8 Lesser-Known Destinations to Visit in China

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China’s vast territory and diverse landscapes make it an ideal destination to visit, offering an inexhaustible array of travel resources. While popular attractions like Zhangjiajie, Huangshan, and Wuzhen are well-known, many stunning and lesser-known travel destinations have been discovered in recent years for those who wish to visit China. In this article, we introduce you to eight breathtaking destinations that even most Chinese people may not be aware of, where the scenery is truly awe-inspiring.

1. The Luyang Lake Wetlands Park

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This is a destination in China that is often described as an “emerald jewel lost on earth,” where every step is filled with beautiful scenery and a sight of greenery everywhere you look. The lake surface ripples with a shade of green resembling matcha, and the tall cypress forests weave a barrier of green, offering a truly unique experience for those who visit China. Boating on the lake, it feels as if you’ve wandered into a green fairy tale world, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers.

Address: Luyanghu Village, Shaobo Town, Jiangdu District, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Best travel seasons: Spring and summer

2. Gexian Village

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In the early morning, Gexian Village is enveloped in mist, resembling a place where ancient Chinese immortals would reside. At night, as the lights come on, it feels like stepping into a fairy tale world from Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film “Spirited Away.”

Located at the foot of Mount Gexian and surrounded by mountains, Gexian Village creates a sense of seclusion and an idyllic paradise, making it a perfect destination to visit in China. Rather than clear skies, this place is more suited for rainy and overcast weather when clouds and mist shroud the entire village like a mystical realm. You can stroll through the streets paved with bluestones, holding an old-fashioned oilcloth umbrella, or sit quietly beside the window, listening to the sound of raindrops tapping on the roof tiles. At this moment, the whole world is tranquil, and you feel as if you are in a secluded paradise disconnected from the outside world.

Address: Qianshan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province

Best travel seasons: Spring and Autumn

3. Shenxianju

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Just by its name, you can tell that this is a place full of ethereal charm. Shenxianju, or the Abode of Immortals, has a unique geological structure and is home to the world’s largest cluster of volcanic basalt landforms.Title for This Block

In early summer, Shenxianju is covered in ethereal mist and clouds, blending seamlessly with the green mountains and forests. Being in the mountains, one can’t tell whether they are in the mortal realm or have fallen into a fairyland.

The most famous attraction in Shenxianju is the Ruyi Bridge. This bridge resembles a jade Ruyi, floating high in the sky amidst deep and mystical clouds, spanning the East and West Gorges. Walking on the Ruyi Bridge provides a thrilling and exhilarating experience.

Address: Baita Town, Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province

Best travel seasons: Spring, Summer and Autumn

4. Blue Tears

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When you visit China, don’t miss the opportunity to witness the mesmerizing blue tears. These are single-cell seaflies that have a luminescent gland in their body, producing a light blue light when stimulated by waves. The larger the group of these seaflies, the better the blue sea fluorescence. The high season to witness this beautiful phenomenon is from April to June, during which you can see a river of blue stars in the ocean after 7:00 p.m. or early in the morning. If you visit Pingtan on a clear day with high tide at night, you can watch the blue tears being washed ashore with the waves – it’s a romantic sight to behold!

Address: Tananan Bay, Pingtan County, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province

Best travel seasons: April to June

5. The Great Cliff of the Daliang Shan

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On one side is a grassland, and on the other side is an unfathomable abyss, which is the great cliff of Longtou Mountain located in Daliang Shan Prefecture, Sichuan, China. It stands at an altitude of 3,800 meters, almost 90 degrees vertically, with a drop of up to 1,200 meters. In different seasons, even at different times of the same day, you are presented with different styles of strange scenery. You can’t help but marvel at nature’s magic work.

Address: The Great Cliff is located at the junction of Leibo, Meigu and Zhaojue counties in Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan, at the edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Best travel time: May-August

6. Furong Ancient Town

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When you visit China, make sure to visit Furong Ancient Town, which is surrounded by water on three sides and has a waterfall passing through it, making it a unique destination. With a history of 2000 years, this ancient town is known as the “thousand-year old town hanging on the waterfall”. The town is built on a cliff and is a Miao village, which is a humanistic wonder. At night, the town and the colorful waterfall are illuminated, creating a dream-like atmosphere that seems to be straight out of a movie. Furong Ancient Town is even more fantastical than the beautiful Phoenix Ancient Town, making it a must-visit destination in China.

Address: Furong Town, Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province

Best travel season: all seasons are suitable, spring, summer, autumn and winter scenery is different

7. Puyuan Town

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The ancient town of Puyuan is dominated by the architectural style of the Southern Song Dynasty, and still retains the style of “parallel water and land”, “adjacent river streets” and “pavilions along the river” in the water town of Jiangnan. The chessboard streets and alleys, the river corridors and the well-preserved courtyard space here form a charming water township scenery. The houses in the scenic area are lined up one after another, and the old stone streets and long lanes are intertwined and connected at the end, with the feeling of winding paths. Through the ancient lanes and bridges, the boat scull plucked the lake, ripples, dappled clouds and shadows of water inked a painting of the mountains and forest.

Address: Puyuan Town, Tongxiang, Zhejiang

Best travel season: All year round

8. Songyang Ancient Village

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The ancient village in Songyang County has a history of more than 600 years. It is like a forgotten village sleeping between mountains and clouds, primitive, simple and natural. There are many types and numbers of ancient buildings in the village, including ancient dwellings, stone arch bridges, old post roads and old ancestral halls. The earliest surviving ancient dwellings were built during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, and most of them are well preserved in appearance and internal structure.

Address: Songyang County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province

Best travel time: All year round