Seven Lesser-Known Cool Summer Destinations Perfect for Beating the Heat

Summer cooling doesn’t have to mean crowded popular spots. The following 7 lesser-known cities are not only cool and pleasant but also each has its unique charm. Practical tips are included to help you plan your trip: 1. **Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin** (Average temperature 22℃) - **Cool Secret**: At the foot of Changbai Mountain, with over 80% forest coverage - **Off-the-Beaten-Path Activities**: - Tumen River border rafting (China-North Korea border) - Hunchun Fangchuan "View Three Countries at a Glance" observation deck - Yanji water market with the Korean ethnic early market opening at 4 a.m. - **Food TIP**: Yanji cold noodles with iced rice wine, rice cake with schisandra tea - **Transportation**: Yanji Chaoyangchuan Airport, 2.5 hours by high-speed train from Changchun 2. **Linxia, Gansu** (Summer average temperature 18℃) - **Secret Experiences**: - Hezheng Ancient Animal Fossil Museum (shovel-tusked elephant fossils) - Bingling Temple Grottoes Yellow River boat tour (3 hours faster than by land) - Songmingyan International Ski Resort summer grass skiing - **Accommodation**: Jishishan County homestays to experience Bao’an ethnic embroidery - **Note**: Large temperature difference between day and night, bring a jacket; rapeseed flower sea season in July 3. **Pu’er, Yunnan** (Not the tea one, average temperature 21℃) - **In-depth Activities**: - Red panda estate night firefly watching - Jingmai Mountain ancient tea forest fresh leaf picking and tea cake making - Menglian County Nayun Ancient Town (the last Dai ethnic ancient town) - **Transportation TIP**: Kunming to Lancang Jingmai Airport only 1 hour flight - **Hidden Perk**: Coffee estate experience (China’s coffee origin) 4. **Weichang County, Hebei** (Edge of Bashang Grassland) - **Cooling Highlights**: - Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm cycling (world’s largest man-made forest) - Yudaokou Ranch starry sky tents (Milky Way observation point) - Hongsongwa Wind Farm photography (giant wind turbine cluster) - **Self-driving Note**: SUV recommended, some sections have no signal 5. **Liupanshui, Guizhou** ("China’s Cool City" 19℃) - **Hidden Routes**: - Wumeng Grassland Buddha light spectacle (early morning required) - Shuicheng Ancient Town Laoguo Street with rose ice jelly - Yeyuhai mountain small train (altitude 2400m) - **Tips**: Yi Torch Festival in July-August, bring a light down jacket 6. **Zhaosu, Xinjiang** (Ili River Valley secret spot) - **Summer Specials**: - July rapeseed and sunflower two-color flower sea - Xiata Ancient Trail light hiking (snow mountains close by) - Tianma Cultural Park watch thousands of horses drinking water (6 p.m.) - **Transportation**: 3-hour self-drive from Yining, passing lavender fields 7. **Luyashan, Shanxi** (3 hours north of Taiyuan by car) - **Magical Scenery**: - Ten-thousand-year ice cave (minus 5℃ in midsummer) - Hanging Village (village clinging to cliff walls) - Malun Grassland alpine meadow (less crowded than Wutai Mountain) - **Must-Try**: Ningwu County oat noodles with sea buckthorn juice **General Advice**: 1. Medical resources are limited in these lesser-known places, bring common medicines 2. Some scenic spots only accept cash (e.g., Hanging Village in Luyashan) 3. Contact homestays in advance to confirm air conditioning availability (some highland areas don’t need AC) 4. Use the "high-speed train + car rental" combo (e.g., renting a car in Guiyang to go to Liupanshui offers more freedom) These destinations have less than one-third the visitor density of popular spots but offer more authentic local culture, making them especially suitable for travelers seeking a quiet summer retreat. Depending on your travel preferences, consider focusing on 2-3 destinations for a combined trip.