Low-budget slow travel! 4 treasure city guides perfect for the whole family

📍 Fujian · Taining｜A healing journey in a mountain and water ancient city

▫️ Must-visit: Take a boat ride on Dajin Lake to explore the Danxia wonders ⛰️ (ticket + boat ticket 130 RMB), discover Ganluyan Temple’s "pillar inserted into the ground"; stroll through Taining Ancient City with free admission, touch the 600-year-old Ming Dynasty streets, and catch an intangible cultural heritage Nuo dance performance at night
▫️ Food secrets: 199 RMB intangible cultural heritage food pass, unlock Biyu rolls and Youjiang tofu feast, enjoy authentic flavors with the whole family
▫️ Accommodation picks: Ancient city homestays ￥100-150/night, open the window to see blue tiles and cooking smoke, family rooms come with a hand-drawn ancient city map 🗺️

📍 Yunnan · Jianshui｜Slow time in the thousand-year-old Lin’an

▫️ Immersive experience: Retro narrow-gauge train ￥120/person, travel through century-old tracks to see rice fields and flower seas; free morning visit to Tuan Mountain villagers’ homes, learn pottery wheel throwing with kids (￥30/session)
▫️ Foodie feast: 3 RMB tofu stall, 5 RMB crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, DIY grilled tofu with kids at Ximen Tofu Workshop, enjoy the fun of "listening to sounds while eating tofu"
▫️ Sleep in history: Inn near Zhu Family Garden ￥80/night, includes courtyard morning tea, count stars on the eaves with kids at night ✨

📍 Guizhou · Zhenyuan｜Parent-child time in an ink painting scroll

▫️ Free activities: Rent fishing rods by Wuyang River (￥10/day) to teach kids fishing, hike Tiexi to find the Longtan secret spot from "The Scholars", watch elders paint "Tai Chi fish" on the river surface at dusk
▫️ Snack map: Sour soup noodles ￥5/bowl, tofu balls ￥3/each, buy five get one free on skewers with sauce at the alley entrance!
▫️ Sleep by the water: Stilt house inn ￥120/night, window views of the river, free bamboo raft experience (limited to 1 hour) 🚣‍♂️

📍 Zhejiang · Songyang｜Wild holiday in a cloud-top ancient village

▫️ Parent-child interaction: Learn traditional brown sugar making in Yangjiatang Village (￥20/person), picnic under the waterfall in Chenjiapu Village, chill watermelon with creek water to beat the heat 🍉
▫️ Hidden food gems: Crispy wheat cakes ￥6/each, freshly grilled bamboo tube rice sold on the street, eat to your fill for about 20 RMB per person!
▫️ Starry sky homestay: "Feiniaoji" dorm bed ￥50/person, watch the sea of clouds and identify constellations with kids on the terrace, includes telescope experience 🔭

💡 Family travel tips:
✅ Check scenic spot discount policies in advance, children’s and seniors’ tickets can save half the cost
✅ Choose ancient city homestays with breakfast included to save a lot
✅ Prepare portable snacks + water bottles to replenish energy anytime in scenic areas