃
Day 2: Check in at Nixian Terrace, stroll along the river to see the view
Day 3: Deep dive into the old city for food, easy and comfortable return trip
😋Must-eat affordable food
Fuzhou bubble noodles, beef offal soup, hu-geng (thick soup), dengzhan-guo (lantern cakes), and Nanfeng honey tangerines—authentic eastern Jiangxi snacks, affordable and delicious!
🌊NO. 2 Hepu, Beihai, Guangxi | A niche, healing ancient coastal town
📍Location: A county under the jurisdiction of Beihai, Guangxi. The starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, with 100 times fewer people than Beihai Silver Beach
🚄Transportation tips
High-speed rail direct to Hepu Station, 1 hour from Nanning and Zhanjiang, super worry-free travel!
Carpooling to the beach and ancient streets is affordable, with very low transportation costs.
National Day coastal homestays average 80 RMB per person, great value during the fishing season!
💖Real travel experience (National Day seasonal)
A super niche coastal paradise in Guangxi💙!
If you don't want to squeeze into Beihai Silver Beach, you must come to Hepu!
Here you'll find quiet coastlines and pristine fishing villages; the National Day sea breeze is gentle, and the seawater is clean and clear.
Qili Sea has an extra-long, deserted beach where you can enjoy the sea in solitude; the sunset over the "orange sea" is stunning for photos.
Prices are super low, seafood is fresh and affordable right off the boat, and the locals are simple and enthusiastic—no tourist traps at all!
📅3 days 2 nights relaxed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and rest → Stroll and eat in Hepu Old Street for a retro vibe
Day 2: Play in the waves at Qili Sea beach, enjoy the breeze, and watch the sea🌊
Day 3: Wander around the fishing village, eat fresh seafood, and return
😋Must-eat affordable food
Hepu big mooncakes, pork trotter noodles, fried shrimp cakes, seafood porridge, and sand worm porridge—authentic seaside flavors, affordable and genuine!
🏞️NO. 3 Xinyang, Henan | A landscape hidden gem at the north-south border
📍Location: The southernmost part of Henan, Xinyang. A small city with a Jiangnan vibe, super niche for National Day
🚄Transportation tips
High-speed rail direct to Xinyang East Station, 1 hour from Wuhan and Zhengzhou, super convenient!
There are direct buses to Nanwan Lake and Jigong Mountain scenic areas, affordable and worry-free.
National Day mountain view homestays average 80 RMB per person, with a quiet environment and great value!
💖Real travel experience (National Day seasonal)
A healing treasure in the north for autumn✨!
Half northern vitality, half Jiangnan landscape!
Perfectly avoid the huge National Day crowds of Luoyang and Kaifeng; Xinyang's landscape is quiet and moist.
Nanwan Lake water is clear, with islands scattered like stars; walking by the lake is super relaxing.
Jigong Mountain forest autumn atmosphere is getting stronger, with dense greenery and fresh air—a natural oxygen bar!
The temperature is comfortable, neither cold nor hot, and the landscape is beautiful—a truly underestimated secret spot in southern Henan!
📅3 days 2 nights relaxed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and rest → Stroll and eat local southern Henan snacks in the city
Day 2: Cruise and roam Nanwan Lake, enjoy the lake and mountain scenery
Day 3: Light hike on Jigong Mountain, absorb oxygen, and relax before returning⛰️
😋Must-eat affordable food
Xinyang hot dry noodles, Nanwan fish, Gushi goose pieces, pot stickers, and ciba (glutinous rice cakes)—a fusion of northern and southern flavors, delicious and inexpensive!
🏡NO. 4 Ma'anshan, Anhui | A niche, poetic city along the Yangtze River
📍Location: Eastern Anhui, Ma'anshan. A niche city along the river, few people, quiet scenery, zero crowding
🚄Transportation tips
High-speed rail direct to Ma'anshan Station, half an hour from Nanjing and Hefei, the first choice for short trips!
City attractions are dense; Riverside Wetland Park and Taibai Pavilion are all accessible by bus.
National Day accommodation is super friendly, with affordable homestays averaging 75 RMB per person, no price hikes!
💖Real travel experience (National Day seasonal)
A dark horse for reverse travel around the Yangtze River Delta🍃!
Completely avoid the crowds of Huangshan, Suzhou, and Hangzhou; Ma'anshan is low-key and gentle.
The Yangtze River riverside walkway is wide and quiet, the river breeze is super healing, and the sunset over the Yangtze River in the evening is stunning.
Taibai Pavilion has ancient charm and is full of the culture of the "Poet Immortal" (Li Bai); the city pace is slow, clean, and tidy.
Suitable for getting away from the hustle and bustle during National Day, walking, daydreaming, and relaxing—comfort level is maxed out!
📅3 days 2 nights relaxed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and check-in → Stroll along the city riverside night view🌇
Day 2: Roam Taibai Pavilion and the ancient cultural district
Day 3: Relax at Riverside Park, comfortable return trip
😋Must-eat affordable food
Ma'anshan tea dried tofu, Caishiji cakes, old duck soup, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), and glutinous rice cakes—affordable Jiangnan carbs, go for it!
💡Tips for off-the-beaten-path National Day reverse travel✨
1. The four small cities are completely free of crowds and price hikes throughout the trip✅, and the National Day travel experience is far better than viral cities
2. Four styles: ancient city, seascape, mountain and lake, and riverside—no repeats, suitable for all types of travelers
3. The itinerary focuses on relaxed, slow travel—no rushing, no leg-weariness, suitable for solo travelers, couples, and best friends
4. Large temperature difference between day and night in autumn; it's cool by the river and in the forest, so remember to bring a light jacket
5. Prioritize old shops in residential areas for meals; they are fresh and authentic, and avoid shops in scenic areas with inflated prices
6. Extremely low commercialization, original scenery + local life, healing all fatigue
✨Heartfelt summary
The best travel during National Day is not checking in at popular spots, but enjoying the beautiful scenery in solitude🥹!
These 4 niche hidden gem cities are the right way to spend National Day!
No crowds, no price gouging, no sky-high accommodation prices,
Only gentle autumn scenery, clean landscapes, affordable food, and a relaxed holiday.
Low cost, high quality, super healing—decisively choose reverse travel this National Day and unlock a heavenly holiday✨