Top 6 Cities for Budget Travel Suitable for Students: Fewer Crowds and Beautiful Scenery

Taizhou • Attractions: ◦ Sea Viewing: Shepan Island in Sanmen offers exploration of millennia-old quarry caves; Muqiao Beach is perfect for wading and capturing sunset shots; Daludao Island in Yuhuan features coastal forests and, with some luck, you can encounter the "blue tears" phenomenon; Jishan Island has colorful fishing villages ideal for photography; Qicai Xiaoruocun in Wenling boasts macaron-colored houses perfect for photos; Shitang Peninsula offers stone house homestays and cliffside sea views. ◦ Culture: The Taizhou Prefecture City Wall in Linhai provides a panoramic view of the ancient city; Ziyang Street offers seaweed cakes and other delicacies, along with occasional intangible cultural heritage performances; Donghu is a microcosm of Jiangnan gardens; Guoqing Temple in Tiantai is an ancient temple from the Sui Dynasty; Shiliang Waterfall features beautiful forest valleys; Tongbai Palace is the ancestral site of Southern Taoism; Shenxianju in Xianju, shrouded in mist, looks like a fairyland; Danzhu is great for water activities. ◦ Others: Changyu Dongtian offers a natural reverberation experience known as the "cave concert." • Food: ◦ Jiaojiang: Breakfast options include Zhangyuan steamed rice and Zhanji egg pancakes; for main meals, try the old street stalls and Hehe Dayuan; for late-night snacks, visit Pingqiao Snack Street and Taowang Market for local specialties. ◦ Luqiao: The ten-li long street offers ginger walnut stewed eggs and pickled shrimp worth trying; Zhongsheng Night Market features trendy fried dough sticks wrapped with glutinous rice cakes. ◦ Huangyan: Recommended dishes include Ningxi wheat shrimp and sweet potato rice cakes; during the Dragon Boat Festival, special foods like rice cake tubes and black rice glutinous cakes are available. • Transportation and Accommodation: High-speed trains directly reach "Taizhou Station" (Jiaojiang) or "Linhai Station." Attractions are scattered, so renting a car or hiring a driver is recommended. Accommodation is best chosen in Linhai for convenient transportation. Shaoxing • Must-visit Attractions: Lu Xun's Former Residence Scenic Area (explore anecdotes from Lu Xun's childhood), Shenyuan Garden (where Lu You met Tang Wan), Shaoxing Keyan Scenic Area (experience the charm of Luzhen). • Family-friendly Attractions: Shaoxing Wupeng Boat tours to experience water town features; Wuxie Scenic Area to see majestic waterfalls; Shusheng's Former Residence to feel the style of Ming and Qing dynasty old streets. • Free Attractions: Lu Xun's Former Residence Scenic Area, Anchang Ancient Town (taste sausages and soy sauce featured on "A Bite of China"), Shaoxing Lu Xun's Former Residence. • Accommodation: Luxury options include Shaoxing Lanting Pushen Hotel; family-friendly choices include Shaoxing Oriental Landscape Jinsha Hotel; for scenic views, stay at Shaoxing Fuyue Wyndham Hotel. • Food: Local flavors include Xunbao Ji Shaoxing cuisine, Kong Yiji Restaurant, Shaoxing Xianheng Grand Hotel Chinese Restaurant; specialty snacks include Huijingxuan Duanyun Youmeng (yellow wine products), Tongxinlou (pan-fried buns), Luji Xiaoxian crispy chicken and baked cakes; luxury dining options include Lanting Pushen Hotel's Shenlu Restaurant. • Nearby: You can visit Shanghai Disney Resort, West Lake Scenic Area, The Bund, and more. Quanzhou • Must-visit Attractions: Qingyuan Mountain (one of Quanzhou's eighteen scenic spots), Kaiyuan Temple (a thousand-year-old temple), Quanzhou West Street Puppet Show (experience national intangible cultural heritage). • Family-friendly Attractions: Besides Kaiyuan Temple and West Street Puppet Show, visit Nanshaolin Temple for martial arts performances. • Free Attractions: Kaiyuan Temple, West Street (preserving many historic buildings), Nanshaolin Temple. • Accommodation: Luxury options include Quanzhou Qixu Bell Tower Hotel (view East and West Twin Towers), Quanzhou Taihe Intercontinental Hotel (overlooking Jinjiang scenery), Quanzhou Binjiang Crowne Plaza Hotel (enjoy Minnan landscape); for scenic views, choose Taihe Intercontinental or Qixu Bell Tower Hotel; for local flavor, stay at Quanzhou Hotel. • Food: Local specialties include Sidan Ginger Duck, Linjia Minnan Cuisine, Jinpo Old Brand Ginger Duck; specialty snacks include Hou A Po roasted meat rice dumplings, Yuanbao Taiwanese snacks, Lanshi Bell Tower rice dumplings; luxury restaurants include Nawan French Cuisine and Jiu Le Japanese Restaurant. • Nearby: You can visit Gulangyu Island, Xiamen Botanical Garden, Zhonggu Cableway, and more. Jinzhong • Must-visit Attractions: Pingyao Ancient City (rich in history and culture, experience Jin merchants' culture), Wang Family Courtyard (a large residential complex), Qiao Family Courtyard (unique architectural style), Mianshan Mountain (combines natural scenery and cultural sites), Zhangbi Ancient Fortress (ancient military fortress with unique tunnel system), Shuanglin Temple (famous for polychrome sculptures), Zhenguo Temple (a temple from the Five Dynasties Northern Han period), Yuci Old Town (ancient city district), Hongya Canyon (beautiful natural scenery), Hougou Ancient Village (showcasing ancient village style). Yanji • Family-friendly Attractions: Yanji Dinosaur Kingdom, Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park (hike to the summit for panoramic views), Yanji City History and Culture Museum. • Flower Viewing and Outings: Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park, People's Park (a century-old urban leisure park). • Free Attractions: Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park, People's Park, Yanji Bridge (charming night views). • Accommodation: Luxury options include Yanji Hongju Hotel (near the popular mural wall), Yanji Huayi Kairos Hotel (high-rise city views), Yanji Yanbian Hotel (Korean Ethnic Folk Garden branch); for local flavor, choose Yanbian Wulijia Huansen Homestay (Korean Ethnic Folk Garden branch). • Food: Local flavors include Xingdou Restaurant, Quanzhou Bibimbap, Jindalai Cold Noodles; recommended bars include July Lounge Whiskey Cocktail Bar, Zuixiang Huotang Folk Music Tavern. • Nearby: You can visit Changbai Mountain Scenic Area (view Tianchi Lake and other natural wonders), Jingpo Lake Scenic Area (high mountain barrier lake), Liuding Mountain Cultural Tourism Area, and more. Chongqing • Must-visit Attractions: Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges (movie filming location), Yangtze River Cableway (overlook mountain city views), Chongqing Zoo (see rare animals). • Recently Popular: Heishangu Scenic Area (natural oxygen bar), Chongqing Shibatian Traditional Style Area, Chongqing Guanghuan Shopping Park Indoor Botanical Garden "Muguang Forest." • Free Attractions: Ciqikou Ancient Town (experience ancient town charm), Hongyadong Folk Style Area (enjoy Bayu-style stilt houses and river views), Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street (bustling commercial district). • Accommodation: Luxury options include Chongqing Raffles Intercontinental Hotel (view the confluence of two rivers), Chongqing Regent Hotel (enjoy Jialing River and other night views), Chongqing Niyigelu Hotel; family-friendly options include Ascott Raffles Serviced Apartments; for scenic views, stay at Chongqing Raffles Intercontinental Hotel, Chongqing Ritz-Carlton Hotel, and more. • Food: Local flavors include Yangji Longfu, Mafangwan No. 66 Jianghu Cuisine, Shancheng Laotangkou 1636 Chongqing Old Dishes; specialty snacks recommended are Jiujiu Douhua Restaurant, Laoma Chao Shou Chongqing Noodles, Shibatian Dengdeng Noodles; luxury dining includes Yanshe Hotpot Cuisine, Yutu Cultural Restaurant. • Nearby: You can visit Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Sanxingdui Museum, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, and more.