Explore the lesser known side of China with our guide to five of the country’s most beautiful travel locations.

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen - China’s so-called first tier cities. These places have many things in common: large populations, urbanized lifestyles and increasing wealth, plus they are all fabulous to live in and offer their own unique snapshot of China. But do they portray the real China? Many would argue that they do not. The best way to see China at its most genuine, therefore, is to step off the beaten track and visit some of the less popular provinces and towns where life has been left pretty much untouched by the country’s race to modernize. Here, we look at five locations in rural China where we can catch a glimpse of the country in its most traditional setting.

Mount Wuyi, Fujian Province

Situated roughly 350 kilometres northwest of Fuzhou, the provincial capital, lies Mount Wuyi Park. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site yet its isolated location has meant that it has remained very much off the tourist radar so to speak. The main attraction is Mount Wuyi, complete with waterfalls and a lush forest surrounding it. The Nine Bend River flows alongside the mountain and a two hour bamboo raft cruise provides the perfect opportunity to see both the river and mountain in all their glory.

Mount Wuyi is only reachable by road, meaning transport must be organised through one of the local tour operators. The ideal time to visit the park is from autumn through to spring.

Huangguoshu Waterfall, Guizhou Province

Meaning ‘Yellow Fruit Tree,’ Huangguoshu is actually a waterfall, Asia’s highest waterfall in fact. It stands at a height of 78 metres and 101 metres wide, and due to its location at a clearing along the Baishui River, offers wonderful views from all approaching angles. After the summer rains, the waterfall reaches a peak volume of 700 cubic metres per second, thus the months of June to August are the best times to visit.

Huangguoshu is located roughly 6 kilometres away from a small airport nearby of the same name. Travelers can take an inexpensive taxi from the airport to the waterfall. The surrounding villages are home to the Miao ethnic group and a stay here provides an in-depth insight into their culture and way of life.

Fenghuang, Hunan Province

Thrust into the national spotlight by Chinese writer Shen Congwen and his book entitled “Frontier City,” Fenghuang is an ancient town which has changed relatively little in its 1,300 year existence. The local people still live on stilted housing by the river, with few modern conveniences. There are about 200 houses here in total, in which generations of the ethnic Miao and Tujia minorities have lived.

Since the book was published, the increasing number of visitors to Fenghuang have been able to stay with local people and experience their simple way of life. Although the town is 430 kilometres from the provincial capital, Changsha, buses now travel the route at least four times each day.

Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province

Wuyuan has developed somewhat of a reputation for itself in recent years. Widely referred to by many travel agents as one of the most beautiful rural parts of China, it has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers. The town itself is quite small; however, the outlying villages are the main attraction here. Life ticks by at a slow and steady pace, while the acres and acres of farmland which are enclosed by mountains provide a wonderfully scenic yet serene atmosphere.

Overnight accommodation is easy to arrange in the villages themselves, and many guesthouses will have private rooms for rent. English is not widely spoken outside of the guesthouses so having basic Chinese language skills is a plus. Wuyuan is roughly 100 kilometres from the nearest major city of Jingdezhen, which has an airport and bus terminal. Guided tours of the various villages can be arranged locally at a cost of approximately RMB 180.

Nalati, Xinjiang Province

Rolling green meadows welcome visitors to the Nalati Grasslands, located just outside Yili county in Xinjiang, China’s large northwestern province. The area is populated by ethnic minority Kazaks who live during summer in huts alongside their animals. They still use basic methods for cleaning clothes, growing vegetables, cultivating land and preparing meals.

Nalati Grassland is one of four largest grasslands in the world. What makes it so unique within China is the fact that it is surrounded by mountains and desert. It was given its name by the armies of Genghis Khan who marveled at its lush grass when marching through the area. Given its isolated location, Nalati is only reachable by plane. China Southern Airlines operates one flight daily to Nalati from the provincial capital, Urumqi. Accommodation and various tourist facilities and activities are available close to the airport.

Found this article useful? Like and share!