Take the high-speed rail directly to avoid the crowds on May Day! Small cities
If you are looking for a **high-speed rail direct**, **crowd-free**, **low-cost** and **slow-paced** city travel guide, here are some recommended destinations for the May Day holiday, combining high-speed rail convenience with a comfortable travel experience:
**1️⃣. Quanzhou, Fujian**
**✨Recommendation reason**: Half of the city is bustling with people and the other half is fairyland, with a strong Minnan culture, fewer tourists and low consumption.
**🚄High-speed rail direct**: Quanzhou Station (about 1 hour from Fuzhou/Xiamen)
**Core gameplay**:
- **West Street** (Southern Fujian ancient houses + authentic snacks)
- **Xiepu Village** (experience the hairpin flower circle and take photos of the fisherwoman style)
- **Luoyang Bridge** (ancient bridge from the Song Dynasty, beautiful sunset)
**🍱Food recommendations**: Vermicelli soup, ginger duck, four-fruit soup
**🏠Accommodation suggestion**: West Street B&B, 100-200 yuan per person per night
**2️⃣. Shaoxing, Zhejiang**
**✨Recommendation reason**: Jiangnan water town, the hometown of Lu Xun, the fragrance of rice wine, suitable for slow travel.
**🚄High-speed rail direct**: Shaoxing North Station (30 minutes from Hangzhou)
**Core attractions**:
- **Lu Xun's hometown** (free, experience the Baicao Garden in the textbook)
- **Anchang Ancient Town** (uncommercialized water town)
- **Hometown of the Sage of Calligraphy** (Former Residence of Wang Xizhi, Literary Alley)
**🍱Food recommendations**: Rice wine milk tea, stinky tofu, fennel beans
**🏠Accommodation suggestion**: B&B in the old town, 150 yuan per person per night
**3️⃣. Chongzuo, Guangxi**
**✨Recommendation reason**: The secret place on the China-Vietnam border, the Detian cross-border waterfall is stunning, and there are fewer tourists.
**🚄High-speed rail direct**: Chongzuo South Station (1.5 hours from Nanning)
**Core gameplay**:
- **Detian Waterfall** (the largest transnational waterfall in Asia)
- **Mingshi Countryside** (cycling + bamboo rafting, picturesque landscape)
- **Taiping Ancient City** (Zhuang style night scene)
**🍱Food recommendations**: Vietnamese rice noodle rolls, roast suckling pig
**🏠Accommodation suggestion**: Mingshi Countryside B&B, 200 yuan per person per night
- **4️⃣. Qingdao, Shandong**
**✨Recommendation reason**: Coastal city, European-style architecture + blue sea and blue sky, fewer tourists before May Day.
**🚄High-speed rail direct**: Qingdao Station/Qingdao North Station (4 hours in Beijing, 1.5 hours in Jinan)
**Core attractions**:
- **Badaguan** (Phoenix tree + old house)
- **Wheat Island** (few people, beautiful scenery, great sunset)
- **Laoshan** (mountains and sea, a good place for hiking)
**🍱Food recommendations**: Spanish mackerel dumplings, spicy fried clams
**🏠Accommodation suggestion**: Youth hostel/B&B in Shinan District, 150 yuan per person per night
**5️⃣. Pu'er, Yunnan**
**✨Recommendation reason**: The world's tea source, tropical rainforest + ancient tea garden, few tourists.
**🚄High-speed rail direct**: Pu'er Station (Kunming high-speed rail 3 hours)
**Core gameplay**:
- **Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest** (Thousand-year-old tea trees, surrounded by clouds and mist)
- **Xiaoaozi Coffee Manor** (Yunnan boutique coffee experience)
- **Nakeli Tea Horse Road** (Horse Caravan Cultural Town)
**🍱Food recommendations**: Sour bamboo shoots chicken, Wa chicken rice
**🏠Accommodation suggestion**: Jingmai Mountain B&B, 200 yuan per person per night
**6️⃣. Qingyuan, Guangdong**
**✨Recommendation reason**: Guangzhou's back garden, landscape + hot springs, suitable for relaxation.
**🚄High-speed rail direct**: Qingyuan Station (40 minutes from Guangzhou)
**💗Core attractions**:
- **Gulong Gorge** (Glass Bridge + Rafting)
- **Yingxi Peak Forest** (karst landform hiking)
- **Sempora Hot Spring** (forest pool)
**🍱Food recommendations**: Qingyuan chicken, Beijiang river seafood
**🏠Accommodation suggestion**: Hot spring hotel, 300 yuan per person per night
**7️⃣. Henan Kaifeng**
**✨Recommendation reason**: The ancient capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, immersive experience in Qingming Riverside Park, low consumption.
**🚄High-speed rail direct**: Kaifeng North Station (20 minutes from Zhengzhou)
**Core gameplay**:
- **Qingming Riverside Park** (live performance + ancient costume travel)
- **Kaifeng Mansion** (Restoration of the scene where Bao Gong judged a case)
- **Gulou Night Market** (snack gathering place)
**🍱Food recommendations**: Soup dumplings, carp baked noodles
**🏠Accommodation suggestion**: Economy hotel in the ancient city, 150 yuan per person per night
**Summarize**
These cities have direct high-speed rail access, low consumption, and fewer tourists, making them suitable for slow-paced travel during the May Day holiday. suggestion:
✅ **Book tickets in advance** (high-speed rail tickets are tight on May 1st)
✅ **Visit during off-peak hours** (leave early and return late to avoid crowds)
✅ **Travel light** (backpack + comfortable shoes)