Low budget, slow pace, and beautiful scenery—a great getaway for working professionals and students! Detailed guide included 🔥
1️⃣ Hechi, Guangxi—A Secret Karst Land and a Hometown of Longevity 🏞️
Recommended: Enjoy the idyllic karst scenery with few crowds, bamboo rafting, cave exploration, and Zhuang cultural experiences all in one place. Immerse yourself in the crowds and experience the ultimate relaxation. Budget: 3 days, 2 nights, 600 yuan per person (including round-trip high-speed rail)
• Transportation: Direct high-speed rail to Hechi Station, city buses/electric vehicles
• Accommodation: Longevity Village B&B, 150-300 yuan/night (mountain and water views from the window)
• Must-see attractions: Bamboo rafting on the Hongshui River (mirror-clear water, a picturesque experience), Bama Longevity Village (watch centenarians enjoying their leisurely lifestyle), Liu Sanjie's hometown (listen to Zhuang folk songs)
• Recommended dishes: Pan-fried Bama oil fish (fragrant, crispy and tender), hemp soup (a longevity specialty, light and healthy), Zhuang five-color glutinous rice (symbolizing good luck)
• Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Hechi → Bama Longevity Village → Taste hemp soup
Day 2: Bamboo rafting on the Hongshui River → Explore Baimo Cave → Eat five-color glutinous rice
Day 3: Listen to folk songs at Liu Sanjie's hometown → Buy Bama fragrant pork bacon → Return
2️⃣ Zhangzhou, Fujian—Old-Fashioned Southern Fujian Flavors and Island Romance 🌊
Recommended: Half the city is bustling, half is idyllic, with beaches reminiscent of "The Left Ear" and ancient temples and fishing villages. Enjoy a wide variety of affordable dining options, making it an excellent value.
Budget: 3 days, 2 nights, 700 yuan per person
• Transportation: High-speed rail + city bus/electric car, round-trip fare approximately 200 yuan
• Accommodation: Nanmen Bay B&B, 100+ yuan/night (sea view from the window)
• Must-see attractions: Dongshan Island Nanmen Bay (coastal cycling), Sufeng Mountain Ring Road (electric car rental 50 yuan/day, stunning sunset), Fishbone Sandbar (appears at low tide, looks like fish bones in aerial photos)
• Recommended food: Little Wife Sweet Soup (8 yuan with ten ingredients), Uncle Chen's Fish Balls (15 yuan/bowl, incredibly fresh), Seafood Fried Rice Noodles (cooked fresh at the dock, steaming hot)
• Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Zhangzhou → Nanmen Bay for food and drinks → Wengong Temple for panoramic views
Day 2: Jinluan Bay Mirror Beach → Sufeng Mountain Coastal Cycling
Day 3: Fishbone Sandbar (reach at low tide) → Return
3️⃣ Zhenjiang, Jiangsu – The Legend of White Snake and the Charm of the Vinegar Capital 🏮
Recommendation: Its ancient charm rivals Nanjing's. Jinshan Temple, Xijin Ferry, and pot-covered noodles connect history and modernity, while the soft Wu dialect evokes a sense of slow living.
Budget: 3 days, 2 nights, 500 yuan per person (1 hour high-speed rail ride from Shanghai)
• Transportation: Direct high-speed rail, city bus, or walking distance
• Accommodation: Ancient City Inn, 150 yuan/night (breakfast included)
• Must-see attractions: Jinshan Temple (check out the "Flooding Jinshan" event), Xijindu Ancient Street (take photos in Hanfu), Beigushan (see the Three Kingdoms ruins and admire the Yangtze River from a vantage point)
• Recommended food: Yaorou Pot Cover Noodles (15 yuan/bowl, with fragrant meat and springy noodles), Zhenjiang Fragrant Vinegar Duck (flavorful vinegar), Hengshun Fragrant Vinegar (a great souvenir)
• Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Zhenjiang → Check out Jinshan Temple → Eat Yaorou Pot Cover Noodles
Day 2: Visit the Three Kingdoms ruins at Beigushan → Take photos in Hanfu at Xijindu
Day 3: Admire the "Floating Jade in the River" at Jiaoshan → Purchase Hengshun Fragrant Vinegar → Return
4️⃣ Xuancheng, Anhui – The Four Treasures of the Study and the Footsteps of the Immortal Poet 🖌️
Recommendation: This Jiangnan region, a place Li Bai never tires of admiring, offers hiking at Jingting Mountain, rice paper making, and boating at Taohuatan—a must-do for artistic youth.
Budget: 3 days, 2 nights, 700 yuan per person
• Transportation: Xuancheng High-Speed Railway Station → Bus No. 1 to Jingting Mountain (2 yuan)
• Accommodation: Inn next to Xie Tiao's Former Residence, 180 yuan/night (with complimentary Xuan paper experience)
• Must-see attractions: Jingting Mountain Poetry Hike (with a check-in stone inscription of Li Bai's Collected Works), Xuan Paper Culture Park (30 yuan paper scooping/drying experience), Taohuatan Bamboo Rafting (wear a straw raincoat and become a fisherman)
• Recommended Food: Hu Shi Yipin Hot Pot (layers of delicious flavor), Shuiyang Three Treasures (dried tofu, duck foot buns, and sausage), Wei's Wontons and Duck Foot Buns (a popular dish in the Old Street area)
• Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Xuancheng → Jingting Mountain Poetry Hike → Wei's Wontons and Duck Foot Buns
Day 2: Xuan Paper Culture Park DIY → Taohuatan Boating
Day 3: Sketching in Zhaji Ancient Town → Return with dried qin fish (10 yuan/can)
💡 General Money-Saving Tips
• Transportation: Choose a hard seat on the train or bus, and use shared electric scooters and public transportation within the city.
• Accommodation: Book a hostel or B&B a week in advance; the Old Town offers the best value.
• Tickets: Prioritize free attractions; student IDs (including graduate students) offer 50% off.
• Food: Enjoy local food stalls—cheap and authentic.
📢 These small towns are known for their sparse crowds, beautiful scenery, low costs, and slow pace—perfect for relaxing and unwinding for working professionals and students.
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