Just 2 hours by high-speed rail! These 5 cities will cure all your blues

1️⃣ Xuancheng, Anhui | A poetic Jiangnan hideaway

🖌️ Must-do:

• Jingting Mountain hike: Walk where Li Bai wrote "Never tired of gazing at each other," wear Hanfu for bamboo forest photos (¥50 entry)

• Peach Blossom Pond boat ride: Find Wang Lun's legacy on black-canopied boats (¥80/boat), sip tea to Huangmei opera

• Shuidong Old Street: Explore Republic-era houses, snack on fresh mochi (¥5/pc) with jasmine tea

🍜 Must-eat:

• Shuiyang Trio: Duck feet wrap + wings + dried tofu (¥20/box), vacuum-packed souvenirs

• Ningguo walnuts: Freshly roasted salted (¥15/jin), perfect binge-watching snack

🚄 Transport: 40min HSR from Nanjing South, ¥8 taxi minimum fare

🏠 Stay: Bamboo-view B&Bs at Jingting foothills (breakfast included, ¥300/night)

💡 Tips: June showers call for foldable raincoats + canvas shoes

2️⃣ Duyun, Guizhou | Slow living in mountain-water paintings

🌄 Must-do:

• Qin-Han Film Studio: Hanfu photoshoots (¥45 ticket), chance to see live filming

• Luosifen Town: Giant noodle sculpture, pair rice tea with snail noodles (¥20/person)

• Mount Doupeng hike: Stream trekking + berry picking (¥80/guide), water shoes essential

🍜 Must-eat:

• Sour soup beef hotpot: Wild litsea oil flavor (¥60/person), appetite-boosting

• Chongchong cake: Brown sugar glutinous rice + crispy pork (¥5/serving), bamboo-steamed

🚄 Transport: 1h10m HSR from Guiyang North, ¥30 shuttle to scenic spots

🏠 Stay: Qingyun Lake villas (balcony lake views, ¥400/night)

💡 Tips: 25°C June avg, pack light jackets + mosquito patches

3️⃣ Chenzhou, Hunan | Fairy-tale filming locations

🌌 Must-do:

• Xiaodongjiang morning mist: Arrive by 5:30 for fisherman's net casting (¥85 combo ticket)

• GaoYiling hike: Danxia landforms + emerald canyons, bright dresses photograph best (¥80)

• Bailang cycling: Electric bike rentals (¥30/hr), lakeside wild bayberries

🍜 Must-eat:

• Dongjiang salmon sashimi: Freshly sliced with wasabi (¥128/jin), melt-in-mouth

• Qifengdu fish noodles: Chili broth + pickled peppers (¥15/bowl), addictively spicy

🚄 Transport: 1hr HSR from Guangzhou South, ¥1 local buses

🏠 Stay: Stargazing lodges by Dongjiang Lake (floor-to-ceiling views, ¥500/night)

💡 Tips: Waterproof phone cases + polarizing filters for mist shots

4️⃣ Yixing, Jiangsu | Bamboo forest therapy

🎋 Must-do:

• Yixing Bamboo Sea: Cable car to "South Jiangsu's First Peak" (¥125 combo), rustling leaves therapy

• Zisha Museum: Handcraft purple clay cups (¥198/person), personalized souvenirs

• Longbeishan cycling: Shared bikes through wetlands (¥2/hr), wild sika deer sightings

🍜 Must-eat:

• Heqiao dried tofu: Five-spice/numbing flavors (¥10/bag), perfect with drinks

• Black glutinous rice: Dyed with mugwort (¥8/box), fragrantly chewy

🚄 Transport: 1h10m HSR from Shanghai Hongqiao, ¥30 taxi to sites

🏠 Stay: Bamboo hot spring hotels (private pools + forest views, ¥600/night)

💡 Tips: Bamboo paths slippery—wear grippy shoes

5️⃣ Lanxi, Zhejiang | Millennia-old living postcard

🏮 Must-do:

• Zhuge Bagua Village: Zhuge Liang descendants' enclave (¥80), learn ancient puzzle locks

• Underground Long River: Boat through karst caves (¥115 combo), stunning stalactites

• Youbu Ancient Town: Morning tea culture (¥5/person), chess-playing elders + storytelling

🍜 Must-eat:

• Lanxi egg pancakes: Radish + pork fillings (¥6/pc), crispy-fresh

• Crispy cakes: Preserved veg + pork (¥3/pc), flaky perfection

🚄 Transport: 40min HSR from Hangzhou East, ¥1 buses

🏠 Stay: Youbu heritage inns (century-old courtyards, ¥350/night)

💡 Tips: Cave temperature drops—bring jackets + flashlights

💰 Budget guide (2D1N solo trip):

• Xuancheng: HSR ¥80 + stay ¥300 + food ¥150 = ¥530

• Duyun: HSR ¥180 + stay ¥400 + food ¥200 = ¥780

• Chenzhou: HSR ¥150 + stay ¥500 + food ¥250 = ¥900

• Yixing: HSR ¥130 + stay ¥600 + food ¥200 = ¥930

• Lanxi: HSR ¥80 + stay ¥350 + food ¥180 = ¥610

🌺 Solo travel kit:

• Foldable umbrella + mini tripod (selfie-ready)

• Waterproof phone pouch + power bank (no cave signals)

• Travel sketchbook + watercolors (capture inspiration)

• Solo-friendly toiletry kit (hygienic mini bottles)

This summer, converse with mountains, reconcile with yourself—one solo journey at a time. Bookmark this list and just go!