https://qa.trip.com/moments/detail/hongjiang-2825-133131188?locale=en-QA
Olivia BakerUnited States

High-speed rail direct to four underrated cities with low prices and a slow pace

Title: Within 3 hours by high-speed rail! These 4 underrated small cities can't be hidden anymore, prices lower than hometowns, slow pace so healing you won't want to leave~ Always want to find a place with "few people, saving money, no rush" to take your parents or yourself to relax? Personally tested 4 high-speed rail accessible "hidden gems": no internet celebrity tags, only the relaxed vibe of everyday life, prices so low it's unbelievable, even the wind carries signals of "take it slow"~ 1️⃣, Hebi An "underrated small city in northern Henan" just 1 hour by high-speed rail from Zhengzhou! A bowl of sticky noodle bread with tofu pudding for 7 yuan in the morning, a carb bomb so fragrant it makes you stomp your feet; in the afternoon, stroll through "Xun County Ancient City," see the free giant Buddha on Dafu Mountain, handmade clay toys sold by an old lady under the ancient city wall (15 yuan for a pair), kids reluctant to put them down~ Stay overnight in a guesthouse in the ancient city (80+/night), open the window to see blue bricks and black tiles, the landlady gave a bowl of freshly cooked red bean porridge, warming to the heart~ 2️⃣, Jixi "Little Jiangnan of Huizhou," 2 hours by high-speed rail from Hangzhou, slow as if pressed to 0.5x speed! Early morning watch the mist roll over horse-head walls in "Longchuan Village," learn to make "Huimo Su" ink pastry with grandpa (10 yuan experience pack); lunch at "Hu Shi Yi Pin Pot" (48 yuan/portion), cured meat, egg dumplings, and dried bamboo shoots piled like a mountain, so fresh your eyebrows fall off~ Stay overnight in a guesthouse in "Renli Ancient Village" (120+/night), red lanterns hang in the courtyard, sit by the Eight Immortals table drinking wild chrysanthemum tea, even time becomes gentle~ 3️⃣, Hongjiang "Southwest Mansion," 1.5 hours by high-speed rail from Huaihua, home to the "Ming and Qing Commercial Road Museum" by the Yuan River! Walk the bluestone paths of "Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City," with preserved old sites of escort agencies, banks, and brothels, the guide's talk on "Piaohao secret escort" is super interesting; lunch by the river eating "Yuan River Fish" (50 yuan/pot), fresh and spicy to the extreme~ Stay overnight at "Ancient Commercial City Inn" (60+/night), wooden building creaks, outside the window lanterns reflect on the water at night, dreams filled with old times~ 4️⃣, Youxi "Hidden terraced field hometown," 1.5 hours by high-speed rail from Fuzhou, the "secret realm of central Fujian" made famous by "Where Are We Going, Dad?"! In spring, see the golden rooster mountain terraced fields stacked green (free), in summer listen to cicadas at "Zhuzi Cultural Park"; lunch with "Youxi rice jelly" (8 yuan/bowl), smooth like pudding, perfect with chili oil~ Stay overnight at "Guifeng Village Guesthouse" (100+/night), old house converted, drying preserved vegetables in the yard, lie on a bamboo chair listening to insects, this is the real "slow life"~ These 4 cities have no "must-check-in" pressure, only the comfort of "casual wandering": high-speed rail tickets are cheap, meal money enough for three meals in scenic spots, accommodation averages under 100 yuan per person—taking parents out, isn't it all about "saving money, relaxing the mind, and warm scenery"?~
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Posted: Jun 19, 2025
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Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City

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HongJiang
No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Huaihua
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