Autumn Peak Escape Guide! 4 Hidden Gems for Around 300 RMB Per Person, Snowy Mountains and Blue Seas Perfect for Photos

As autumn deepens, want to escape the city noise but fear crowded popular spots? Combining the essence of Trip.com's top-rated notes, we've selected 4 destinations with "low crowds + high beauty," covering snowy mountains, islands, grasslands, and ancient villages. Reachable within 3-4 hours by high-speed train or self-driving, you can unlock immersive autumn scenery for just 300 RMB per person per day. Even beginners can easily capture viral photos for social media. Sichuan · Siguniang Mountain: An Autumn Fairy Tale Beneath the Snowy Peaks Just a 3.5-hour drive from Chengdu, Siguniang Mountain has 80% fewer visitors than Jiuzhaigou and is a hidden paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. In October, the snow-capped mountains and colorful forests reflect each other, with streams flowing through the woods, like a real-life fairy tale. The core attraction is Shuangqiao Valley, where a 150 RMB ticket plus sightseeing bus package unlocks Windows desktop-level views of redwood forests reflecting on the lake. The snow on Yaomei Peak remains year-round, making every shot a masterpiece. If you have the stamina, be sure to hike the 3-5 km wooden plank trail in Changping Valley through the primeval forest. When tired, spend 150 RMB to ride a horse uphill and get close to glacial relics. The free Maobizi Viewing Platform is a hidden gem: at dawn, the golden sunlight dyes the snowy peaks red, and at dusk, smoke from cooking fires frames the mountains, creating stunning light and shadow effects. Don’t miss the Tibetan farmhouse cuisine—60 RMB per person for yak meat hotpot, paired with butter tea to cut the richness. The 5 RMB barley cakes are crispy outside and soft inside, warming and filling. Stay in Tibetan-style guesthouses in town for 120-180 RMB per night with snow mountain views from your window. An 80 RMB direct bus from Chengdu’s Chadianzi Bus Station is more convenient than driving. Zhejiang · Gouqi Island: A Blue Sea Poem of the East China Sea Four hours from Shanghai, Gouqi Island has half the visitors of Zhujiajian, and the October blue sea is as clear as a gem. A must-do is to visit Dongya Cliff at 5 a.m.; a 50 RMB ticket grants you the first sunrise over the East China Sea, painting the sea red with breathtaking views. The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs adds to the atmosphere. Rent a 50 RMB/day electric scooter to circle the village during the day. Colorful houses, seaside lawns, and fishing ports create a fresh picture. The old street in Dawang Village shows fishermen drying their catch. The free Gouqi Beach is quiet and peaceful, perfect for walking on the sand and listening to the wind—super healing. Seafood is the soul of the island. For 80 RMB per person, you can enjoy freshly steamed swimming crabs and boiled shrimp at street stalls. A 10 RMB seafood noodle bowl is generously topped. Book your 88 RMB one-way ferry ticket three days in advance via the "Zhoushan Haixing Ferry" WeChat public account. Stay in Dawang Village guesthouses for 150-200 RMB per night, just a 5-minute walk to the beach, some including seafood breakfast. Gansu · Sangke Grassland: A Nomadic Secret Under the Starry Sky Four hours’ drive from Lanzhou, Sangke Grassland still has greenery in October, with herds of cattle and sheep and affordable prices. The free core area offers 50 RMB Tibetan costume rentals for photos, 80 RMB/hour horseback rides across the grassland, and you can watch herders milk cows, immersing yourself in nomadic life. A 1 km hike leads to Dazong Lake (30 RMB entrance), where the blue water reflects snowy mountains, surrounded by wildflowers like a fairyland. The night sky is the highlight. Guesthouses offer free camping spots in their yards. When the Milky Way stretches across the sky, listen to Tibetan folk songs—this tranquility heals all fatigue. Recommended food includes 50 RMB per person hand-pulled lamb, tender and odorless, paired with sweet tea to cut the richness. Tibetan beef buns at 3 RMB each and 10 RMB bowls of yak soup warm and fill you up. Renting a car for about 200 RMB per day is the most flexible option. Grassland guesthouses cost 100-150 RMB per night, some including breakfast and dinner, offering great value. Jiangxi · Huangling: The Ancient Village’s Autumn Harvest Festival Just 2.5 hours by high-speed train from Nanchang, Huangling is in peak autumn harvest season in October and more distinctive than Hongcun. The 145 RMB ticket plus cable car pass is a must-buy. From the autumn harvest viewing platform, you can see red chili peppers, corn, and rice laid out in colorful patterns on bamboo trays. Morning mist drifts over the terraced fields, resembling an ink wash fairyland. Take the cable car to overlook tens of thousands of acres of terraces, where golden rice sways in the wind, making every photo a moving oil painting. Don’t miss the intangible cultural heritage experiences. The ancient village workshop offers free Wuyuan paper-cutting lessons, and for 30 RMB you can paint on autumn harvest bamboo trays and take home a personalized souvenir. Hui-style farmhouse dishes cost 60 RMB per person, featuring steamed pork and stuffed red carp. Qingming cakes at 5 RMB each and 10 RMB bottles of royal chrysanthemum tea are must-buy specialties. A 20 RMB shuttle bus from Wuyuan High-Speed Rail Station goes directly to the scenic area. Guesthouses inside the village cost 180-250 RMB per night, with autumn harvest views from the window. Arriving before 8 a.m. lets you capture empty shots. Autumn Travel Tips & Photo Secrets For transportation, book tickets one week in advance and avoid peak days like October 1 and 6 when driving. Book accommodations 20 days ahead, prioritizing rooms with breakfast near attractions. Pack according to needs: thin down jackets for snowy mountains and grasslands, sun protection clothing for islands, and sneakers for ancient villages. Dress by the formula "70% earth tones + 20% bright colors," such as a trench coat with a pomegranate red sweater, boosting photo success by 40%. Off-peak timing is key: enter popular spots before 8 a.m. and have lunch at restaurants outside the scenic areas. Use Trip.com’s real-time price comparison and crowd warning features. Combo tickets save 30% compared to single tickets and help avoid wasted trips. This autumn, no need to crowd popular spots—enjoy your own autumn romance among snowy mountains, blue seas, grasslands, and ancient villages.