After working overtime, I just wanted to find a place that isn't crowded and doesn't require waking up early to travel. I've picked 4 cities with completely different styles, all accessible by high-speed rail, perfect for a short getaway to sleep in and explore at a leisurely pace.
🌿 Zhejiang · Songyang | The last hidden gem of Jiangnan
🚄 Transportation: About 1.5 hours by high-speed rail from Hangzhou East to Songyang Station. Take a taxi to the county town after exiting the station.
🍃 Overall feel: Avoid Wuzhen and Xitang. Yellow mud ancient villages and Songyin Creek offer a very rustic atmosphere, perfect for getting some fresh air and relaxing.
🗓️ 3-day 2-night slow itinerary
Day 1 | Arrive and check in. Stroll through the Ming and Qing Ancient Street in the afternoon, see the old artisan shops, and take a walk along Songyin Creek in the evening to wait for the sunset.
Day 2 | Yangjiatang Ancient Village. See the yellow earth houses and find a corner to sunbathe. No need to force yourself to visit all the villages; just go back to the homestay to rest if you're tired.
Day 3 | Sit at Chenjiapu Avant-Garde Bookstore, take a light stroll through the village, buy local specialties, and head back.
🍜 Food: Salt-baked chicken, huizhi cake, sweet potato starch dumplings.
🏨 Accommodation tips: Prioritize the county town or Yangjiatang homestays. The ancient villages are quiet and remote at night; if you're worried about convenience, choose the county town.
💡 Quick tip: There is distance between the ancient villages; you can charter a car or take a taxi, don't try to walk.
🪨 Fujian · Taining | A city of water and Danxia landforms
🚄 Transportation: About 1.5 hours by high-speed rail from Fuzhou to Taining Station. Take a 10-minute taxi ride to the ancient city.
🍃 Overall feel: A quiet ancient city in northern Fujian, with clear water and Danxia landforms. Taking a boat to see the mountains is very healing, and there are no crowded tour groups.
🗓️ 3-day 2-night slow itinerary
Day 1 | Arrive and take your time strolling through Taining Ancient City + Shangshu Lane. The old alleys are very quiet. Rest in the evening.
Day 2 | Take a boat tour of Dajin Lake and see Ganlu Temple. If you don't want to rush, just visit this one spot and spend the rest of the time resting.
Day 3 | Take a gentle walk in Zhaixia Grand Canyon to see the streams and rock walls, or just eat snacks in the ancient city. Head back when you have time.
🍜 Food: Youjiang tofu, nuangu buns, Jinhu clear water fish.
🏨 Accommodation tips: Homestays inside the ancient city; you're right in the alleys, making it convenient to eat.
💡 Quick tip: You must take a boat at Dajin Lake. Boat schedules are fixed, so no need to wake up early to grab the first one.
🏮 Anhui · Jixi | The origin of Huizhou culture
🚄 Transportation: High-speed rail from Hangzhou/Shanghai directly to Jixi North Station.
🍃 Overall feel: Avoid the crowds of Hongcun and Xidi. White walls and black tiles along the Dengyuan River, delicious Huizhou cuisine, and friendly prices.
🗓️ 3-day 2-night slow itinerary
Day 1 | Check into a homestay near Longchuan, take a walk along the Dengyuan River in the evening, and see the riverside villages.
Day 2 | Longchuan Hu Ancestral Hall, then go to Renli Ancient Village and spend the afternoon drinking tea at an old teahouse.
Day 3 | Light hike on the gentle section of the Huihang Ancient Trail. Only walk the entrance section, no need to challenge yourself with high intensity. Head back afterward.
🍜 Food: Hu Shi Yipin Pot, Jixi stir-fried vermicelli, taguo.
🏨 Accommodation tips: Homestays in Longchuan Village offer great value; if you want more excitement, stay in Jixi County.
💡 Quick tip: Assess your ability for the Huihang Ancient Trail. If you don't want to walk, just skip it; no need to force yourself to check it off.
🍲 Jiangxi · Qianshan | A city of local life in Hekou Ancient Town
🚄 Transportation: Only 22 minutes by high-speed rail from Shangrao to Qianshan Station.
🍃 Overall feel: Close to Gexian Village, but much quieter. Local people still live in the Ming and Qing old streets of Hekou Ancient Town, and it's not very commercialized.
🗓️ 3-day 2-night slow itinerary
Day 1 | Arrive, stroll through Hekou Ancient Town, take your time visiting the old merchant houses and paper mills, and watch the evening breeze on the Xin River.
Day 2 | You can go to Gexian Mountain (optional! If you don't want to climb the mountain, stay in the ancient town to drink tea and eat snacks).
Day 3 | Look for food at the ancient town's morning market, walk around, buy snacks like dengzhanguo, and head back.
🍜 Food: Dengzhanguo, Qianshan hot noodles, rice cakes.
🏨 Accommodation tips: Hotels around Hekou Ancient Town are convenient for travel and dining.
💡 Quick tip: Climbing Gexian Mountain is quite tiring. If your main goal is to relax, you can skip it.
✨ Final thoughts
These four places correspond to: rustic ancient villages, Danxia landscapes, Huizhou-style villages, and the local life of an old town.
You don't have to visit them all at once; pick the one that best matches your current mood.
The core of a relaxing trip is: you don't have to visit all the attractions, stop when you're tired, and don't force yourself to complete a checklist.