5 Must-Visit Cities in April–May

April–May is the perfect time to travel, with pleasant weather and blooming flowers. Don't miss these 5 cities. Yangzhou, Jiangsu: The epitome of poetic Jiangnan 🌸 • Highlights: As the saying goes, "It's best to visit Yangzhou in March when flowers are in full bloom." During this time, the Slender West Lake is adorned with weeping willows and blooming viburnum flowers. Dongguan Street is full of ancient charm and various snacks. • 3-day itinerary: ◦ Day 1: Visit Slender West Lake in the morning and enjoy the picturesque scenery (reasonably priced tickets); have Yangzhou fried rice and lion's head for lunch; visit Daming Temple in the afternoon and experience the tranquility (affordable tickets). ◦ Day 2: Stroll along Dongguan Street and experience the slow-paced life of Yangzhou (free), enjoy morning tea; visit Geyuan in the afternoon and appreciate the exquisite garden (great value tickets). ◦ Day 3: Visit He Garden and admire the beautiful architecture; take a boat trip along the ancient Grand Canal and enjoy the scenery along the banks (boat tickets are inexpensive). • Transportation: High-speed rail directly to Yangzhou Station or East Station, convenient city buses, and reasonable taxi starting prices. • Local specialties: Yangzhou fried rice, lion's head, Fuchun buns. Kunming, Yunnan: A colorful feast in the Spring City 🌷 • Highlights: Kunming enjoys a mild climate and blooming flowers from April to May. Seagulls soar over Dianchi Lake, and the Dounan Flower Market is a sea of flowers. • 3-day itinerary: ◦ Day 1: Visit the Haigeng Dam of Dianchi Lake in the morning to see the lake and feed the seagulls (free); have Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles for lunch; take the cable car up to the West Mountain Forest Park in the afternoon and visit the Dragon Gate (great value cable car and entrance tickets). ◦ Day 2: Visit the Dounan Flower Market (free) and buy fresh flowers; visit the Yunnan Nationalities Village in the afternoon and experience the ethnic cultures (reasonably priced tickets). ◦ Day 3: Visit Green Lake Park (free) and enjoy the scenery; visit Kunming Old Street and try snacks like bean curd rice noodles (affordable prices). • Transportation: Kunming Changshui International Airport has many routes, and the city has convenient subway and bus systems, making travel costs low. • Local specialties: Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles, bean curd rice noodles, flower cakes. Zhangjiajie, Hunan: Natural wonders of unique peaks and rocks 🌄 • Highlights: During this time, Zhangjiajie is shrouded in mist, and the peaks appear and disappear like a fairyland. • 3-day itinerary: ◦ Day 1: Enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, visit Yuanjiajie, and overlook "Hallelujah Mountain" (great value park tickets); have Tujia bacon for lunch; visit Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area in the afternoon. ◦ Day 2: Hike along the Golden Whip Stream and interact with monkeys (no separate tickets required); take the sightseeing train to the Ten-Mile Gallery in the afternoon (reasonably priced train tickets). ◦ Day 3: If you have time, visit Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, experience the cable car and glass walkway, and admire the Tianmen Cave (tickets are expensive but worth it). • Transportation: High-speed rail to Zhangjiajie West Station, with special tourist lines directly to the scenic area, and free eco-friendly buses within the scenic area. • Local specialties: Sanxia Guo (Three-Pot Stew), Tujia bacon, kudzu root powder. Qingdao, Shandong: A coastal city of leisure 🌊 • Highlights: From April to May, Qingdao enjoys gentle sea breezes, and the Zhan Bridge, Badaguan, and Laoshan Mountain are full of charm. Beer gardens can be found everywhere. • 3-day itinerary: ◦ Day 1: Stroll along the Zhan Bridge in the morning (free); have Qingdao Guotie (fried dumplings) and other delicacies for lunch on Zhongshan Road; visit Badaguan in the afternoon and experience the exotic atmosphere (free, with a small fee for visiting some villas). ◦ Day 2: Visit the southern route of Laoshan Mountain and enjoy the mountain and sea views (great value tickets); have a farmhouse meal for lunch; stroll in the mountains in the afternoon. ◦ Day 3: Visit the Tsingtao Beer Museum and taste the draft beer (tickets include tasting, excellent value); visit Taidong Walking Street, buy souvenirs, and enjoy snacks (low prices). • Transportation: Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport has many flights, and the city has convenient transportation. • Local specialties: Tsingtao Beer, spicy stir-fried clams, mackerel dumplings. Guilin, Guangxi: A dreamlike landscape of mountains and waters 🌳 • Highlights: "Guilin's scenery is the best in the world." From April to May, the Lijiang River is full of water, and the Yulong River and Ten-Mile Gallery in Yangshuo are incredibly beautiful. • 3-day itinerary: ◦ Day 1: Take a boat trip on the Lijiang River and enjoy the classic scenery (boat tickets are worth the investment); have a simple lunch on the boat, arrive in Yangshuo in the afternoon, stroll along West Street, and try Guilin rice noodles and beer fish. ◦ Day 2: Rent a bicycle or electric bike to the Yulong River and take a bamboo raft ride (bamboo raft fees are reasonable); visit the Ten-Mile Gallery in the afternoon (you can walk or take a sightseeing bus, fees are low). ◦ Day 3: Return to Guilin city, visit Elephant Trunk Hill Park (decent value tickets); visit East and West Alley, buy handicrafts, and try snacks like sweet osmanthus cake. • Transportation: High-speed rail to Guilin Station or North Station, with tourist lines and buses available, and taxis are inexpensive. • Local specialties: Guilin rice noodles, beer fish, sweet osmanthus cake. Embark on a spring trip in April–May!