Friends, have you noticed that this summer is exceptionally hot?
Not to mention Hangzhou, the “uncrowned king” of hot weather in recent years. Even many northern cities are unbearably hot.
For instance, I used to visit Beijing every summer, braving the sweltering sun to tour both the Old Summer Palace and the Summer Palace in a single day. But I have never encountered a situation where Beijing was so hot in June that it was impossible to step outside. It’s simply outrageous!
I think a handy guide to cool summer destinations is something everyone urgently needs right now. After all, with the summer holiday already half over, not wanting to go out because of the heat is truly disheartening.
Over these past few days, I’ve quickly put together this comprehensive list of cool destinations—all domestic cities. Some are fun and cool, some neighbor the forest, and some are the trending spots of the summer. Personally, I think the list is quite comprehensive.
If you have no idea where to enjoy a cool summer, feel free to take notes from the list below.
Cities with large temperature differences between day and night in the Northwest
Don’t miss them this summer
The first theme for cooling off this summer is cities in the Northwest with large temperature differences between day and night. Friends, the Northwest has always been an excellent place to escape the heat, especially in higher altitude areas where the temperature is more refreshing.
In addition to the cities listed below, you can also take a small circuit tour in the Northwest, where the breathtaking scenery is first-class.
Xining
A treasure city with large temperature differences between day and night. There are quite a few such cities in the Northwest, but Xining, dubbed “China’s Summer Capital,” must be mentioned. Even in peak summer, its average temperature is only about 20 degrees Celsius.
Xining has plenty to offer, like Dongguan Mosque, Qinghai Tibet Cultural Museum, and Nanshan Park—each one worth a visit.
And the food, there’s no need for me to elaborate: Kettle lamb, old yogurt, niangpi (cold noodles), tianpeizi (fermented milk drink), lamb ribs… Various meats and carbs will leave your stomach thoroughly satisfied.
Xining guide👉 Delicious and fun, please stop treating it merely as a travel transit point!
Lanzhou
Another Northwest city with significant temperature differences between day and night. Besides Xining, Lanzhou is also well worth a visit.
I visited Lanzhou in the summer. While it is hot during the day, the evening river breeze is incredibly pleasant. During the day, you can also have tea by the Yellow River; with the breeze, it doesn’t feel very hot either.
The guide for Lanzhou was updated not long ago. For those planning a trip, check out 👉 the most chill city in China, and I’d vote for it.
Of course, you can’t miss out on the food when visiting Lanzhou! It’s definitely a city worth flying to just for its culinary delights.
In Lanzhou, start your day with a bowl of beef noodles to wake up your stomach, savor the famous hand-pulled noodles at noon, and enjoy a variety of evening meals such as barbecue, spicy hotpot, and more… sheer happiness!
The food guide is also freshly updated, 👉 no exaggeration, this city is truly worth a trip just for the food.
Yinchuan and Zhongwei
Since we’re talking about the Northwest, we can’t leave out Yinchuan and Zhongwei, the sister cities that house 70% of Ningxia’s attractions.
Yinchuan is absolutely an underrated gem for travel. Not only the filming location for “A Chinese Odyssey,” but as the ancient capital of Western Xia, it boasts numerous mysterious Western Xia relics, including the Western Xia Tombs, termed the Eastern Pyramids.
The city of Yinchuan is also great for exploring on foot or by bike. You can cycle to Jian She Lane to experience the local Northwestern vibe, or enjoy a romantic moment at Lushan Park during sunset, feeling like you’ve traveled instantly to Rome.
Yinchuan is also a hidden culinary empire, filled with unique local delicacies and snacks—a paradise for foodies. The local lamb, especially the tanchi lamb, is a must-try.
The Huaiyuan Night Market in Yinchuan is also fantastic for food. Make sure to check it out at night.
For more culinary options, see this guide to an underrated food heaven that will surpass your expectations with its deliciousness.
Which place has the best lamb? Look no further as this city boasts the finest lamb in the country, truly unmatched in the art of meat.
Zhongwei is another treasure trove. From the Yellow River’s lodging clusters to the hit show “Minning Town,” it is a travel hotspot blessed with abundant attractions, making it hard not to become famous.
Zhongwei can also be dubbed as a “mini Northwest,” with virtually all iconic Northwestern scenes condensed within—deserts, the Yellow River, highways, villages… rugged and wild, fulfilling every perception of the Northwest.
Check out the Zhongwei guide for desert adventures and river excursions, perfect for those short on time but eager to explore the Northwest.
@V.N
@Evianyiyun
Zhongwei is one of the rare Northwestern cities suitable for vacationing, boasting numerous quality hotels. It’s not an overstatement to call it a resort paradise in the Great Northwest.
CaiCai has previously written about accommodations in Zhongwei. For those looking to vacation, check out her comprehensive hotel guide for Zhongwei, a perfect match for the 299 RMB one-way summer flight.
Speaking of Ningxia, I truly believe everyone should try “reverse summer escape” in the desert. Though it gets a bit warm during the day, the nights are comfortably cool, sometimes even requiring a light jacket.
A Treasure City Neighboring Forests and Grasslands
It Really Is Cool
Besides heading to the Northwest, the Northeast is also a great place to escape the summer heat. The broader Northeast region includes the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning, as well as the eastern four leagues of Inner Mongolia.
Many cities in the Northeast are surrounded by forests and grasslands, making the concept of scorching heat seem entirely irrelevant here. If you want to escape the summer furnace, this is the place to be.
Hulunbuir
The most famous summer retreat in the Northeast has to be Hulunbuir, home to China’s largest grassland. Both its cool climate and scenic beauty earn full marks.
What’s more, the scenery here extends far beyond just grasslands. You’ll find wetlands, lakes, forests… Let’s just say that each day in Hulunbuir brings new surprises.
However, Hulunbuir is very, very vast, making it more suitable for renting a car, self-driving, or joining a tour group. If you’re looking to roam wild on the grasslands this summer, why not come here?
This year, we’ve updated our list of new ways to enjoy Hulunbuir. Last month, Caicai took a ride on the Hulunbuir train, likely the most expensive train in the country. It weaves through forests and grasslands daily.
Both the scenic views and the accommodation experience aboard the train are top-notch. It even thoughtfully provides humidifiers, showing utmost consideration.
The journey is also highly suitable for families with children, featuring multifunctional carriages and vacation ambassadors to keep kids entertained, allowing parents to take a break.
Interested parties can click on “The Golden Age of Train Travel”—still alive and well!
Arxan
If you think Hulunbuir is too crowded, you can fly directly to Arxan. Their slogan, “22℃ Summer,” hits a particularly sore spot for someone like me, commuting in a furnace-like city.
However, according to Leilei, who has been there, the slogan might be a bit conservative. She experienced days of just over 20℃ and evenings requiring a jacket last summer.
Folks, I’m in love. Isn’t this the dream place?
Arxan can also be termed “Little Inner Mongolia,” boasting almost all of Inner Mongolia’s natural beauty, including forests, grasslands, and volcanoes. A trip here is well worth it.
There are plenty of things to do as well; for detailed plans, check out “Summer Highs of 22℃—This Fairytale Retreat’s Air Quality is ‘Money Can Buy’ Good!”
Changbaishan
If all these places seem too far, then head straight to Changbaishan!
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In winter, Changbai Mountain is a “powder snow paradise,” while in summer, it becomes a perfect summer resort. You can take the forest high-speed train to Changbai Mountain to escape the scorching summer heat.
For travel tips, you can refer to this beautiful guide on Changbai Mountain in summer.
After visiting Changbai Mountain, you can conveniently head to Yanbian. In Yanji, you can enjoy a food tour, and then from Hunchun, you can even cross the border to Vladivostok by land, which is very convenient.
Yanji has many delicious restaurants. I stayed in Yanji for two days and wished I had 500 more stomachs!
Delicious and cool domestic cities
Come quickly!
If just looking at beautiful scenery is not enough, then these delicious and cool cities are definitely worth your visit.
There are quite a few delicious and cool cities in China. Let’s start with the northeastern region mentioned above!
Changchun
Since we mentioned Changbai Mountain, we must also talk about this often-overlooked transit city—Changchun. Very few people stop to explore Changchun during their transit, even though it is truly worth a visit.
Changchun has many titles: the birthplace of China’s first domestically produced car, the first film studio, and the first comprehensive university.
But what I love most about Changchun is its Route 54 tram, which is stunningly beautiful all year round.
Additionally, Changchun has a lot of delicious food, such as Guobaorou (sweet and sour pork), Xueyi Dou Sha (snow-covered red bean paste), and smoked and marinated meat. Each dish is incredibly delicious. For detailed travel tips, check out the guide on the northern spring city often used as a transit point, which is also a place full of good food and fun.
Next time you transit through Changchun, consider reserving 2-3 days for this treasure city.
Besides Changchun, Harbin is also a great place to visit in summer. If you are traveling in the northeast, you can stay in Harbin for two days.
Jinzhou
There are many lesser-known summer resort cities in the northeast. Besides Changchun, Jinzhou, which is not a popular tourist city, is also a good choice.
When you come to Jinzhou, just focus on enjoying the barbecue. The popularity of Jinzhou barbecue restaurants in various cities speaks volumes about how delicious Jinzhou barbecue is.
We have also updated the Jinzhou barbecue guide. After visiting this magical northeastern barbecue city, you might feel that all the barbecue you had in previous years was in vain!
After exploring the northeast, let’s turn our attention to the southwest on the map. The Yunnan-Guizhou region in the southwest has always been a popular summer resort with lots of delicious food. We have also written many guides in recent years.
Guiyang
As a proud spiritual resident of Guiyang, the first place I’d like to recommend is, of course, Guiyang.
However, I won’t go into too much detail about Guiyang here because I recently updated three articles on this topic, covering both travel guides and culinary delights.
Guiyang Guide: A Cool City with Its Own Summer Buff to Cure My Mental Exhaustion
Guiyang Local Streets: This Laid-Back Provincial Capital Is So Delicious I Want to Recommend It to Everyone
Guiyang Cuisine: So Good There Are No Substitutes—I Love This Mountain City So Much!
Liupanshui
Many of you have mentioned Liupanshui in the comments section, and it is indeed a great place to escape the summer heat. The average summer temperature is only 19°C, never exceeding 20°C. As someone based in Hangzhou, I’m extremely jealous.
Liupanshui not only offers cool weather but also great food and fun activities. Just check out this guide: “This Cool City with an Average Temperature of 19°C Is a Summer Paradise Where Every Day Is a Blast!”
Kunming
When discussing cool and delicious cities in the Southwest, we can’t overlook Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring. In summer, it’s only about twenty-something degrees, making it very comfortable.
Moreover, Kunming is fantastic for both touring and gourmet experiences, and it’s also a spiritual home for many of us in the editorial department.
No need for more words—check out our Kunming Coffee Guide: True Coffee Lovers Consider This Their Happy Place
How to Explore Kunming’s Must-Visit Dounan Flower Market: Truly Asia’s Best; It’s an Incredible Place to Visit!
Kunming Food List: Be Warned! This is the Wildest Eating Experience in the Country—It Might Keep You Up at Night Craving More!
Chuxiong
After talking about Kunming, let’s discuss Chuxiong, the best city in Yunnan for enjoying mushrooms; I know you’re all eager for a taste.
In Chuxiong, you can not only eat mushrooms but also go picking them yourself, offering a highly satisfying mushroom-feasting experience.
That said, joking aside, mushroom poisoning is no joke. Always remember that safety comes first when indulging in fungi.
For the ultimate guide on eating and picking mushrooms, just refer to this: “In Yunnan, I Just Achieved Mushroom Freedom!”
Baoshan
I’d like to introduce Baoshan in Yunnan to everyone, which is where Tengchong is located. Since the high-speed railway opened, getting to Baoshan has become much more convenient.
This is also a hidden summer retreat. Due to its high altitude and proximity to Gaoligong Mountain, it can be said that winter here is not too cold and summer is not too hot.
Baoshan is also a city with fantastic food. Come here and you can enjoy coffee, roasted pork, and copper-pot beef… Every day you’ll be a happy foodie.
Baoshan Food Guide: This underrated city accessible by high-speed rail has so many delicious options that I’m contemplating using my annual leave!
These Coastal Cities
Just Go for It
In the summer, finding a coastal city to enjoy the sea breeze and relax is also a great choice. Eating seafood and feeling the sea breeze can be quite pleasant.
For a series on coastal cities to escape the summer heat, let’s start from the north and move south. The farther north, the better for cooling off.
Dalian
Dalian is a favorite travel destination of our editorial department, and we have written many articles about it.
Dalian is undoubtedly one of the most romantic cities in the north. With its blue coastline, vintage trams, sea-view subway, and easy access to a variety of seafood, every aspect tempts me to visit.
Moreover, Dalian has a lot of European-style architecture, which often gives a sense of surreal time travel. For cooling off and seaside views in summer, Dalian is my top recommendation.
Dalian Sea Viewing Guide: Spanning half of China, we found the most beloved coastal old city this summer!
Dalian Food Map: Oh no, the seafood here is so delicious that I feel like changing my travel plans immediately!
We’ve also updated our Dalian hotel reviews. Friends who don’t know where to stay in Dalian can check this out. Stay here, and every day you’ll feel like a wealthy sea-view owner!
Aranya
Heading south from Dalian, let’s go to Aranya!
This place, associated with the word “solitude,” feels like a cool and secluded utopia that makes you want to stay indefinitely.
We have previously detailed how to eat and explore in Aranya, so I won’t go into it here. Just refer to the guide directly. With a trendy shop every ten steps, I can’t find another place with such a high density of fashionable stores in all of China.
Shandong: A Coastal Paradise
Shandong, with its plethora of treasure-laden coastal cities, is undoubtedly a prime spot for summer getaways. From Yantai to Qingdao, missing any of them would break my heart.
Moreover, Shandong is not far from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Just hop on a high-speed train, and you’re there. It’s very convenient.
Yantai: A Relaxing and Delicious Coastal City
This understated seaside city is so comfortable that I’m reluctant to share it!
You wouldn’t know until you eat there—this seaside city is like the Shunde of the North!
If you’re heading to Dalian, you can take a ferry from there to Yantai. It’s a convenient route to travel, but be sure to book a double room for the ferry instead of a shared room—don’t ask me how I know this.
Don’t miss Weihai, just a 20-minute high-speed train ride from Yantai. Weihai boasts an extensive coastline. Driving along the “1000-mile Mountain and Sea Self-Drive Road” will make you forget all your troubles.
In this city, known as the “Sea View Buddha,” you might find yourself wanting to stay forever!
Weihai is also a food haven. If you go, follow this guide to indulge endlessly. This “seaside foodie’s paradise” might tempt you to settle down right there!
Qingdao seaside guide will be updated by Leilei in a few days, so I won’t include the link here yet. Stay tuned for that.
Moving further south, there are still many coastal cities, but summer heat might be a bit overwhelming. If you’re interested, you can search for your desired cities in this nationwide coastal guide. Once restrictions are lifted, let’s go see the sea together!
Summer
Island Escapes
The final summer getaway theme is island vacations. Although some southern islands might not be significantly cooler, compared to some sweltering cities, they are a much better option.
Summer island vacations are simply delightful, and I highly recommend them.
Weizhou Island
One of the favorite domestic islands is Weizhou Island. The water here is exceptionally clear and clean, and during specific times, you can even see glassy seas.
It’s also a food lover’s dream, with not just seafood feasts but also a variety of sweet treats, all perfect for summer.
You can combine Weizhou Island with Beihai for a seamless travel experience. Spend a few days here for a truly relaxing “sea-view freedom”. The Beihai + Weizhou Island guide was updated in February, and even though it was written in winter, it is just as applicable for summer. It has earned a top spot on the travel charts—it’s the hottest little city this Spring Festival!
There are many hidden gem islands in Guangdong, right next to Guangxi. Whether it’s Nan’ao Island, which gained popularity thanks to movies, or Hailing Island, long discovered by “China National Geographic,” both are incredibly fun to visit.
All the travel guides are below. Feel free to take whichever you need:
Nan’ao Island: This island, which exploded in popularity this year, surprisingly offers the best food that isn’t seafood?!
Hailing Island: This southern island that has been famous for years—what’s the best way to enjoy it without missing out?
Of course, there are also many islands close to home. Here are a few slightly less popular ones to recommend:
Nanji Island, Wenzhou: Closer to Taiwan than Hangzhou, this island is the true gem of Zhejiang!
Yushan Islands, Ningbo: Tickets to and from this small Ningbo island cost 440, but visitor satisfaction is incredibly high!
Dachen Island, Taizhou: Hurry up and visit this divine island within the province before it becomes popular!
Daishan Island, Zhoushan: Want to spend the whole summer on this drive-to island? You won’t regret it.
