Summer at 19°C is here! Ditch the AC remote and head to Guizhou's 4 top summer retreats

✈️ How to get there: A 3-hour "teleport" to nature's refrigerator

Direct flights from 36 cities across China to Guiyang Longdongbao Airport, with summer fares averaging ¥400+. Rent a car upon arrival and hit the highway—enjoy Wi-Fi and charging stations all the way. A 2-hour drive takes you straight to Liupanshui, China's only city officially named "Cool Capital," with a summer average of 19°C and natural AC. Book your car rental on Ctrip in advance—a Nissan Sylphy costs just ¥98/day, and you won't mind stuffing the trunk with down jackets.

🌲 Day 1 · Liupanshui: Sleep in the "Little Switzerland" of the clouds

📍 Yushu National Forest Park

Head straight to Yushu, perched at 2,500 meters with 90% forest coverage—the air is so fresh it's almost sweet. Must-try experiences:

① Cloud Train: A vintage green train cuts through clouds on a 40-minute ride, with windows doubling as natural filters.
② Forest Slide: A 1.2-km thrill that takes just 3 minutes to descend—your screams harmonize with the pine waves.

Stay overnight in a starlit cabin at Wild Yuhai Resort, where your balcony faces the Milky Way. After 10 PM, star trails are visible to the naked eye. The B&B offers a roast lamb feast + Yi ethnic bonfire party—the joy is priceless, even if the wool comes from the sheep.

🚿 Day 2 · Zhijin Cave: A 22°C "natural icebox" underground

A 1.5-hour drive to Zhijin Cave, the "King of China's Karst Caves." Outside: 32°C; inside: 22°C. You’ll be renting a coat (¥20) within 3 minutes of entering in your T-shirt. Highlights:
· "Tyrant’s Helmet": A 30-meter-tall stalagmite that looks cyberpunk under lights.
· "Silver Rain Tree": Crystal-clear formations resembling icicles—use wide-angle + flash for photos.

Post-cave, head to Zhijin Hotel for authentic Kung Pao Chicken (originated here), with chunks bigger than fingernails, paired with "bingjiang" (Guizhou-style shaved ice) for instant revival.

🌊 Day 3 · Libo Small Seven Arches: "Jelly sea" green enough to break the rules

30-minute high-speed train to Libo Station, then a 20-minute taxi to Small Seven Arches. Opens at 7:30 AM in summer—book a VIP shuttle on Ctrip to skip crowds via the West Gate. Must-do route:
1️⃣ Wolong Pond: Aerial views look like spilled jade. Bamboo rafting (¥50/person) with paddles creating "jelly" ripples.
2️⃣ Cuigu Waterfall: A "water curtain cave" from *Ever Night*. Wade barefoot—it beats AC by tenfold.
3️⃣ Small Seven Arches Bridge: After 3 PM, slanting light + reflections + moss + Hanfu = perfect New Chinese wallpaper.

Stay at Libo Yao Pool Small Seven Arches, where the infinity pool faces karst peaks. Floating afternoon tea (¥98) lets you fake a Bali vibe on social media.

🌌 Day 4 · Xijiang Thousand Households Miao Village: 19°C summer nights + long-table feast

Evening high-speed train to Kaili South Station, then a 1-hour shuttle to the Miao Village. Beat the heat with:
· A stay at "Sanchunli·Zhong" mid-mountain B&B—floor-to-ceiling windows frame a sea of lights, with morning mist lifting like a lid.
· Long-table feast until 11 PM: sour fish + "niubie" hotpot double punch. Dare to try "High Mountain Flowing Water" (Miao drinking challenge)?
· Stargazing at the viewpoint by 10:30 PM. Bring the Miao embroidered shawl from your B&B—it’s Insta gold.

🚗 Return hacks: Pack the coolness home
· Grab "ci li jelly" at the airport duty-free—a vitamin C bomb and in-flight refresher.
· Choose window seat F on the train—karst mountains recede like spilled green paint.
· Hang the Miao village mugwort sachet in your car—the 19°C scent lingers for a month.

💚 In a nutshell
Guizhou’s summer is like God spilled mint soda—fizzy, breezy, and utterly refillable!