Direct high-speed rail access! Six cities perfect for a weekend getaway – pick one and go when you're tired from your busy schedule!
Traveling is not just about reaching a destination, but about observing and feeling with a fresh perspective. A brief weekend getaway is a gentle jailbreak for your tense nerves. Stepping away from your workspace to another city to experience dawn and dusk, those new sights and flavors will recharge you like energy batteries, giving you the courage to face life again.
01 Shanxi · Pingyao: The Legacy of Shanxi Merchants, Ancient City Charm
Travel back to the Ming and Qing dynasties on the weekend. This is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China. During the day, explore the alleys of blue bricks and gray tiles to find the former glory of Shanxi merchant banks. At night, watch the red lanterns light up one by one, and the flags of the escort agency flutter in the wind. Two days are enough to understand a living ancient city.
✅ Transportation: [High-speed rail] to [Pingyao Ancient City Station], about 10 minutes by car to the scenic area; [Flight] to Taiyuan Wusu Airport, then take high-speed rail directly.
✅ Specialty foods: Pingyao beef, Wantuo (steamed wheat cake), Youmian Kaolao (oat noodles), knife-cut noodles, sea buckthorn juice
✅ 2-day itinerary:
D1: Pingyao Ancient City Wall → Rishengchang Draft Bank → Xietongqing Qianzhuang → Ming and Qing Street Night Market
D2: County Government Office → Confucian Temple → North China’s First Escort Agency → “See You Again, Pingyao” immersive drama
✅ Accommodation: Characteristic inns inside the ancient city for an immersive Shanxi merchant courtyard experience
✅ Estimated cost: 700-1100 RMB
✅ Best season: April to October
✅ User review: “Stepping into Pingyao is like opening a pop-up history book; every brick tells a story—truly stunning!”
02 Fujian · Quanzhou: Half City of Everyday Life, Half City of Immortals
Spend the weekend feeling like an “immortal.” This is the “World Religious Museum” and the United Nations-certified starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. Ancient houses and watchtowers coexist, with temples every three steps and Buddhist halls every five. Wander through the lively West Street, taste traditional snacks, and feel the unique aura of “this place was once called the Buddha Kingdom, filled with saints on every street.”
✅ Transportation: [High-speed rail] direct to [Quanzhou Station]; [Flight] to Jinjiang International Airport
✅ Specialty foods: Mianxian Hu (noodle soup), ginger duck, Tusu jelly, oyster omelet, Shihua jelly with four fruits soup
✅ 2-day itinerary:
D1: Kaiyuan Temple → West Street → Xiaoxicheng → Bell Tower → Qingjing Mosque → Guanyue Temple
D2: Qingyuan Mountain (Laojun Rock) → Overseas Transportation History Museum → Xunpu Village (experience Xunpu women’s costumes)
✅ Accommodation: Guesthouses near West Street or characteristic inns in the old town
✅ Estimated cost: 800-1200 RMB
✅ Best season: October to April
✅ User review: “In Quanzhou, faith and life blend completely; the incense and food aromas intertwine—so unique!”
03 Guangxi · Guilin: A Landscape Painting, Leisurely and Slow
“Guilin’s scenery is the best under heaven.” The weekend is the perfect time to escape the hustle and immerse yourself in this ink-wash scroll. No need to rush to all the sights; just rent an electric bike and roam among the mountains and waters, or daydream by the Li River, watch fishing boats sing at dusk, and enjoy pure relaxation.
✅ Transportation: [High-speed rail] direct to [Guilin Station] or [Guilin North Station]; [Flight] to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
✅ Specialty foods: Guilin rice noodles, beer fish, Lipu taro pork, stuffed snails, osmanthus cake
✅ 2-day itinerary:
D1: Elephant Trunk Hill → East and West Alleys → Jingjiang Princes’ City → Two Rivers and Four Lakes night tour
D2: Li River bamboo raft (Yangdi to Xingping section) → Xingping Ancient Town → West Street
✅ Accommodation: Hotels by Two Rivers and Four Lakes or characteristic guesthouses on Yangshuo West Street
✅ Estimated cost: 900-1400 RMB
✅ Best season: April to October
✅ User review: “The scenery from textbooks comes to life; cycling among the mountains and waters feels so free!”
04 Anhui · Huangshan: Hui-style Ink Painting, Autumn Like a Picture
Climbing Huangshan on the weekend might be challenging, but visiting the ancient Hui villages at its foot is perfect. See picturesque reflections in the white-walled, black-tiled Hongcun, feel the joy of harvest in Huangling’s drying autumn, and taste Mao tofu on Tunxi Old Street. Two days are enough to appreciate the essence of Hui culture.
✅ Transportation: [High-speed rail] direct to [Huangshan North Station], with shuttle buses to scenic spots; [Flight] to Huangshan Tunxi International Airport
✅ Specialty foods: Stinky mandarin fish, Mao tofu, Hui-style knife-cut sausage, Huangshan baked cake, Wenzheng mountain bamboo shoots
✅ 2-day itinerary:
D1: Hongcun → Lucun Wood Carving Building → Tachuan Autumn Scenery (autumn only) → “Hongcun · A Ju” performance
D2: Xidi → Ancient Hui City → Tunxi Old Street
✅ Accommodation: Guesthouses inside Hongcun/Xidi scenic areas for peaceful early mornings
✅ Estimated cost: 850-1300 RMB
✅ Best season: March to May, September to November (especially autumn)
✅ User review: “The Moon Pond and South Lake in Hongcun are unrealistically beautiful—like a walking ink painting!”
05 Hunan · Changsha: Star City’s Heat, Nightlife by the River
Experience the heat and vitality of this entertainment capital on the weekend. Start with a bowl of rice noodles in the morning, and the streets remain lively until dawn. Visit Yuelu Mountain for cultural depth, watch fireworks at Orange Isle, and most importantly, let the spicy Hunan cuisine ignite your taste buds.
✅ Transportation: [High-speed rail] direct to [Changsha South Station]; [Flight] to Changsha Huanghua International Airport
✅ Specialty foods: Changsha stinky tofu, sugar oil baba, spicy crayfish, Hunan dishes (stir-fried beef, etc.), Chayan Yuese tea shop
✅ 2-day itinerary:
D1: Yuelu Mountain (Aiwan Pavilion, Yuelu Academy) → Orange Isle → Taiping Old Street → Super Wenheyou
D2: Hunan Provincial Museum (Mawangdui Han Tomb) → IFS International Finance Square → Pozi Street → Jiefang West Road Bar Street
✅ Accommodation: Hotels near Wuyi Square or by the Xiang River, convenient transport and vibrant nightlife
✅ Estimated cost: 900-1400 RMB
✅ Best season: March to May, September to November
✅ User review: “Changsha is so delicious and fun! Five meals a day aren’t enough, and the nightlife is so rich you don’t want to sleep!”
06 Guizhou · Zhaoxing Dong Village: Terraced Fields and Songs, Secret Zhaoxing
If you want a truly peaceful weekend getaway, Zhaoxing Dong Village is an excellent choice. It’s one of the largest Dong ethnic villages in China, with drum towers, flower bridges, and terraced fields forming a stunning picture. Listen to Dong grand songs, watch the morning mist swirl around the village, and time naturally slows down here.
✅ Transportation: [High-speed rail] direct to [Congjiang Station], then about 15 minutes by car to the village; [Flight] to Guiyang Longdongbao Airport, then transfer to high-speed rail.
✅ Specialty foods: Sour soup fish, niu bue hotpot, glutinous rice, roasted fragrant pork, oil tea
✅ 2-day itinerary:
D1: Zhaoxing Dong Village main street → Five Major Drum Towers → Viewing platform for night views → Enjoy Dong grand song performance
D2: Tang’an Terraced Fields hike → Huanggang Dong Village → Experience batik or tie-dyeing
✅ Accommodation: Characteristic guesthouses in the village, with scenic views right outside the window
✅ Estimated cost: 800-1200 RMB
✅ Best season: April to October
✅ User review: “Zhaoxing is more peaceful and beautiful than imagined; Dong grand songs are heavenly, and terraced field hikes are healing!”
Life is always busy, but don’t forget, poetry and distant places are just a high-speed rail ticket away. When you’re tired, pick a favorite destination and set off this weekend!