Summer Road Trip Guide｜10 Treasure Routes to Unlock Summer-Exclusive Coolness

🌊 Seaside Carnival Edition 1. Weihai · Qianli Mountain-Sea Self-Driving Road • Route Highlights: 1001 kilometers connecting seaweed houses, shipwreck sites, Diamond Beach, Torch No. 8 Street with full Japanese style, and the healing experience of digging snails at Naxianghai. • Must-Try Food: Rushan oysters (💰10 RMB/jin freshly opened), Spanish mackerel dumplings (recommended "Mom's Taste"). • Accommodation Recommendation: Jinshi Bay Art Hotel (sea view rooms facing the blue sea, Trip.com price 💰800 RMB/night). • Pitfall Tips: Liugong Island Scenic Area requires booking one day in advance; feeding seagulls on the cruise is best on the second floor, right side. 2. Guangxi · G228 Coastal Self-Driving Route • Route Highlights: Beihai Silver Beach night show → Weizhou Island volcanic rocks → Dongxing Golden Beach clam digging, enjoy seafood all the way. • Must-Try Food: Qiaogang Style Street Vietnamese rice rolls (💰5 RMB/roll), Fangchenggang mud crab porridge (💰25 RMB/bowl). • Accommodation Recommendation: Beihai Silver Beach Crowne Plaza (private beach, Trip.com price 💰1200 RMB/night). • Hidden Experience: "Secret Garden" next to Weizhou Island Catholic Church, perfect for Instagram shots with cacti and blue windows. 🏔️ Plateau Secret Edition 3. Xinjiang · Duku Highway • Route Highlights: Fully open on May 31! Experience four seasons in one day, horseback riding on Nalati Grassland, chasing sunsets at Bayinbuluke’s winding roads. • Must-Try Food: Kuqa big naan bread (💰8 RMB/each), Nalati hand-pulled meat (💰68 RMB/kg). • Accommodation Recommendation: Nalati Musalais Guesthouse (Kazakh yurt experience, Trip.com price 💰400 RMB/night). • Notes: Dushanzi Grand Canyon glass plank road requires anti-slip shoes; Qiaorma Martyrs Cemetery is free to visit. 4. Qinghai Lake · Lake Circuit Self-Drive • Route Highlights: Rapeseed flowers bloom mid to late July, sunrise at Heima River + Chaka Salt Lake sky mirror, perfect for drone shots. • Must-Try Food: Qinghai old yogurt (💰8 RMB/bowl), Huangyu fish hot pot (pre-book, 💰128 RMB/portion). • Accommodation Recommendation: Qinghai Lake Starry Sky Camp (tent rooms 💰300 RMB/night, includes stargazing telescope). • Photo Tips: Pastoral paths on the west side of the lake (💰20 RMB/person), avoid crowds to capture flower seas and snow mountains in one frame. 🌿 Forest Cool Escape Edition 5. Moganshan · Bamboo Sea Secret • Route Highlights: New guesthouse "Nanlu Bieyuan" opening in 2025 near streams, creek trekking + bamboo forest afternoon tea is super relaxing. • Must-Try Food: Yucun old popsicle (💰5 RMB/stick), bamboo-flavored sticky rice chicken (signature dish at "Dale Zhiye" restaurant). • Accommodation Recommendation: Tianquan Shuangping Guesthouse (pool + KTV, Trip.com price 💰680 RMB/night, includes tea picking experience). • Hidden Bonus: "Naked Heart Castle" cliff pool on the back mountain, non-guests can purchase afternoon tea set (💰198 RMB/person). 6. Wuyishan · National Park Scenic Route No.1 • Route Highlights: Moon Bay Waterfall → Taoyuanyu Gorge → Swallow’s Nest Ecological Tea Garden, self-drive through an oxygen-rich paradise. • Must-Try Food: Langu smoked goose (💰45 RMB/jin), Wengong vegetable (intangible cultural heritage dish at "A Ray of Sunshine" restaurant). • Accommodation Recommendation: Manting Mountain House (Song Dynasty garden design, Trip.com price 💰900 RMB/night, includes Da Hong Pao tea tasting). • Pitfall Tips: Choose the 9 AM bamboo raft on Jiuzhou Creek for sunlight side lighting to capture the three-dimensional Danxia landform. 🏞️ Canyon Wonders Edition 7. Daocheng Yading · Western Sichuan Loop • Route Highlights: 5 days exploring Three Holy Mountains + Milk Sea, Xinduqiao ten-mile corridor for snow mountain photos, Litang Letong ancient town Tibetan costume experience. • Must-Try Food: Litang yak meat skewers (💰5 RMB/skewer), Daocheng Tibetan hot pot (💰128 RMB/pot). • Accommodation Recommendation: Daocheng Yading Fanyinhai Guesthouse (oxygen-supplied rooms, Trip.com price 💰500 RMB/night). • Altitude Sickness Tips: Take Rhodiola oral liquid 3 days in advance; horseback riding at Luorong Pasture (💰300 RMB/session) saves energy. 8. Yunnan · Erhai Lake Circuit • Route Highlights: Clockwise 140 km drive, Wenbi Village rainbow road → Shuanglang ancient town → Xizhou rice fields, unlock multiple styles in one day. • Must-Try Food: Xizhou crispy pastry (💰8 RMB/each), Shuanglang sour and spicy fish (💰88 RMB/fish). • Accommodation Recommendation: Dali Mingyue Songjian · Erhai Hotel (prime lake view rooms, Trip.com price 💰1500 RMB/night). • Photo Tips: Deer Reclining Mountain ruins cave best light at 3 PM, wearing solid color long dresses makes photos stand out. 🌲 Mountain Forest Oxygen Bar Edition 9. Lushan · Summer Resort Circuit • Route Highlights: Guling Town shrouded in mist, Sandiequan Waterfall cascading, sunrise and sea of clouds at Hanpokou is breathtaking. • Must-Try Food: Stone ear mushroom stewed chicken (💰98 RMB/pot), Lushan stone chicken (💰68 RMB/portion). • Accommodation Recommendation: Guling Grand Hotel (Republic of China villa, Trip.com price 💰600 RMB/night, includes hand-drawn Lushan map). • Pitfall Tips: Self-driving cars must park at North Gate parking lot (💰45 RMB/day), transfer to sightseeing bus to tour core scenic spots. 10. Shandong · Jinan Qixingtai Panshan Road • Route Highlights: Nine twists and eighteen turns mountain road leads to stargazing camping site, Milky Way visible to naked eye, morning sea of clouds like a fairyland. • Must-Try Food: Xueye fish head (💰88 RMB/pot), Zhangqiu scallion pancake (💰10 RMB/portion). • Accommodation Recommendation: Ruogu Mountain Residence (glass starry sky room, Trip.com price 💰680 RMB/night, includes telescope rental). • Hidden Experience: Qixingtai Wushengmen night light show, starts punctually at 8:00 PM every Saturday. 📌 General Tips 1. Gear List: Sunscreen SPF50+, car fridge (for chilled watermelon life saver), portable inflatable bed (service area nap essential). 2. Safety Tips: Prepare anti-skid chains for mountain roads, avoid strenuous exercise in plateau areas, pay attention to tide times when driving by the sea. 3. Money-Saving Tips: Trip.com "Self-Driving Rights Package" includes highway toll discounts, scenic spot ticket reductions, and fuel subsidies on some routes. 🌟 From vast blue waves to snowy meadows, these 10 routes cover your entire summer’s poetry and dreams! Save and set off, let your wheels roll over mountains, lakes, and seas, and encounter the purest summer romance～