Yunnan Hidden Gem! A 23℃ Border Town, Perfect for Kids to Escape the Crowds and Have a Blast

Summer in Yunnan is always dominated by Dali and Lijiang, but I discovered a border town with ten times fewer people! Stayed here with kids for 5 days, enjoying a cool 23℃ every day, full of surprises in a slow-paced life—this is what a family trip should be like~
1️⃣ Must-visit family-friendly spots, fun and educational
📍Volcanic Geopark: A perfect place for kids to learn! Walk the wooden plank road from the Dakongshan parking lot to the summit, kids chase after the gas holes on the rock walls, curiously asking, "Is this Grandpa Volcano’s breathing hole?"~ On the way down, turn right into the lava tunnel, the 15℃ coolness instantly refreshes you. Shine a flashlight on the honeycomb-shaped rock walls, it feels like entering a prehistoric secret realm. Be sure to take a hot air balloon ride from 7-9 AM; after ascending, kids point excitedly at the volcanic clusters below, shouting, "Mom, look, the volcanoes look like little cakes!"
📍Ginkgo Village (navigate to Chenjiazai): The green ginkgo trees in summer are so soothing! Avoid the commercial main street and walk to the village end, where villagers live. Golden corn hangs on the rammed earth walls, kids can help villagers pick ginkgo leaves and even book a ginkgo pastry-making experience—kneading dough, pressing molds, baking pastries. Freshly baked pastries smell like ginkgo, and kids get their faces all messy eating them.
📍Beihai Wetland: Book wetland camping 3 days in advance, lie on the meadow with kids watching the Milky Way rise from the volcanic crater, water birds softly calling in the reeds. Kids quietly point at stars asking their names. Remember to have kids wear non-slip shoes as the meadow is a bit slippery. They can also observe little insects in the wetland, a wonderful way to get close to nature~
📍Rehai Hot Springs: Unlock the "geothermal egg boiling" with kids! Buy a skewer of eggs and place them in the "geothermal treasure" area, watch the eggs slowly cook, kids feel a great sense of accomplishment. While soaking in the "Pearl Spring" natural bubble bath, kids chase the little bubbles in the water and can try peanuts and potatoes steamed by the hot spring, soft, sweet, and delicious—kids want more. Tickets are cheaper after 2 PM, great value for money~
📍Heshun Ancient Town: Take kids for breakfast at "Aunt Cun’s Thin Bean Jelly" early in the morning; thin bean jelly with fried dough sticks, kids can eat a big bowl. In the evening, go to the terrace of "Shushu Bookstore" to watch the sunset dye the ancient town’s rooftops golden. You can find clan genealogies in the Ming and Qing ancestral halls, and the Republican-era library smells of ink. Tell kids stories about the ancient town, literary and warm.
📍Gaoligong Mountain: The 19℃ summer coolness is so comfortable! Choose the easy Shenzhugu Valley hiking trail, let kids touch volcanic pillars from 40,000 years ago, kids will exclaim, "Are these stones from the dinosaur era?"~ At the end, the valley kitchen serves freshly baked copper pot rice, the rice wrapped in a crispy crust, kids eat two bowls, and can watch the chef cooking with a copper pot—super fun.
2️⃣ Accommodation Tips: Top nearby luxury wilderness hotels
Chose the "Gaoligong Mountain Wild Luxury Resort," close to all attractions, the hotel is hidden in the forest, with green mountains and clear waters right outside the window. The family room has a small tent and a picture book corner; kids play in the tent every night before bed. The hotel offers exclusive family activities, like plant identification with guides, making volcanic stone crafts, and you can book a private hot spring pool—so relaxing to soak with kids at night. Breakfast features freshly made Yunnan snacks and cartoon-shaped buns that kids love. The service is super thoughtful, the stay was incredibly comfortable~

Post by Charlotte52 Turner~ | Oct 26, 2025