18°C Summer Escape Secrets! 4 Lesser-Known Cool Spots 1.5 Hours from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai!

1⃣ Tonglu 🏞️ A poetic landscape by the Fuchun River, the ultimate summer cool spot! Transportation: Hangzhou East High-Speed Rail to Tonglu Station (25 minutes), 1.5-hour drive, with stunning Fuchun River scenery along the way. Accommodation: "Dale Zhiye·Tonglu" mountain view room with private hot spring (800+/night), or "Caotu" artistic guesthouse (500+/night). Activities: Boat tour on Fuchun River from Yanziling Fishing Platform (ticket 125 RMB), hiking at Baiyunyuan Waterfall (free), She ethnic village bamboo weaving DIY experience. Food: Tonglu fertile tofu and fermented rice buns at "Yiwei Courtyard"; enjoy iced Americano and river views at "Capsule Bookstore"~ 2⃣ Yixing 🎋 Bamboo sea + caves + purple clay teapots, underrated but super fun! Transportation: Shanghai Hongqiao High-Speed Rail to Yixing Station (1.5 hours), 20-minute taxi to the scenic area. Accommodation: "Longyin Xishan" Zen villa (1000+/night), or "Shangchuan Yishe" bamboo forest guesthouse (600+/night). Activities: Adventure in Zhanggongdong underground river (ticket 110 RMB), cable car over Bamboo Sea Park for green wave views (80 RMB), purple clay teapot making on Shushan Ancient South Street (experience price 150 RMB). Food: Shrimp wontons at "Zhou Zhen Wontons," black rice with osmanthus sugar at "Yixing Jiuyue"~ 3⃣ Tiantai ⛰️ Starting point of "Xu Xiake's Travels"! Waterfalls + Guoqing Temple Zen journey Transportation: Hangzhou East High-Speed Rail to Tiantaishan Station (1 hour), car rental recommended (Shiliang Flying Waterfall mountain road is stunning). Accommodation: "Lujing Tiantai" Zen retreat room (700+/night), or "Fenglai Banshan" starry bubble house (500+/night). Activities: Photograph rainbows at Shiliang Flying Waterfall (ticket 60 RMB), enjoy 2 RMB vegetarian meal at Guoqing Temple, walk the glass plank road at Qiongtai Fairy Valley (88 RMB). Food: Dumpling pancakes and hulatai at "Yu Qing Zhai"; countryside-style café photos with creamy tones at "Sanmu & Food"! 4⃣ Shengsi (Popular but with niche experiences) 🌊 No need to squeeze into Gouqi Island! This lesser-known offshore island has fewer people and more magical scenery~ Transportation: Shanghai Nanpu Bridge combined bus and ferry ticket to Shengsi Main Island (2.5 hours), book tickets 3 days in advance. Accommodation: "Jijing" small white building guesthouse (sea view from window 600+/night), or "Shancheng Xiaoshu" cliffside pool villa (900+/night). Activities: Sunrise at Liujingtan Lighthouse (ticket 90 RMB), cycling on Left Bank Road (bike rental 30 RMB/hour), painting murals in Donghai fishing village. Food: Seafood noodle dumplings at "Teacher Hou's Shop," scallions and razor clams with ice-cold beer at "Shanban Seafood"!