In 2026, something interesting is happening in China's inbound tourism: more and more foreign travelers are no longer satisfied with first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Their footsteps are extending to second- and third-tier cities, even small inland towns.
Qunar travel data shows that during summer, foreign travelers flying to Yining and Nyingchi increased by 6.3 times year-on-year, to Datong by 2.8 times, to Dunhuang by over 100%, and to Xuzhou and Yichang by over 5 times. Datong ranked first nationwide with a 735% growth in inbound tourism heat. Small counties are becoming the "dark horses" of inbound tourism.
What's the magic of these small cities? Why are more and more foreigners willing to skip the famous attractions just to make a special trip? The reasons are simple: affordable prices, rich local atmosphere, abundant historical and cultural resources — and no crowds.
The following 10 cities might just be the answer to your next China trip.
- Datong: The "Northern Wei Ancient Capital" Behind 735% Inbound Growth
1. Why go?
• Home to the UNESCO World Heritage Yungang Grottoes — a thousand-year-old Buddhist cave site from the Northern Wei dynasty.
• The Hanging Temple, Huayan Temple, and Shanhua Temple also attract many visitors interested in historical architecture.
• Datong is not like China's modern big cities — it's a city rich in historical charm and a relaxed atmosphere.
2. Real traveler experiences
• Chrissi from Germany: "In Datong, the first thing I felt was ease. It's not like Beijing, where you have to spend a long time getting anywhere. The advantage of small cities is that the atmosphere of daily life is stronger."
• As a vegetarian, she thought eating in a small Chinese city would be difficult, but Datong quickly dispelled her concerns — she had the best vegetarian buns of her life at a breakfast shop.
• Lancelot from France originally planned Datong only as a transit stop on his way to Inner Mongolia, but was so captivated that he stayed 3-4 days and canceled his Inner Mongolia trip, spending about 1,800 RMB.
3. Convenient transportation
• Since late 2024, Datong has been included in the 240-hour visa-free transit area.
• Direct flights to Bangkok, Ulaanbaatar, Moscow, Seoul, and more are now available.
4. Travel tips
• Hotel prices are very affordable during off-peak seasons.
• For solo travelers, the biggest challenge is booking tickets online in advance — "when you don't know which WeChat mini-program to use, the whole process gets a bit complicated."
- Quanzhou: The "World Heritage City" of Flower-Headdress Culture
1. Why go?
• Quanzhou was the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021.
• The "garden on top of the head" — zanhuawei (flower headdress) — has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.
• Foreign visitors can be seen everywhere at World Heritage sites like Kaiyuan Temple, West Street, Luoyang Bridge, and Qingjing Temple.
• At the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum and Nanyin Art Center, puppet shows and Nanyin music amaze foreign visitors.
2. Deeper experiences
• Beyond the ancient city, there's a hidden gem — Huiyu Island, a pristine island with minimal commercialization, affordable prices, and few people.
• You can watch sunsets and see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Rent an electric scooter to circle the island (45 RMB/day).
• Hui'an also hides a "Maritime Silk Road Movie Town" blending Southeast Asian colonial architecture with Minnan charm — few tourists and great for photos.
3. Travel tips
• Ferry to Huiyu Island costs 40 RMB round trip, last return ferry at 5:30 PM.
• Budget per person is about 780-980 RMB.
- Dunhuang: "Silk Road Hidden Gems" Beyond the Mogao Caves
1. Why go?
• More and more foreign travelers are discovering Dunhuang's "off-the-beaten-path" experiences.
• Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Suoyang Ancient City, a Silk Road town.
• Visit the Yulin Caves — known as the "sister caves" of Mogao — to appreciate Buddhist art in tranquility.
• Explore the Western Jin painted brick tombs.
2. Deeper experiences
• Try the bamboo-slip culture experience at Xuanquanzhi Ruins.
• At Dunhuang Hanse Wall Painting Studio, French tourist Aurore sat quietly copying the Manjusri bodhisattva from Mogao murals.
• Head to Yadan National Geological Park for a magnificent Gobi Desert sunset.
• Stargaze at night — Dunhuang is one of the best stargazing spots in northwest China.
• Visit Shazhou Night Market for local food and handicrafts.
3. Real data
• Korean tourists have a special fondness for Dunhuang.
• Gansu ranks first among provinces with the fastest growth in foreign tourist homestay orders in the first half of the year.
- Xuzhou: The "Treasure City" of Han Dynasty Culture
1. Why go?
• Xuzhou has 2,800 Han Dynasty stone reliefs — the world's largest and most comprehensive collection, known as "the Han Dynasty on stone".
• Visitors are no longer content with just "looking at artifacts" — Xuzhou excels at transforming history into a tangible urban experience.
• Put on VR goggles and Han Dynasty banquets, music, and carriage processions are "reawakened".
• Huilongwo Historical and Cultural District blends traditional architecture with cafes and creative shops.
2. Hidden side
• There's a photo spot "not in California" — Rose Mountain Blue Lake Waterfall, about 30-40 minutes by car from the city.
3. Real data
• 71% of Xuzhou's visitors come from outside the city, with 84.59% from outside the province.
• Foreign travelers to Xuzhou grew over 5 times year-on-year.
- Yichang: The "Cool Hidden Gem" Deep in the Three Gorges
1. Why go?
• Yichang is a city of "half mountains, half water" — beyond the spectacular Three Gorges, there are many little-known hidden gems.
• Qingjiang Gallery is known as the "Danube of the East" — crystal-clear water surrounded by karst peaks.
• Huoshaoping sits at an average altitude of over 1,800 meters, known as "Hubei's Little Tibet" and "Cool Capital in the Clouds".
• Sanxia Shenmen is hidden at the east exit of Xiling Gorge, only 45 km from downtown Yichang, with far fewer tourists.
2. Foreign travelers' take
• Belarusian blogger Anton visited Yichang for the first time before the Dragon Boat Festival, enjoying the cool summer and praising the local dinner.
• Taozhu Road has foreign tourists almost every day, mostly drawn by Yichang's food — nearby shop staff can even speak some "broken" English.
- Yining: "Slow Time in the Western Regions" on Six-Star Street
1. Why go?
• Yining is the central city of the Ili River Valley — not just a transit stop, but a place worth several days on its own.
• Six-Star Street is famous for its hexagonal star-shaped layout — at dusk, orange sunlight drapes this century-old street in golden silk.
• Kazanyu Folk Tourism Zone is an old town painted blue, preserving Uyghur painted houses, European-style mansions, and century-old traditional houses.
2. Practical data
• Summer daytime temperatures are 24-28°C, and prices are very friendly.
• Foreign travelers flying to Yining grew 6.3 times year-on-year during summer.
- Nyingchi: The "Shangri-La of Snowy Tibet" Summer Escape
1. Why go?
• Nyingchi is the lowest altitude and mildest climate region in Tibet — known as the "Shangri-La of snowy Tibet".
• The Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway has made access easier than ever.
• Dalincun Village, deep in the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, is a little-known hidden gem — far more pristine and less crowded than the already famous Suosongcun.
• Enjoy unparalleled views of Namcha Barwa Peak, with snow mountains, canyons, and rivers all in one frame.
• Lulang International Tourist Town is known as the "Switzerland of the East," with summer temperatures around 20°C.
2. New activities
• Nyingchi has launched a new "Fun in Nyingchi・Weekend Getaway" mini-vacation series.
3. Real data
• Foreign travelers flying to Nyingchi grew 6.3 times year-on-year during summer.
- Guilin: "Hidden Gems" Beyond the Li River
1. Why go?
• Many travelers only go to Yangshuo's West Street and Yulong River — but there's much more.
• Lizhou Ancient Town — no commercialization, old street with stone alleys, ancient banyan trees, and century-old opera stages.
• Juxian Cave in Longjing Village, Quanzhou — looks like a real-life Pandora with glowing Tiffany-blue water.
• Daxu Ancient Town and Dongli Ancient Village — Ming and Qing dynasty villages 100 times quieter than Yangshuo.
• The "zero-carbon village" experience in Dahebei Village — bamboo forests and fireflies at night.
2. Deeper experiences
• Explore a Ming Dynasty tea plantation.
• Stroll through a Song-era ancient town.
• Take a bamboo raft from Biyange through karst peaks.
• Enjoy panoramic Li River views from Dashiwan — all away from the crowds.
- More Small Cities Worth Exploring
• Qionghai: Inbound flight bookings surged dozens of times year-on-year, the fastest-growing "dark horse" city.
• Altay: One of the fastest-growing cities in booking volume — a fairy-tale land in northern Xinjiang.
• Heihe: A small border city on the China-Russia border, ranking among the fastest-growing destinations.
- Why Are Foreign Travelers "Escaping" the Big Cities?
Foreign travelers' preferences are undergoing a profound shift — from "checklist tourism" to "immersive experiences". The appeal of China's small cities comes from several factors:
• Affordable prices
• Rich local atmosphere
• Abundant historical and cultural resources
• No crowds
Foreign travelers are moving from "seeing China" to "feeling China" — they no longer want just photo opportunities, but to truly step into the life of a city.
One foreign traveler said: "China's small cities are pleasant and rich in historical sites, and the friendliness of the locals and convenience of daily life are deeply impressive."
Travel tips:
• Hotel prices in small cities are usually much cheaper than in big cities.
• The biggest challenge when traveling in small cities is booking tickets online in advance — familiarize yourself with WeChat mini-programs before departure.
• Most small cities already support WeChat Pay and Alipay, with mobile payment adoption rates comparable to big cities.
• Before traveling to border regions like Xinjiang or Tibet, confirm in advance whether a Border Defense Permit is required.
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