Guide to Hidden Gems: 5 Lesser-Known Cities Reachable by 2-Hour High-Speed Train

Discover 5 underrated cities with stunning scenery and budget-friendly prices, all accessible within 2 hours by high-speed rail. Experience ancient water towns, mountain retreats, and cultural heritage sites while spending only 100-150 RMB per day for an immersive slow travel experience! 🏯 1. Quzhou, Zhejiang | The Spicy "Little Chongqing" of Jiangnan 🚄 Transport: 1.5h from Hangzhou (≈109 RMB), 2h from Shanghai 💰 Daily Budget: 100-150 RMB/person ✨ Highlights: Shuitingmen Ancient Street: Free night strolls along lantern-lit flagstone roads, photo ops at Quzhou's "Hongyadong" Jianglang Mountain: UNESCO-listed Danxia landform with three iconic peaks (100 RMB in peak season) Nianbadu Ancient Town: Ming-Qing architecture at a tri-province border (65 RMB ticket) 🍜 Must-try: "Three Heads and One Paw" spicy stews (5 RMB/piece) Quzhou baked cakes (3 RMB) with pickled veggie fillings 🏡 Stay: Riverside B&Bs near Shuitingmen (100-150 RMB/night) 🌿 2. Jixi, Anhui | Poetic Huizhou Villages 🚄 Transport: 2h from Hangzhou (≈110 RMB), 2.5h from Shanghai 💰 Daily Budget: 80-120 RMB/person ✨ Highlights: Longchuan Scenic Area: 1,000-year-old Hu Clan Ancestral Hall (75 RMB) Huizhou-Hangzhou Ancient Trail: Free bamboo-shaded hiking routes Renli Village: Unspoiled Ming dynasty harvest scenes 🍜 Must-try: "Hu Shi Stew Pot" (30 RMB/person) Jixi fried sweet potato noodles (15 RMB) 🏡 Stay: Farmstays in Longchuan (80-120 RMB/night with meals) 🍵 3. Zhenjiang, Jiangsu | Ancient Ferry Port Charm 🚄 Transport: 1h from Nanjing (≈30 RMB), 1.5h from Shanghai 💰 Daily Budget: 100-150 RMB/person ✨ Highlights: Xijin Ferry: Five-dynasty old street with morning tea rituals Jinshan Temple: Legendary "Flooded Golden Mountain" site (50 RMB) Beigu Mountain sunset: Poetic Yangtze views (30 RMB) 🍜 Must-try: "Lid Noodles" with fragrant pork (10 RMB) Vinegar-flavored ice cream (5 RMB) 🏡 Stay: Xijin Ferry guesthouses (150 RMB/night) 🏺 4. Lanxi, Zhejiang | Morning Tea Time Capsule 🚄 Transport: 1.5h from Hangzhou (≈60 RMB) 💰 Daily Budget: 80-120 RMB/person ✨ Highlights: Youbu Ancient Town: 6am tea market feasts (10 RMB/table) Zhuge Bagua Village: Eight-trigram layout (80 RMB) Lan River sunset at Zhongzhou Park 🍜 Must-try: Egg-stuffed crispy cakes (8 RMB) Stone-ground salty soy milk (3 RMB) 🏡 Stay: Huizhou-style B&Bs (100 RMB/night) 🪔 5. Liling, Hunan | Porcelain Capital Vibes 🚄 Transport: 0.5h from Changsha (≈35 RMB), 2h from Wuhan 💰 Daily Budget: 80-120 RMB/person ✨ Highlights: Ceramic workshops (30 RMB DIY) Weishan ancient kiln ruins Zhuangyuan Island cycling 🍜 Must-try: Liling stir-fried noodles (8 RMB) Spicy cured duck (25 RMB/half) 🏡 Stay: Bookish hostels (60 RMB/bed) 💎 Pro Tips: • Book Friday-Sunday trips using 12306's "Frequent Traveler" passes • Rent e-bikes (10 RMB/day) at smaller stations • Visit ancient towns before 8am to avoid crowds • Skip overpriced combo tickets in Quzhou • Family-friendly activities: - Zhenjiang's Jinshan Temple printmaking (20 RMB) - Lanxi's free Bagua maze for kids 🌿 Slow City Charms: Quzhou's spice, Jixi's ink-wash scenery, Zhenjiang's vinegar, Lanxi's tea, Liling's porcelain—all offering urban escape under 100 RMB/day. Two hours by train, twenty years back in time. Pick a weekend to disconnect and breathe!