Tested 8 off-the-beaten-path spots where weekend costs are under 200 per person
Stop saying going out on weekends is just paying to suffer. Within a two-hour high-speed train radius, some places let you stay a night for the price of a bowl of noodles, and attraction tickets cost less than a cup of milk tea. The crowds are so light you can take photos without anyone photobombing. Here are a few hidden gems I’ve personally tried to make your weekend feel like a steal.
01 Shangqiu | Henan
⏰ Don’t sleep in past 7 AM. Head straight to the Guidefu City God Temple entrance in Shangqiu ancient city. Li’s rice soup there is only served until 9:30 AM. A bowl of hot rice soup with egg, paired with freshly baked sesame flatbread stuffed with beef, refreshes you for just 15 yuan. After eating, enter the ancient city from the east gate and walk along the central axis to the end, where you might find locals sitting on stone steps shelling broad beans and chatting.
🍜 For lunch, if you want something on the way, walk 15 minutes south from the ancient city’s south gate, then turn onto Minzhu Road to find an old shop called “Yongcheng What Soup Restaurant.” Their signature is steamed dishes with bean porridge. Try a plate each of steamed locust flowers and steamed crown daisy—so refreshing it clears away morning grease.
⚠️ In the afternoon, visit Mangdang Mountain but don’t rush straight to the underground palace. First, take the park shuttle to the tomb of King Liang Xiaowang and his queen. The entrance to the “world’s first stone chamber” is so narrow you have to squeeze in sideways. Inside, the stone walls still show chisel marks from Han dynasty craftsmen. You must exit before 4 PM or the wind in the mountain valley will chill you to the bone.
02 Aksu | Xinjiang
If you’re debating between driving or flying, my answer is: fly there and rent a car for a day. It’s a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Aksu city to the Tianshan mysterious canyon, and the road is so smooth you’ll feel like you’re flying a helicopter.
📍 Don’t just rush through the park. The most photogenic stretch is the walk from the entrance to the “Xuantian Ancient Fortress.” The reddish-brown cliffs shine golden under the 11 AM sun. You can touch the folds in the rock walls, and water drips down the stones. The air smells damp with minerals.
🚄 If you still have energy on the way back, stop by Kuqa old town for dinner. The Uyghur aunties’ tandoor-grilled meat skewers cost 10 yuan each, with chunks so big the juice drips down your chin on the first bite. Skip the night market; locals eat at “Aili Home Cooking” deep in the old town alleys.
03 Chuxiong | Yunnan
For Yuanmou Earth Forest, I recommend bringing a hat. The noon sun can roast you like charcoal, but at Wumao Earth Forest, only the light at that time makes the earth pillars look like they’re coated in gold paint.
⏰ Leave at 8 AM and take a taxi to the Wumao Earth Forest entrance. Walk along the boardwalk to the end, where you’ll see a cluster of earth pillars resembling the Potala Palace. Standing under the tallest pillar and looking up, the soil layers look like tree rings stacked in layers. The wind whistles through the gaps.
🍜 In the afternoon, head to Yi Ancient Town but don’t rush to the shops. Go around to the back gate to find a small street called “Torch Street,” which livens up after 4 PM. Street vendors sell freshly baked Yi buckwheat cakes dipped in wild honey—sweet but not greasy. Nearby, an elderly lady sells Yi lacquerware; a small bracelet costs 10 yuan, a great souvenir that won’t break the bank.
⚠️ The light in Yuanmou Earth Forest is mostly blocked by the western mountains after 4 PM, so it’s best to visit in the morning.
04 Baoding | Hebei
If you’re traveling with elders or kids, choose Qingxi Mausoleum; if you’re alone or with friends, go to Baishi Mountain. This is my conclusion after several visits.
📍 The best route at Baishi Mountain isn’t taking the cable car. Enter from the east gate and walk about 40 minutes to the “Leek Garden” steps, where huge rocks hang overhead. At 10 AM, when the fog clears, standing on the glass walkway looking down, you’ll see a thin layer of clouds floating in the valley, like walking on cotton.
⏰ I don’t recommend Yeshanpo in summer. Visit in autumn instead. At 5:30 PM in Bailixia, the sunset dyes the cliffs orange-red, leaves drift on the water, and the whole canyon is so quiet you can hear your own breath.
🚄 For Anxin Baiyangdian, time it right. The lotus blooms peak from late July to early August. If you miss that, don’t make a special trip. By late September, the lotus withers, and the wind blows only dry branches—dull and uninteresting.
05 Xiangxi | Fenghuang Ancient Town
Fenghuang Ancient Town has been talked about to death, but here’s a rarely mentioned way to enjoy it.
If you’re with your partner, start from “Rainbow Bridge” at 6 PM and walk downstream along the Tuojiang River. At the “Wanming Pagoda” section, there’s no light show on the river, only the dim reflections of stilt houses flickering on the water. Find a small bar that’s still open, order a 20-yuan drink, and sit by the river listening to live folk music.
If you find Fenghuang too commercial and want a wilder spot, set aside half a day for Dehang Grand Canyon. It’s an hour’s drive from Fenghuang county. Once inside the canyon, go straight to “Liusha Waterfall.” The waterfall isn’t large but has a great drop. Standing under it looking up, the mist drifts down like silk, cooling your face. The air smells of wet earth and moss.
⚠️ You can skip Shibadong Village; it’s far and requires a guide, and it’s easy to get lost on your own.
06 Wenzhou | Zhejiang
I have a flexible plan for Lingfeng Scenic Area in Yandang Mountain.
📍 Start at 2:30 PM from Dalongqiu waterfall, nearly 200 meters high. Then follow the trail to Fangdong Cave. By 5 PM, standing at the cave entrance looking west, the sunset hangs perfectly between two peaks like a red yolk.
🍜 After Fangdong, take a taxi to “Old Xu Stir-fry” in Yandang town. Order steamed hairtail fish and stir-fried rice noodles. The fish is so fresh the meat falls apart with chopsticks, and the noodles are dry, fragrant, and chewy. Two people spend less than 100 yuan.
⏰ Liu Bowen’s hometown is in Wencheng County, a bit far from Yandang Mountain. If you’re short on time, skip it. The main attraction is a temple on a mountaintop that takes half an hour to climb, but the view is average. Better to save your energy for Yandang.
07 Nanchong | Sichuan
For Langzhong ancient city, here’s a one-day itinerary.
Start at 7 AM passing through “Huaguang Tower” to buy a “Fangsu Guokui” stuffed with cold jelly noodles on West Street. The crispy crust crumbles with each bite, and the cold jelly mixed with chili oil is cold, spicy, and crunchy, leaving your mouth feeling like it’s on fire.
After breakfast, walk along “Xuedao Street” to Zhongtian Tower. Looking up from the base, you’ll see a few unknown small trees growing on the roof, their roots wedged in the tiles. This vibe is perfect for portraits, especially in qipao or Hanfu, where any shot looks like a Republic of China era photo.
🍜 For lunch, go to “Li’s Kitchen.” Their steamed buns are white and plump like little mantou but soft as clouds, sweet with sugar. Their signature vinegar fish has a vinegar aroma that can be smelled from a street away.
⚠️ After 3 PM, tour groups flood the ancient city. It’s best to sit in a teahouse by the Jialing River to relax and catch the breeze, then explore again after 5 PM.
08 Baicheng | Jilin
Da’an Nenjiang Bay’s best feature is that no one’s there.
📍 Drive 40 minutes from Baicheng city to the entrance of Nenjiang Bay National Wetland Park. Head straight to the birdwatching platform. From there, you’ll see vast reed beds swaying in the wind, and occasionally egrets fly by, their wingbeats splashing the water.
🍜 Baicheng’s most famous food is grilled lamb ribs. After leaving the park, head toward the city to “Grassland Family” for a table. Their ribs are crispy outside and tender inside, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder. Eat with your hands, and the aroma fills your nose. Pair it with a bowl of Mongolian milk tea, salty and savory, warming you up.
⚠️ Check flood season before you go. Nenjiang often floods in July and August, submerging some boardwalks and possibly closing the park. The best season is September to October, when the air is crisp and the scenery is at its best.
One last thing: I’ve personally tried all these places, and you can easily stretch 500 yuan over two days. Just a heads-up: accommodations and food get pricier closer to attraction entrances. Walk a bit further, and prices drop by half. Got any hidden budget-friendly spots? Share them in the comments.