Six Cities Perfect for Budget Travel in June-July

💥Here is a condensed travel guide tailored for Chongqing, Kunming, Yangzhou, Luoyang, Zhangzhou, and Pu'er, balancing uniqueness and efficiency: --- 📍**Chongqing (2-3 days)** *💓*Core Experience**: Magical Mountain City + Spicy Jianghu -‼️ **Must-visit**: 🥳 - **Hongya Cave**: Enjoy the night view of stilt houses like in Spirited Away and photograph the Qiansimen Bridge at night. 🌟 - **Light Rail Through Building** (Line 2 Liziba Station): Check in at the "Sky Train" wonder. 🍜 - **Jiefangbei/Bayi Food Street**: Try noodles, hot and sour rice noodles, hotpot (recommended: Peijie, Zhou Shixiong). 👟 - **Tips**: Wear comfortable shoes, ask for directions when GPS fails; book the Yangtze River Cableway in advance. --- 🌟**Kunming (2 days)** 💕**Core Experience**: Spring City Flower Sea + Plateau Pearl -✅ **Must-visit**: ❣️ - **Stone Forest**: Karst wonder, hike the core area (about 3 hours). 🥳 - **Dianchi Haigeng Dam**: Feed red-billed gulls in winter, see the "Sleeping Beauty" of West Mountain in summer. 💐 - **Dounan Flower Market**: Asia’s largest fresh flower market, freshest in the evening. 🍲 - **Food**: Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles (Jianxinyuan), mushroom hotpot (a must-try in rainy season). --- 🌈**Yangzhou (2 days)** 💖**Core Experience**: Slow Life Gardens + Huaiyang Delicacies ‼️ - **Must-visit**: 🥳 - **Slender West Lake**: Avoid crowds early morning, feel "both banks with flowers and willows by the water." ❣️ - **Ge Garden/He Garden**: Choose one; Ge Garden for seasonal rockeries, He Garden for Sino-Western fusion. 💓 - **Pishi Street**: Artsy shops + cafes, check in at the "Yangzhou" character wall. 🍵 - **Morning Tea Experience**: Quyuan Teahouse (Black Pearl recommended), try San Ding Bao and hot dried tofu strips. --- 📍**Luoyang (2 days)** 🌟**Core Experience**: Ancient Capital Charm + Peony City ❗ - **Must-visit**: 🌸 - **Longmen Grottoes**: Visit West Mountain grottoes in the morning, be amazed by the Vairocana Buddha. ⭐ - **White Horse Temple**: China’s first ancient temple, admire Thai and Indian style halls. -✅ **Luoyi Ancient City**: Night tour in Hanfu for photos, lights highlight Tang and Song architecture. 🌟 - **Seasonal Special**: See peonies in Wangcheng Park in April; try water banquet (Zhen Butong Restaurant). --- 📍 **Zhangzhou (2 days)** 💕**Core Experience**: Minnan Ancient Charm + Mountain-Sea Wonders ❗ - **Must-visit**: ☁️ - **Nanjing Tulou** (Yunshuiyao): Stay in Tashan Village, morning walk in "Four Dishes and One Soup" snail pit. 💖 - **Zhangzhou Ancient City**: Try Confucius Temple juice (Pianzaihuang + sugarcane), ma ci, and braised noodles. 🌋 - **Volcano Island**: Pink Monument Valley maze, a photo hotspot. ⚠️ - **Tips**: Tulou is 1.5 hours from city center, recommend charter or self-drive. --- 📍**Pu'er (2 days)** *💖*Core Experience**: Tea Mountain Secret Realm + Rainforest Ecology ❗ - **Must-visit**: - 🌲**Pu'er Sun River Forest Park**: Touch pandas, feed rhinos, perfect for families. -⭐ **Jingmai Mountain** (full day): Thousand-year-old tea gardens, Wengji ancient village for sea of clouds and roasted tea tasting. 🥳 - **Nakeli Tea Horse Road**: Horse hoof print stone path, experience caravan culture. 😋😋 - **Taste**: Sample raw Pu'er tea at tea estates, eat sour and vinegar rice noodles at night market. --- ✅*Efficient Combination Suggestions** 🌟1. **History Route**: Luoyang (Grottoes) + Zhangzhou (Tulou) 🌟2. **Nature Route**: Kunming (Stone Forest) + Pu'er (Rainforest) 🌟3. **Leisure Route**: Yangzhou (Gardens) + Chongqing (Night Views) *⚠️*Notes**: ✅- Chongqing/Kunming are hubs, transfer by high-speed rail after flying in; ✅- Pu'er attractions are scattered, chartering a car is more efficient; ✅- Book popular activities in advance (Yangtze River Cableway/Yangzhou morning tea). ❣️❣️Choose 2-3 cities based on your interests for a deeper trip, more enjoyable than just ticking boxes! 🌟