Nine Underrated Yet Remarkable Destinations I Wholeheartedly Recommend

Over the years, I have journeyed across countless mountains and rivers, and the more I travel, the more I am convinced that lesser-known places are often the most deserving of admiration.
Be it majestic peaks and winding waters, star-strewn seas, or tranquil ancient towns nestled in the countryside—there is always one landscape destined to captivate your heart.

1⃣️ Quanzhou · Liusheng Pagoda
Quanzhou, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is a city steeped in maritime glory and cultural resonance. Liusheng Pagoda—also known as Shihu Tower—stands as a quintessential Yuan Dynasty structure. Yet beyond it, Quanzhou conceals countless hidden gems awaiting discovery.
📍 Shihu Wharf, Shishi, Quanzhou

2⃣️ Benxi · Wunü Mountain
Abruptly rising in grandeur, with precipitous cliffs and awe-inspiring ridges, Wunü Mountain reigns supreme among Huanren’s landscapes. Celebrated far and wide, it bears the proud title of a famed northern mountain beyond the Great Wall.
📍 Liujiagou Village, Huanren Town, Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Benxi, Liaoning

3⃣️ Ili · Tekes Bagua City
Laid out in a radial, circular formation, this Eight Trigrams City resembles an intricate labyrinth where every road converges seamlessly. Rich in ethnic traditions, layered with history, and framed by exquisite natural scenery, it is as culturally profound as it is visually striking.
📍 Gulebag, Tekes County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang

4⃣️ Tengchong · Heshun Ancient Town
Hailed as one of China’s most enchanting ancient towns, Heshun is cradled by mountains and dotted with charming guesthouses. Clear streams encircle the village, willows sway in gentle grace, and an air of serene seclusion lingers, as though time itself has softened its pace.
📍 4 km southwest of Tengchong, Yunnan

5⃣️ Liupanshui · Tuole Village
Known as the “World’s Ancient Ginkgo Kingdom,” Tuole preserves the oldest, most concentrated, and best-maintained millennium-old ginkgo groves on earth. In autumn, golden leaves fall like whispered poetry.
📍 Shiqiao Town, Pan County, Liupanshui, Guizhou

6⃣️ Lishui · Guyan Huaxiang
Wander through Guyan Huaxiang from dawn to dusk—by tranquil riverbanks, along bluestone alleys, beneath ancient camphor trees. Here, emerald waters merge seamlessly with the boundless blue sky, forming a living painting in perpetual motion.
📍 Dagangtou Town, Liandu District, Lishui, Zhejiang

7⃣️ Jincheng · Huangcheng Xiangfu
A rare architectural complex of Ming and Qing dynasty official residences, this fortress-like estate has been lauded as the foremost cultural clan residence in northern China. Its courtyards echo with centuries of history and scholarly legacy.
📍 Huangcheng Village, Beiliu Town, Yangcheng County, Jincheng, Shanxi

8⃣️ Alxa · Badain Jaran Desert
Witness golden sands swept by the wind, and behold the boundless desert where sunset ignites rippling dunes into waves of molten light. In a fleeting moment, the afterglow stretches across the vast wilderness, radiant and eternal.
📍 Alxa Right Banner, Inner Mongolia

9⃣️ Zhoushan · Huaniao Island
Sit quietly beside the lighthouse as fishing boats drift by, listening to distant tides whisper their call. Beneath cerulean skies and across emerald horizons, youth feels illuminated. Each frame resembles a scene from a summer film, scattered gently into the evening breeze.
📍 Huaniao Township, Shengsi County, Zhoushan, Zhejiang

Amid the clamor of the mortal world, may you find at least one landscape that invites you to slow your steps and truly savor its quiet grace.