May Day Reverse Travel: 4 Lesser-Known Cities with Beautiful Scenery and Fewer Crowds

Worried about the crowds at popular attractions during the May Day holiday? Try reverse travel instead! These 4 lesser-known cities offer beautiful scenery, fewer people, and lower prices. They're easily accessible by high-speed rail for a relaxing holiday. Guangxi · Chongzuo 🌟Highlights: A dreamlike place on the China-Vietnam border, featuring transnational waterfalls and picturesque countryside. The scenery during high water season is breathtakingly beautiful! ✅Must-visit spots: Detian Transnational Waterfall, Asia's largest transnational waterfall - take a bamboo raft to experience its magnificent power up close and see Vietnamese villages across the river; Mingshi Countryside, surrounded by karst peaks, cycling through feels like entering the fairyland from "The Journey of Flower"; Left River Rock Paintings, mysterious thousand-year-old totems carved into cliff faces that unlock the cultural codes of the Zhuang ancestors. 🍜Special cuisine: Sour fish porridge with tangy flavors, sweet and soft glutinous rice cakes with mugwort, fragrant leaf-roasted suckling pig - the border flavors are amazing! 🚗Transportation guide: From Nanning, take a high-speed train (about 1.5 hours) to Chongzuo South Station. Take taxis or direct shuttle buses to various attractions. Stay in downtown guesthouses for just 100-150 yuan per night - excellent value. Ningxia · Zhongwei 🌟Highlights: Desert, Yellow River, starry skies, and ancient villages come together to fulfill all your Northwestern China fantasies with maximum atmosphere! ✅Must-visit spots: Tengger Desert - hike, ride camels, watch the sunset, and stay in a "desert star hotel" where you can almost touch the stars; Route 66, where the Helan Mountains meet the Yellow River, featuring filming locations for "Western road movies"; Beichangtan Village, with adobe houses like those in the TV series "Mountain and Sea", experience the passage of time by the Yellow River. 🍜Food recommendations: Desert leek with scrambled eggs, hao zi noodles, and hui xiaochi (assorted small dishes) - carb happiness that hits the soul! 🚗Travel tips: From Yinchuan, take a high-speed train (about 1 hour) to Zhongwei South Station. Rent a car or take tourist buses. Desert camping sites cost 150-200 yuan per night for a unique experience. Fujian · Quanzhou 🌟Highlights: Starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, with temples every few steps and delicious food everywhere. Perfect blend of everyday life and historical atmosphere - extremely photogenic! ✅Must-visit spots: West Street, a thousand-year-old street for shopping and eating, enjoy noodle soup and tu sun dong (jellied sea worm), and take photos at the "Quanzhou" Instagram wall; Kaiyuan Temple, with twin pagodas and red walls, blooming kapok trees, perfect for ancient-style photos; Cupu Village, wear traditional flower hairpins and transform into a "daughter of the sea" with the same style as actress Zhao Liying for social media-worthy photos. 🍜Special snacks: Grilled cold noodles at 10 yuan for 3 skewers, Korean-style rice wine for 5 yuan a cup - cheap and delicious! 🚗Transportation guide: Direct high-speed rail to Quanzhou Station, convenient public transportation and taxis. Stay in guesthouses near West Street for 120-180 yuan per night with convenient access to attractions. Yunnan · Diqing 🌟Highlights: The ultimate way to experience Shangri-La, with sacred snow mountains and lakes. In early May, the snow hasn't fully melted and rhododendrons begin to bloom - breathtakingly beautiful! ✅Must-visit spots: Pudacuo National Park, hike around Bita Lake and encounter yaks and squirrels in a setting like "Avatar"; Songzanlin Monastery, capture reflections of the "Little Potala Palace" in morning mist, with golden roofs against the blue sky creating a sacred atmosphere; Yubeng Village, a hiker's paradise where you can soak in wild hot springs at the foot of snow mountains and frame the starry night sky with the thirteen peaks of Meili. 🍜Tibetan delicacies: Yak hot pot and butter tea to warm you up and prevent altitude sickness! 🚗Travel tips: From Lijiang, take a high-speed train (about 2.5 hours) to Diqing Station. Charter or share cars to scenic areas. Stay in Dukezong Ancient Town inns for 130-200 yuan per night to experience Tibetan style. 💡【May Day Reverse Travel Tips】 🚄Tickets: Book high-speed rail tickets 1-2 weeks in advance on 12306, and reconfirm train information before departure to avoid delays. 👚Outfits: Prepare clothes according to local weather - bring sun protection and sunglasses for deserts; warm jackets for plateaus. Consider ethnic-style clothing for better photos! 💰Budget: These cities are affordable - accommodation, meals, entrance fees, and transportation average 300-500 yuan per day for an enjoyable trip!