Live Your Best Lives
My biggest fear when traveling these days is the crowds. No matter how beautiful the scenery, if it's blocked by tourists everywhere you go and your photos are filled with tourists huddled together, the mood will be greatly dampened.
National Day is just around the corner, and we can expect crowds everywhere! Are there any hidden gems in China with few people? Yes, there are! We've curated 10 hidden gems, featuring mountains, lakes, colorful forests, uninhabited areas, karst landscapes, and more. We've also arranged experiences like boat cruises, off-road vehicle tours, hot spring baths, tiankeng rappelling, and exploring ethnic minority customs. Let's go!
Mordaoga@Wenwu
Hidden in the heart of the Qilian Mountains lies a forgotten secret: Hala Lake. This high-altitude saltwater lake, at an altitude of 4,078 meters, is the second largest lake in Qinghai. It originates from glacial meltwater from the Qilian Mountains' main peak. Surrounded by lush vegetation, it is home to numerous rare animals.
The lake is shrouded in a mysterious blue all year round, like a deep mirror, reflecting the surrounding towering snow-capped mountains and changing cloud shadows. When dusk falls, the lake undergoes a magical color transformation: from blue-gray to golden yellow, and finally blends into the deep purple twilight, as if nature has overturned its palette.
According to legend, this place was formed from a tear of the Queen Mother of the West, and the stories of the nine dangerous passes and the lake monster add a touch of mystery to it.
We'll explore this uninhabited region by off-road vehicle. Besides Hala Lake, we'll also explore the lesser-known southern shore of Chaka Salt Lake, Red Cliff, and the recently popular Eboliang and Heidushan Mountains. This off-the-beaten-path adventure will take you on a different journey through Qinghai!
Huanggangliang National Forest Park, located northeast of Keshiketeng Banner in Inner Mongolia, is the highest point in the Greater Khingan Range. In autumn, Huanggangliang's mountains and forests are bathed in vibrant red, creating a perfect spot for capturing life-changing photos!
The China-TravelNote off-road team and grassland guides will take you to the uninhabited area of Bashang: Huapiling, Wulanbutong, Hunshandake Sandy Land, and wading through the Xilamulun Grand Canyon...
Heading north along the Dada Line and the Re'a Line, you can see grasslands, forests, sandy lands, canyons, lakes, wetlands, the Great Wall, and a variety of landscapes and rich landforms!
Enjoy a dismounting wine ceremony, worship at the Oboo, Mongolian song and dance performances, visit the Royal Deer Park, witness nomadic migrations, and celebrate the grand ceremony... This in-depth experience of Mongolian and Yuan culture will make your trip worthwhile.
The Sichuan product team has recently discovered a niche treasure route, with Yuke Grassland as its core. It is half uninhabited secret realm and half Tibetan culture. This route is the Dandao Secret Realm Loop.
Yuke, the smallest grassland in western Sichuan, has forests and snow-capped mountains comparable to those in Altay, Xinjiang. It is sparsely visited and you can run freely on the grassland and let go of the pressure accumulated in the city.
When you are tired of playing, you can stay in the same B&B as the variety show "Travel Anywhere": Yinka Manor. It is located in the heart of Yuke Grassland. Outside the window is the vast grassland scenery, and you can also see groundhogs.
Of course, this six-day itinerary is not limited to grasslands. We have cleverly combined the Dandao Loop with the Rainbow Highway S434 and the Snow Mountain Highway Lixiao Road:
In Gung Nong Village, you can set up outdoor tables and chairs for a snow-capped mountain glamping experience and watch the sunset over the golden mountains. In Zhonglu Tibetan Village, known as the Land of Thousands of Fortresses, you can wear Jiarong Tibetan costumes and savor our carefully prepared Tibetan afternoon tea. We will also arrange a special overnight stay at the Queen's Castle Deji Kangwa B&B, where you can overlook the entire Jiarong Canyon and the ancient fortresses without leaving your home.
Sanmenhai, a hidden gem in Guangxi, boasts a turquoise water resembling spilled jelly. It's known as the "world's only underwater tiankeng complex." Often inaccessible due to flooding or drought, this stunning sight requires a bit of luck.
The water level is stable in October, which is the best time to enter Sanmenhai. You can take a boat through three connected skylights and witness the karst wonders of "sea in the mountains and gates on the sea".
Our route brings together the diverse landscapes of Guangxi's karst landforms, including 45-meter Fengzidang Tiankeng rappelling, underground caving, Sanmenhai boat ride, and hiking to the summit of Jianlong Mountain. We will let you experience the beauty of Guangxi's mountains and rivers from various angles, including tiankengs, caves, skylights, and peaks.
Niru means "where the sun shines". It is an eternal and peaceful pure land described in James Hilton's novel "Lost Horizon". It is also one of the few niche secrets in Shangri-La, with beautiful and pristine landscapes.
Our route passes through forests, meadows, canyons, streams, and waterfalls, with diverse scenery along the way; explore the secrets of China's first national forest park - Pudacuo National Park; wander among multiple plateau pastures and enjoy the secret scenery.
The autumn colorful forest season in October is the highlight of this route. If you miss it, you will have to wait another year!
This is China's only legally traversable uninhabited area, a rare and sought-after attraction in Xinjiang, and a dreamland for countless astrophotographers! With scorching summers and bitterly cold winters, it's only suitable for entry for four months of the year.
The Dahaidao, stretching from Dunhuang in the east to Hami in the west, stretches over 500 kilometers through the Gobi Desert and Yadan Mountains, bearing the footprints of ancient merchants and travelers. It not only bears witness to the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road, but also carries the legendary stories of countless explorers and travelers.
Our product team spent two years exploring the Dahaidao route, meticulously planning this route: circumnavigating the Eastern Tianshan Mountains, then taking off-road vehicles deep into the Dahaidao, we'll discover the legendary secret Great Wall and encounter a 2-kilometer-long, wall-like group of yardangs. At night, the starry sky shimmers, and we await the summer Milky Way.
Explore the remote border town of Yiwu County and witness the first yellowing poplar forests in China. The poplars, desert, and wasteland dance against the blue sky and white clouds, creating a truly spectacular spectacle. There are also forests, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, wheat fields, canyons, and ancient villages...so much to see all at once!
Changbai Mountain is renowned, but have you heard of Triceratops Bay? Located in the southeast of Huinan County, Jilin Province, it belongs to the Longgang Mountain Range of the Changbai Mountain System and is both unique and beautiful.
As autumn deepens, we rush to the magical land of Northeast China together, travel through the colorful autumn colors of the volcanic forests, explore the mysterious Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain, indulge in the splendor of the Chinese Maple Leaf Avenue, and be amazed by the Panjin Red Beach!
Map provided by Daxinganling local guide
Explore the densest cluster of volcanic lakes in China, visit the century-old wooden village at the foot of Changbai Mountain, and experience a volcanic lake cruise and Changbai Mountain hot springs. Join the local guide for an autumn hike through the ginseng forest. We provide spacious and comfortable buses, select standard rooms in local business hotels, and take you to discover authentic local cuisine.
Wuhai, one of China's least popular tourist destinations, has become a hidden gem. Though not located on the sea itself, it has brought the romance of the sea to the desert. Despite being nestled in Northwest China, it boasts China's only "desert sea" spectacle.
Half desert, half sea, the golden sands of the Ulan Buh Desert spill down to the water's edge, seamlessly merging with the azure waters of the lake. Wind ripples the sand like waves, gently lapping the shore. As the setting sun gilds the dunes, camel caravans are reflected on the lake's surface. Here, desolation and romance coexist, a subtle blend of the beauty of the Jiangnan region and the grandeur of the northern frontier.
Our route revolves around the desert and the Yellow River, connecting Wuhai Lake, Tengger Desert, Shapotou and Qingtongxia Yellow River Grand Canyon.
Walk between the desert and the Yellow River, see the heroic grassland civilization, taste the rich food, and explore the mysterious dynasty in history - Western Xia.
This is the ultimate pilgrimage through the "Roof of the Roof of the World". Our wheels will roll over the vast wasteland of Qiangtang, encounter the stunning blue eyes of "Yicuozhuo" and meet the graceful figure of King Peak.
You will look up at the majestic Mount Kailash, the king of sacred mountains, marvel at the magic of the thousands of ravines and gullies in the Zada Earth Forest, and explore the desolate secrets of the ruins of the Guge Dynasty.
Stunning scenery, rich culture, and soul-refreshing experiences are the bountiful gifts that Ali, Tibet, offers travelers. The devout people circumambulating the mountain and prostrating themselves along the way, the chance encounters with animals, the wind and sand that settle into your shoes—these rugged yet heartwarming moments of travel are opportunities to see the world and discover yourself.
A large part of Hulunbuir borders Russia, with the most famous route being the Kazakh Highway, which stretches from Shiwei Town in the north to Manzhouli City in the south. The undulating road, endless grasslands and farmland, and the uninterrupted barbed wire fencing along the border create stunning road photos.
Inner Mongolia's top autumn destinations! Arxan, Hulunbuir, and Nuogan Lake offer stunning autumn scenery, including grasslands, forests, Tianchi Lake, lakes, wetlands, and rivers.
Authorized by Arxan Tianchi Tuchong
Get close to reindeer and red-crowned cranes, ride horses across the grassland, stroll through the birch forest, visit the Russian ethnic township in Enhe Town, and experience Russian wood carving.
Stay in the Arxan Scenic Area, enjoy a full day of sightseeing and encounter the starry sky; stay in a grassland lakeside hotel and enjoy a relaxing vacation.
Whether you are traveling off-peak or going out for National Day, these niche secret places are a good choice. Pick one and go~ Take a happy trip with Xiaoxia and see the beautiful rivers and mountains of our motherland!
