30 Summer Getaways for 2025 (1/2) – Scenic Spots, Cuisine & Activities

Escape the summer heat in 2025! Here's a curated list of 30 hidden gem destinations. From cool mountains to tranquil lakes, pristine forests to fairytale towns, there's a perfect retreat for everyone. Swap air-conditioned rooms for natural breezes and embark on a refreshing spontaneous journey that makes this summer sparkle with comfort and beauty! 🌄 Arxan: Volcanic hot springs and forest oxygen bar. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~15°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Hot spring baths, forest views, Tianchi Lake. 🖼️ Attractions: Arxan National Forest Park, Tianchi Lake, Rose Peak, Halaha River, Hot Spring Museum. 🍽️ Food: Hand-grabbed mutton🥩, roasted whole lamb🐑, Hulunbuir dumplings🥟, milk tea☕️, milk tablets🍬, air-dried beef🥩. ❄️ Harbin: Cool summer capital with exotic charm. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~20°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Stroll Central Street, enjoy ice pops, summer performances. 🖼️ Attractions: Central Street, Sophia Cathedral, Sun Island Park, Ice-Snow World (summer events), Songhua Riverside. 🍽️ Food: Harbin red sausage🌭, sweet and sour pork🍖, Modern ice pops🍦, Russian bread🍞, iron pot stew🥘, pickled cabbage with vermicelli🥣. 🌊 Dalian: Romantic coastal retreat. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~23°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Beach days, seafood feasts, square exploring. 🖼️ Attractions: Xinghai Square, Tiger Beach Ocean Park, Jinshitan National Resort, Binhai Road, Bangchuidao Island. 🍽️ Food: Oysters🐚, sea urchin🍤, crab🦀, grilled squid🦑, mantis shrimp🦐, Spanish mackerel dumplings🥟. 🌲 Yichun: China's "Forest Capital", natural oxygen bar. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~18°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Rafting, hiking, forest bathing. 🖼️ Attractions: Wuying National Forest Park, Jiayin Dinosaur Geopark, Tangwanghe Stone Forest, Wuyiling Rafting, Meixi Russian Village. 🍽️ Food: Blueberries🫐, hazelnuts🌰, pine nuts🌰, wild greens🥬, mushroom chicken stew🍗, wild cold-water fish🐟. ☁️ Changbai Mountain: Volcanic lake & pristine wilderness. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~16°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Tianchi Lake views, hot springs, waterfalls. 🖼️ Attractions: Tianchi Lake, Changbai Waterfall, Small Tianchi, Jinjiang Canyon, Hot Spring Cluster. 🍽️ Food: Ginseng chicken🍗, kimchi🥬, Yanbian cold noodles🍜, BBQ🥩, matsutake mushrooms🍄, wild mushroom soup🍲. 🐎 Hulunbuir: Vast grasslands & nomadic culture. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~18°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Horse riding, grass sliding, sunrise views, bonfire parties, yurt stays. 🖼️ Attractions: Hulun Lake, Manzhouli Border Gate, Erguna Wetland, Moergle River (Golden Horde Site), Chen Barag Grassland. 🍽️ Food: Roasted whole lamb🐏, lamb chops🐑, hand-grabbed meat🥩, milk tea☕️, milk curd🍬, blood sausage🥄, meat sausage🥄. 🌊 Weihai: Blue seas & happy coastline. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~22°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Coastal cycling, seafood, seagull watching. 🖼️ Attractions: Liugong Island, Chengshantou Cape, Coastal Road, Hailu Island, Weihai Park. 🍽️ Food: Oysters🐚, clams🐚, sea urchin🍤, grilled oysters🐚, mackerel dumplings🥟, shrimp cakes🍳. 🍁 Yuexi: Anhui's hidden summer escape. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~24°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Summer retreat, autumn foliage (seasonal), hot springs. 🖼️ Attractions: Tianzhu Mountain (partial), Sikong Mountain, Miaodao National Forest Park, Rainbow Waterfall, Kujing Garden. 🍽️ Food: Mugwort cakes🥐, free-range chicken soup🍗, stone ear chicken🍗, mountain pepper oil noodles🍜, cured meat🥓, Xiao Diao wine🍻. 🏞️ Moganshan: Bamboo retreat with Republic-era charm. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~25°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Boutique B&Bs, bamboo forest walks, gourmet dining. 🖼️ Attractions: Wuling Village, Reed Marsh Park, White Cloud Villa, Naked Castle, Le Passage Mohkan Shan. 🍽️ Food: Vegetarian noodles🍜, bamboo rice🍚, bamboo shoot pork🥓, handmade tofu pudding🍜, sandwiches🥪, coffee☕️. 🚄 Liupanshui: "Cool City" with mountain rail adventures. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~19°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Scenic train rides, water activities. 🖼️ Attractions: Wumeng Grassland, Beipanjiang Grand Canyon, Yushe National Forest Park, Minghu Wetland, Cool City Water Park. 🍽️ Food: Griddle cooked dishes🍳, Si Wa Wa🥙, mutton noodles🍜, griddle potatoes🥔, buckwheat jelly🥣, rose hip juice🧃. 🌈 Jiuzhaigou: Colorful lakes & snow peaks. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~16°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Hiking, water scenery, Tibetan culture. 🖼️ Attractions: Five Flower Lake, Nuorilang Falls, Long Lake, Five Color Pond, Shuzheng Falls. 🍽️ Food: Tibetan pork🐖, yak meat🥩, barley bread🍞, butter tea☕️, Tibetan noodles🍜, yogurt🍮. ☁️ Lushan: Misty mountain retreat. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~22°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Cloud sea views, mountain hikes. 🖼️ Attractions: Hanpo Pass, Five Old Peaks, Three-Step Waterfall, Lushan Conference Site, Bai Juyi's Cottage. 🍽️ Food: Stone frog🐸, stone fish🐟, Lushan stone ear chicken🍗, Poyang Lake whitebait🐟, Lushan cloud tea🍵, Poyang Lake artemisia with bacon🥬. 👽 Shennongjia: "Wild Man" territory & primeval forest. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~17°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Exploration, hiking, "wild man" spotting. 🖼️ Attractions: Shennong Peak, Shennong Altar, Banqiao River, Hongping Gallery, Tianmenya Pass. 🍽️ Food: Cured meat🥓, free-range chicken🍗, wild greens🥬, Shennongjia wild honey🍯, bamboo shoot stir-fry🥬, local fried fish🐟. 🏔️ Guiqing Mountain: Stone forest & Danxia landforms. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~20°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Hiking, peak viewing, wildflowers. 🖼️ Attractions: Guiqing Mountain, Zheyang Mountain, Chanlin Temple, Jinsha Gorge, Stone Forest. 🍽️ Food: Cured meat🥓, pickled vegetables🥬, potato noodles🍜, lard bread🥖, pickled veggie noodles🍜, fern greens🥬. 🌼 Dali: Wind-flowers-snow-moon slow living. 🌡️ Avg. summer temp: ~20°C. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Activities: Erhai cycling, old town strolls, BBQ nights. 🖼️ Attractions: Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town, Three Pagodas, Cangshan Mountain, Butterfly Spring. 🍽️ Food: Rushan cheese🍢, sour-spicy fish🐟, Erkuai rice cake🥖, grilled cheese🍢, cold chicken rice noodles🍜, Xizhou baba pastry🥐.