High-speed rail directly connects to 4 neglected small towns | 3-day slow-paced, low-cost travel guide - a quick tip for working professionals!
High-speed rail direct access ✨ 4 laid-back small towns|3-day slow-paced, low-cost travel guide
Working stiffs, quick guide! High-speed rail direct access, no rushing, eat and play to your heart's content for 500 RMB per person, sleep in until you naturally wake up – a truly therapeutic slow-paced lifestyle, all about relaxing and not thinking too much!
🌶️ Zhejiang · Quzhou|Spicy Slow City in Western Zhejiang, Plenty of free attractions
🚄 Transportation: 1-2 hours high-speed rail from Shanghai/Hangzhou to Quzhou Station, shared electric scooters 5 RMB/hour, buses 1 RMB to explore the city, taxi starting fare 8 RMB
🏨 Accommodation: Guesthouses in Shuitingmen Old Town 80-150 RMB/night, chain hotels 100-200 RMB, within walking distance of all food and shopping spots
✅ Must-see list: Root Palace Buddhist Kingdom ✨ 5A scenic area, free to visit, the giant root carvings are truly breathtaking; Twenty-Eight Capital Ancient Town 🚪 Uncommercialized Ming and Qing dynasty streets, the blend of architecture from three provinces is incredibly charming; Shuitingmen 🌙 Night tour of the ancient city wall with its beautiful lights.
🍜Food: Three Heads and One Palm (a local specialty), Quzhou Baked Pancake (3-5 yuan), Crystal Cake (6 yuan), Kaihua Green Clams
💸Money-Saving Tips: 14 core scenic spots are free; make reservations in advance through Quzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau. Eating at roadside stalls is more cost-effective than trendy restaurants; the baked pancakes are incredibly fragrant with extra spice.
❤️Real Experience: A rare spicy small town in Jiangnan, with an incredibly slow pace of life. Riding an electric scooter around and enjoying the food is a breeze. Explore all the free attractions to your heart's content—the best value for money!
🪷Anhui·Chizhou|A Poetic City in Jiangnan, Blossoming Lakes and Mountains, Rich in Buddhist Charm
🚄Transportation: 1-hour direct high-speed rail from Hefei/Nanjing to Chizhou Station; Jiuhua Mountain scenic area shuttle bus 15 yuan; shared bikes in the city 3 yuan/hour
🏨Accommodation: Guesthouses in Guichi Old Town 70-130 yuan/night; guesthouses at the foot of Jiuhua Mountain around 150 yuan; super convenient for sightseeing and dining.
✅Must-Visit List: Pingtian Lake 🚲 Free walking and cycling around the lake, incredibly soothing scenery; Jiuhua Mountain ⛰️ Famous Buddhist mountain, climb to Tiantai to see the sea of clouds for ultimate tranquility; Xinghua Village 🍃 Poetic ancient village inspired by Du Mu, perfect for taking photos in its ancient style.
🍜Food: Chizhou Xiaoba (a type of rice cake), Jiuhua vegetarian cuisine, Qiupu mandarin fish, Lingyang dried tofu
💸Money-saving tips: Pingtian Lake and Xinghua Village are free; Jiuhua Mountain tickets are 140 yuan in the off-season, and online purchase in advance offers better discounts; local restaurants in the alleys offer all-you-can-eat meals for around 20 yuan per person.
❤️Real impressions: An underrated treasure of Jiangnan! The breeze at Pingtian Lake is so soothing! A leisurely stroll through the mountains and waters, brimming with Buddhist charm, offers complete relaxation without the hassle of rushing to any tourist attractions.
🍲 Guangdong · Chaozhou | A Thousand-Year-Old City, Culinary Delight, and a Relaxing Experience
🚄 Transportation: Take the high-speed train from Guangzhou/Shenzhen to Chaoshan Station (1.5-2 hours), then transfer to bus K2 (8 RMB) directly to the ancient city. Motorcycle taxis within the city cost 5-10 RMB – super convenient!
🏨 Accommodation: Old-style guesthouses around Paifang Street (90-160 RMB/night), quaint and charming, perfect for walking and exploring.
✅ Must-Visit: Guangji Bridge 🌉 One of China's four ancient bridges, witness the spectacular dismantling of a floating bridge + nighttime light show (entrance fee 20 RMB); Paifang Street 🏮 23 ancient archways connected in a row, offering a unique atmosphere for shopping and dining; Kaiyuan Temple 🕍 A thousand-year-old temple, free to visit, with red walls and golden tiles perfect for photos.
🍜Food: Beef hot pot (around 50 RMB per person), rice noodle soup, fermented bean curd chicken wings, sugar-coated scallion pancakes, Phoenix Dancong tea
💸Money-saving tips: For dim sum, choose a small street-side shop (around 15 RMB per person); a beef hot pot with side dishes is more economical; the light show outside Guangji Bridge is free, no tickets required.
❤️Real impression: A paradise for food lovers! Every day is spent strolling and eating, with motorcycle taxis weaving through the old town, exuding a lively and charming atmosphere. The leisurely pace makes you never want to leave, and a beef hot pot meal cures all your worries!
📜Fujian·Quanzhou|A City Half-Natural, Half-Immersive: A Place Full of Southern Fujian Charm
🚄Transportation: 30-minute high-speed train ride from Xiamen / 1 hour from Fuzhou to Quanzhou Station. Local public buses are just 2 yuan and stop wherever you wave, making it super convenient to explore the entire city.
🏨Accommodation: Guesthouses around West Street cost 80-120 yuan per night, with private bathrooms, within walking distance of all major attractions.
✅Must-Do List: West Street 🚶 Free to visit the thousand-year-old street, with red brick arcades and a Nanyang style, perfect for strolling, eating, and taking photos; Kaiyuan Temple 🕌 Free! A thousand-year-old temple housing a Song Dynasty stone pagoda, listening to the bells under the banyan trees is incredibly calming; Xunpu Village 💐 40 yuan to experience the "Zanhua Wei" (a traditional Tibetan garment basket) and take photos of the unique oyster shell houses.
🍜Food: Rice noodle soup (5 yuan), sea worm jelly, ginger duck, seaweed jelly, spring rolls
💸Money-saving tips: Qingyuan Mountain is free before 7 am; Luoyang Bridge and Kaiyuan Temple are also free; at Xunpu Village's flower-making stall, choose a stylist from a roadside auntie for 40 yuan including a makeover – super cost-effective!
❤️Real experience: A living fossil of Southern Fujian culture! Half city life, half idyllic; the old streets are brimming with local flavor, perfect for strolling, eating, and relaxing. Eat your fill for just 50 RMB per person!
💡General Money-Saving Tips
1. Book high-speed rail early bird tickets 14 days in advance for 20%-30% off the original price – perfect for a spontaneous weekend getaway.
2. Choose guesthouses in the old town or near attractions, book 10 days in advance for 30% cheaper than booking on-site.
3. For local snacks, look for street stalls and small shops in old alleys – half the price of trendy restaurants and more authentic.
4. Prioritize public transport/shared electric scooters/motorcycle taxis within the city – much cheaper than taxis for short trips.
5. Buy attraction tickets online in advance – even cheaper during the off-season, with many free attractions offering amazing deals.
Direct high-speed rail throughout, no rushing. 3 days of leisurely travel for 500-800 RMB per person – relax, eat, and enjoy the scenery. A cure for all your anxieties! Perfect for working professionals and students! ✨