Gone are the days when a perfect vacation meant rushing through crowded tourist traps in Beijing or Shanghai. Today’s Chinese youth are flipping the script, trading big-city burnout for the ultimate luxury: taking it easy. Welcome to the era of “slow travel,” where the coolest places to be are China’s second-tier cities and quaint county-level towns.
But don’t just take our word for it. According to the recently released “2026 Summer Tourism Consumption Review” by Tongcheng Travel—one of China‘s top online travel agencies—county-level destinations are experiencing a massive surge in visitor numbers. Instead of jam-packed itineraries, young travelers are seeking out authentic cultural experiences, affordable luxury, and, most importantly, slow, easy times.
Interested? Check out a few places you should add to your travel plans in the Chinese Mainland.
A Few Hotspots Worth Hitting Up and Why:
- R&R — Anji, Zhejiang: Famous for its sprawling bamboo forests, Anji is the ultimate natural retreat. It’s perfect for digital detoxes, camping under the stars, and hiking at a leisurely pace.
- FOOD – Yanji, Jilin: A cultural melting pot near the border, Yanji offers mouth-watering Korean-Chinese cuisine and vibrant cafe culture, making it a trendy spot for foodies looking to snap the perfect aesthetic photo.
- HISTORY — Quanzhou, Fujian: A coastal city in Fujian that’s dripping with heritage. Its slow, winding alleyways, historic temples, and stunning ocean views make it a prime spot for those looking to soak up history without the frantic crowds.
This shift isn’t just a fleeting trend. It’s a change in the mindset of the young traveler. By choosing these off-the-beaten-path locales, they’re supporting local economies while prioritizing their mental health and well-being. So next time you’re planning a trip, skip the bar-hopping by the Bund or that shopping spree in Sanlitun. Go for a coffee while meditating to the calming creaks of bamboo, indulge in the fragrant spices of kimchi, or get those perfect, juxtaposed nature-vs-architecture shots for your next carousel instead.
Cover image via Trip.com.
