Unlock a New Way to Travel with Parents: A Slow-Paced List of “Three Small Towns” That Avoid All Crowds

Taking your parents to slow-paced, sparsely populated off-the-beaten-path small towns is a very warm and meaningful trip. It completely avoids crowds and noise, focusing on family companionship and experience. Core Principles (Must-Read for Traveling with Parents) 1. Smooth Transportation: Avoid long continuous rides as much as possible; choose the easiest way point-to-point, prioritizing chartered cars or self-driving. 2. Stable Accommodation: Choose quiet, clean hotels or high-quality homestays with complete facilities, preferably with elevators to avoid climbing stairs in old buildings. 3. Relaxed Itinerary: Follow the principle of “half a day for sightseeing, half a day for rest,” arranging no more than 1-2 attractions per day, leaving enough time for lunch breaks and daydreaming. 4. Dietary Adaptation: Learn in advance whether the local food is too spicy or stimulating; when ordering for parents, focus on light, easily digestible local specialties. 5. Constant Communication: Always pay attention to parents’ physical condition; rest when tired, no rushing, no ticking off spots. --- Plan One: Fujian-Zhejiang Borderline · Dream Journey of Mountain and Water Ancient Towns This route combines mountains, water, ancient villages, tea fields, and islands, with stunning scenery and rich cultural heritage. The pace is very slow throughout, perfect for parents who enjoy tranquility and history. Three Small Towns: Taishun, Zhejiang - Shouning, Fujian - Qiaodun, Cangnan, Zhejiang (Qiaodun and Xiaguan Towns) Itinerary (Recommended 5-6 days) · Day 1: Arrive in Wenzhou, drive to Taishun County (about 2 hours) · Afternoon: Check in to a hot spring hotel in Sixi Town or Yayang Town, Taishun (such as Yulongshan Hot Spring Resort or Lianyun Valley Hot Spring). After a long journey, soaking in a warm radon hot spring is an excellent way to relax. · Evening: Enjoy a light farmhouse meal near the hotel and rest early. · Day 2: Taishun · Dreaming of Covered Bridges · Morning: Sleep in naturally. Then visit the “World’s Most Beautiful Covered Bridges,” Beijian Bridge and Xidong Bridge. The two bridges are close to each other, surrounded by ancient trees and old paths, perfect for slow walks and photography. · Afternoon: After lunch break, head to Kucun Ancient Village. This is a thousand-year-old town built with stones, almost uncommercialized, inhabited only by locals and traces of time, so quiet you can hear the wind. · Dinner: Taste Taishun specialties: loach soup, green tofu, smoked cured rabbit, etc. · Day 3: Taishun - Shouning - Qiaodun, Cangnan · Morning: Drive to Shouning County, Fujian (about 1.5 hours). The destination is Xipu Village, a beautiful village known as “Covered Bridge Water Town, Hometown of Top Scholars.” The village has a dozen ancient bridges, flowing water, and ancient banyan trees providing shade, very suitable for leisurely strolls. · Afternoon: Drive to Qiaodun Town, Cangnan County, Zhejiang (about 1 hour). Check in to a nearby homestay. If energy permits, visit Wanyao Ancient Village (a handmade porcelain village hidden deep in the mountains, with few elderly residents, very original). · Dinner: Must-try Qiaodun mooncakes (freshly baked large mooncakes with sweet and savory flavors) and local stir-fried rice noodles. · Day 4: Cangnan · Mountain and Sea Romance · Morning: Visit Puzhuang Suocheng. This is one of the best-preserved Ming Dynasty anti-pirate coastal fortresses in China. Residents still live inside, full of life atmosphere, and walking around the city wall offers excellent views. · Afternoon: Drive to Xiaguan Town, known as “Zhejiang’s End of the Earth.” This blue-and-white town resembles Santorini, nestled by mountains and sea with beautiful scenery. You can slowly walk along the old street, see old buildings, and find a seaside teahouse to drink tea and enjoy the breeze. · Dinner: Have the freshest seafood feast in Xiaguan. · Day 5: Leisurely Return · In the morning, you can take another look at the sea in Xiaguan or take a walk on Yuliao Big Beach (almost no one there on non-holidays), then drive back to Wenzhou Airport/High-Speed Rail Station at a relaxed pace. 🚄 Pre-Trip Preparation and Tips 1. Transportation: Self-driving or chartered cars are preferred. Public transportation is inconvenient in these off-the-beaten-path places; self-driving ensures maximum comfort and flexibility for parents. Book in advance on platforms like Zuzuche. 2. Accommodation: Book highly rated hotels or homestays in advance on platforms, paying special attention to keywords like “quiet,” “clean,” and “good service.” Priority can be given to places with hot springs, courtyards, or scenic views. 3. Gear: · Prepare comfortable hiking shoes and casual jackets for parents. · A small medical kit: include stomach medicine, cold medicine, motion sickness pills, band-aids, and their regular medications. · Thermos cup! Almost every parent has one; having hot water on the road will make them feel very reassured. 4. Mental Preparation: Give parents a “heads-up” in advance, explaining that the places we are going to are quiet, without the hustle and bustle of big cities, mainly for relaxation and seeing different scenery, so they have psychological expectations and anticipation. 5. Photography: Take lots of photos and group shots of your parents; these will be a source of joy and conversation for them for a long time to come.