As we enter the peak of summer, the entire country has fully embraced the barbecue mode, and the desire to find a summer paradise to escape the heat begins to stir.
Come out to see the azure sky, the pristine clouds, feel the cool breeze, and put on a beautiful dress—that’s the right way to kick off summer!
The following summer retreats, which are not only refreshingly cool with built-in air conditioning but also breathtakingly beautiful with a heavenly ambiance, will make you want to stay and never leave. Choose one and embark on a delightful summer journey at 25°C.
1.Heilongjiang·Yichun
Yichun is a forest city with built-in air conditioning.
It is China’s largest forest city, with an average summer temperature of around 20°-22°C. If you want to experience living in the forest like an elf, then you can come here.
However, if you come here expecting the scenery of Zhangjiajie, you will certainly be disappointed. In this city where trees outnumber people, the best thing to do is to slow down and enjoy life.
Take a small train or a forest bus and leisurely shuttle through the forest area, breathing in the rich forest air, and you will feel all your cells come alive.
Location: Xiaoxing’anling Forest Region, Northeast Heilongjiang
2.Qinghai·Yushu
In summer, no one can resist the coolness of Qinghai! Previously, we recommended Qilian and Haixi in Qinghai, but this summer, we strongly recommend you visit Yushu.
All the scenic spots here are free of charge! Whether it’s a major attraction or a wild spot, there are no enclosures or barriers set up, making it a true wonder in the travel industry!
Moreover, the scenery here is more pristine and wild, with towering snow-capped mountains, vast grasslands, beautiful valleys, and flowing rivers…
However, the best advice for visiting here is to self-drive. Along the way, you don’t need to worry about the cost of tickets; just enjoy the unexpected beautiful scenery to your heart’s content.
Warm reminder: Yushu has an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, so it’s important to prevent altitude sickness in advance.
Recommended route: Xining—Chengduo County—Yushu City—Take National Highway 215—Zhiduo—Qumalai—Zhiduo—Take Provincial Highway 224—Zaduo—Nangqian—Take Provincial Highway 214 back to Yushu City
3.Shaanxi·Taibai
If you find it too hot, why not delve into Taibai County, the highest altitude county in Shaanxi?
It is hidden in the core mountain range of the Qinling Mountains, with an average summer temperature of 19°C and a forest coverage rate of 91.96%, making it not only a “natural air-conditioned city” but also a “natural oxygen bar.”
Here, you can also hide in the Qingfeng Gorge Forest Park, where the highest temperature does not exceed 28°C. Surrounded by green mountains, gurgling streams, chirping birds, fragrant flowers, and misty clouds, it exudes a poetic beauty.
You can also enter the “natural oxygen bar” of Huangbai Plateau and enjoy the tranquility brought by the rolling mountains and lush pines and cypresses. You might even have an encounter with giant pandas or golden monkeys!
Location: Taibai County, Baoji City, Shaanxi
4.Shanxi·Datong
Datong, one of the nine ancient capitals of China, ranks alongside Beijing, Xi’an, and Nanjing, boasting countless cultural heritages.
It is just a 2-hour high-speed train ride from Beijing, yet it has never been on your travel list.
It is universally recognized by Shanxi people as a paradise for health and a summer resort. With 300 days of Datong Blue annually, thanks to its location at the junction of the Central Plains and the frontier, its average maximum temperature of 26.4°C is truly enviable!
Here, you can comfortably visit the Hanging Temple and the Yungang Grottoes, climb the North Yue Hengshan Mountain, or seek out the wild Great Wall scattered in the fields and various styles of beacon towers.
Alternatively, you can stroll and eat in the ancient city of Datong, immersing yourself in history without rushing, taking it slow and easy, which is particularly pleasurable.
Location: Datong City, Shanxi
5.Jilin·Changchun
When it comes to summer retreats in the Northeast, don’t just think of Changbai Mountain; Changchun’s summers are equally comfortable! This is a city named after spring, and 22°C is the unique temperature of its summer. In this city, it’s not just high-rise buildings that stand tall, but also real forests.
Changchun seems to have brought the forest into the city, boasting the highest greenery among major Asian cities and being hailed as “Asia’s largest man-made forest sea”!
It’s a veritable “forest city”! It has been rated as a summer resort city for several consecutive years, yet it remains low-key, without crowds or noise, only filled with greenery throughout the city!
Here, you can visit the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo and explore the traces of modern history left on the streets. You can hide in Jingyuetan Park or wait for a sunset at Nanhu Lake.
You can take a ride on Tram Line 54 and shuttle through the old times, or experience the lively barbecue night market in the Northeast, which is simply carefree!
Location: Changchun, Jilin
6.Zhejiang·Deqing
This is one of the four major summer resorts in China; it was once listed by The New York Times as “one of the 45 most worthwhile places to visit in the world” and was also selected by CNN as one of the “15 unique places you must visit in China.”
Moganshan, China’s famous summer resort mountain, is located in Deqing. In addition, it has the best B&Bs in the Yangtze River Delta region and is known as the “Chinese version of Pai.”
There is also a little-known ancient town here called Xinshi Ancient Town, which seems to be a forgotten water town in Jiangnan. “People’s homes line both banks with willow shades; stepping out the door, one enters a boat,” with markets along the bridge and buildings by the river.
If you find summer too restless, why not save a few days of free time and find a B&B in Deqing to spend your days at ease amidst the scorching summer?
Location: Deqing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang
7.Sichuan·Xichang
When people from all over the country come to Chengdu for tourism, Chengdu residents go to Xichang for vacation!
Xichang, also known as the “Little Spring City” or “a city where spring resides.”
It is located deep in the Daliang Mountains at an altitude of around 1,500 meters, with an average annual temperature of 18°C. It has warm winters and cool summers, with an urban forest coverage rate of 85%, making it a natural paradise for summer retreat and health preservation!
It is also known as the most delicious small city in the Southwest, shaking the barbecue circle with a single dish of hot pot barbecue and gaining numerous fans in the TV show “A Bite of China.”
Here, you can stay by Qionghai Lake, opening the curtains every day to a boundless lake view, or indulge in barbecue and beer in a bustling restaurant…
- By air: Xichang Qingshan Airport. There are daily flights to major cities such as Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Beijing, and Shanghai.
- By train: The Chengdu-Kunming Railway passes through, reaching Chengdu in the north and Kunming in the south.
- By car: From Chengdu, take the Yaxi Expressway for a total distance of about 445 kilometers.
8.Inner Mongolia·Xilingol Grassland
For summer retreat, you can come up with 108 ultimate tricks, but nothing is more exhilarating and delightful than walking on the Xilingol Grassland!
As far as the eye can see, there are green grasses gently undulating like ocean waves. I dare say that the emotion brought by this extreme vastness can only be found here.
Although not as famous or popular as the Hulunbuir Grassland, the Xilingol Grassland is the most pristine and undamaged grassland in Inner Mongolia, rated by the United Nations as the “model grassland of the Eurasian continent.”
The Mongolian yurts and cattle and sheep dotting the grassland add a touch of romance! A single visit to Xilingol can fulfill all your imaginations of the grassland!
Location: Near National Highway 207, Xilinhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Recommended route: Beijing—Bashang—Xilingol—Crossing the Grassland—Huanying River—Mazhen—Beijing
9.Zhejiang·Pan’an
Pan’an, the coolest forest town in Zhejiang, is located at the geographic center of Zhejiang.
In recent years, with the explosive popularity of TV dramas such as “The Untamed” and “Nothing But Thirty,” Pan’an, where they were filmed, has gradually gained recognition.
It is a veritable “forest city” with 1.8 million trees per capita and a forest greening rate approaching 80%.
In summer, the average temperature is 5-6°C lower than the surrounding areas, making it an excellent destination for summer retreat.
Here, you can enjoy mountains and waters, with Lingjianyuan Forest Park, Eighteen Bends, Baizhang Tan, Huaxi, and more, all bringing you endless delight.
You can also visit the ubiquitous stone houses in Wushi Village and even taste the unique medicinal cuisine here, which nourishes both the mind and body!
Location: Pan’an County, Jinhua City, Zhejiang; accessible by train and expressway.
10.Hubei·Xuanen
Xuanen is located in the midst of Enshi, the most beautiful fairyland in China. It inherits the beautiful scenery of Enshi and secretly houses many wonderful mountains and rivers, yet remains overly low-key.
Especially when summer arrives, it becomes incredibly beautiful!
Not only does it have China’s most beautiful floating bridge on water, Shiziguan, but also the mysterious karst sinkhole, Luoquanyan Tiankeng.
Not only does it have the heavenly residence of Pengjiazhai, but also the Qingshuitan, known as the Little Jiuzhaigou of Western Hubei, Yejiaoyuan, the first ancient Dong village in Wuling, and Wujiatai, the first village of Chinese tribute tea…
In short, Xuanen has mountains, waters, ancient villages, and towns, making it the perfect place to spend the summer.
Location: Xuanen County, Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province
Recommended route: The Enlai and Enqian Expressways, National Highway 209, and Provincial Highway 232 run through the entire territory of Xuanen County. You can take the Enqian or Enlai Expressway to the Jiaoyuan Expressway exit, which is about 10 kilometers from Xuanen County.
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11.Hubei·Shennongjia
Some say: winter in Hainan Island, summer in Shennongjia.
Apart from the heat, everything here is ready: green trees, meadows, cool breezes, starry skies, flying waterfalls…
Walking in the tranquil mountains and forests of Shennongjia is like walking in an air-conditioned room. In the lush primeval forest, taking deep breaths of the abundant negative ions is such a refreshing and pleasant experience.
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12.Sichuan·Xinlong
Between the two most beautiful national roads in Sichuan, 317 and 318, there is a hidden land comparable to Daocheng, yet few people know about it. It is Xinlong, which is regarded by backpackers as the second Daocheng!
It is tucked away in a corner, yet possesses stunning scenery.
It condenses the beauty of western Sichuan and even the entire Tibetan area, with snow mountains, grasslands, forests, lakes, temples… quietly awaiting your arrival.
Here, you can traverse the mysterious Yalong River Grand Canyon, “visit” the sacred Kawagarbo Snow Mountain, gaze at Cuoka Lake, and freely roam the Larima Grassland.
Location: Xinlong County, Ganzi, Sichuan (between 317 and 318)
13.Qinghai·Dulan
Qinghai is one of the most popular summer travel destinations. But when people flock to Qinghai Lake and Menyuan, they don’t know that not far from Chaka Salt Lake and along the Qinghai-Tibet route, there is a particularly pristine secret land where even the air is filled with the scent of green grass. It is Dulan.
If the Creator bestowed gold upon Menyuan and blue upon Qinghai Lake, then the biased Creator bestowed all the colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet upon Dulan. When midsummer arrives, it becomes stunningly beautiful.
Endless grasslands, standing green mountains, growing wildflowers, and the scenery that stretches to the horizon are absolutely refreshing and cool.
Here, there is no hustle and bustle of Qinghai Lake, nor the crowds of Chaka Salt Lake. You can escape the noise and relax your tense nerves.
Location: Dulan County, Qinghai, next to National Highway 109
14.Gansu·Maqu
Maqu, rated by China National Geographic Magazine as the No. 1 among China’s five most beautiful grassland wetlands, lies quietly on the border of Gannan and Qinghai. It can fulfill all our fantasies about grasslands.
The first bend of the winding Yellow River is here, and snow mountains rise high here. The grassland is magnificent, with cattle and sheep all over… There are no swarms of tourists, and you don’t have to worry about altitude sickness. Just calm down and experience the simplest and most genuine happiness.
In the 18°C midsummer, while walking and stopping, you will encounter the most simple grassland pastoral song and a rich Tibetan style.
Location: Maqu County, Gannan Prefecture, Gansu
The summer is so beautiful, don’t let it be reduced to just heat. Among these 14 summer retreats, do you want to pick one and spend a few cool days?
