Took the kids to 22°C Xingyi, even more stunning than Switzerland…

Here is a tailor-made **"22℃ Xingyi Summer Escape Guide"** for families with children, based on personal experience, revealing this hidden gem city rated by National Geographic as "China's Most Beautiful Karst" — **forests of Wanfeng peaks, clusters of waterfalls, picturesque countryside, a cool world with an average summer temperature of 22℃, offering a kid-friendly experience far beyond expectations!** --- **Why choose Xingyi for the kids?** - **✅ Unbeatable climate**: Summer average temperature 22-28℃, comfortable humidity, neither stuffy nor dry, perfect for summer escape. - **✅ Convenient transportation**: High-speed rail direct access (Shanghai-Kunming High-Speed Rail "Xingyi Station"), airport only 20 minutes from downtown. - **✅ Hardcore kid-friendly experiences**: Rice field fish catching, cave exploration, wild cycling, cliff waterfalls... diverse activities that don’t tire out moms. - **✅ Fewer crowds, wild scenery**: Quieter than Lijiang, more off-the-beaten-path than Guilin, low commercialization, affordable prices (a bowl of lamb noodles costs 10 yuan). --- **📝 5 days 4 nights in-depth family itinerary** **Accommodation strategy: 2 nights in Wanfenglin (immersed in countryside) + 2 nights in the city (convenient for lake/museum visits)** **Day 1: Arrive in Xingyi → First countryside experience in Wanfenglin** - **Afternoon**: Check in at **Wanfenglin homestay** (recommended: **Rongsu** / **Fengxi Banshan**, with viewing terraces and swimming pools). - **Evening**: Stroll through **Bagua Fields**, watch the sunset gild the peaks, teach kids to recognize rice and rapeseed flowers (scenery varies by season). - **Dinner**: Eat at the Buyei ethnic **Egg Fried Rice Street** (most popular: Huang Xiu’s), paired with cold pickled fish mint (dare to try!). **Day 2: Full day wild fun in Wanfenglin** (core!) - **Morning**: - **Rice field mini train** (navigate to "Rice Field Meet · Little Food Time", 20 yuan/person) through a sea of green. - **Fish catching experience** (30 yuan/person): catch rice flower fish in the fields, kids scream with joy! (Waterproof pants provided). - **Noon**: Eat dry pot beef at **Dingsu Snack Hot Beef Restaurant**, tender and not spicy. - **Afternoon**: - **Cycling through the peak forest**: rent family bikes (30 yuan/bike), route: **General Bridge → Stars Surrounding the Moon → Dashun Peak** (about 2 hours, flat and easy). - **Tie-dye handicraft**: go to "**Buyei Ancient Village Nahui**" to experience plant-dyeing scarves (50 yuan/person). - **Evening**: Swim in the homestay pool, gaze at the stars. **Day 3: Earth core exploration + cliff waterfall shock** - **Morning**: **Maling River Canyon** (ticket 70 yuan, children half price) - **Activities**: walk the "**Xiaoqingshan Entrance → Wanma Galloping Viewing Platform → Sea Lion Bridge**" section (kid-friendly route, about 1.5 hours). - **Highlights**: dozens of waterfalls cascading from the sky, passing through calcified caves, frequent rainbows (best seen before 10 am)! - **Noon**: Eat **Zou Ji Chicken Rice Balls** in the city (savory! A surprising taste). - **Afternoon**: **Guizhou Dinosaur Museum** (free! See 240 million-year-old dinosaur fossils, interactive projections highly attractive to kids). - **Evening**: Move to city hotel (recommended: **Mushroom Wild Luxury Hotel**, dreamy castle style, kids ecstatic). **Day 4: Lake and mountain scenery + cave wonders** - **Morning**: **Wanfeng Lake boat tour** (80 yuan/person) - **Activities**: boat ride to see "**Water Peak Forest**", climb **Jilong Fort** (China’s version of Neuschwanstein Castle, perfect for photos). - **Bonus**: let kids feed the fish in the lake (boat operators sell fish food for 5 yuan/bag). - **Noon**: Eat **fried small wild fish** by the lake (crispy and fresh). - **Afternoon**: **Nidang Stone Forest** (free! More primitive than Kunming Stone Forest): wander through maze-like stone arrays, search for hidden karst spirits. **Day 5: Ultimate healing before departure** - **Morning**: **Yuhuang Peak to watch the sea of clouds** (free! Navigate to "Yuhuang Peak Viewing Platform") - **Tip**: stay at a nearby homestay the night before (e.g., "**Cloud House**"), get the kids up at 6 am to watch the mist rise from the foot of Wanfenglin. - **Souvenirs**: buy dried Rosa roxburghii fruit / Bobo candy at the market (sweet but not greasy, loved by elders and kids alike). --- **🍜 Family-friendly food highlights** | **Dish** | **Recommended Restaurant** | **Kid-friendliness** | |----------------|---------------------|-------------------| | Lamb noodles | Liu Ji Lamb Noodles | ★★★★ (can be made non-spicy) | | Shua Batou (a local dish) | Zheng Ji Shua Batou | ★★★☆ (bamboo shoot and meat filling aroma) | | Gangzi noodles | Zhou Ji Gangzi Noodles | ★★★★★ (chicken broth base is fresh) | | Glutinous rice | Street stall with fish mint | ★★☆ (curious experience) | | Sour bamboo shoot beef | Ma Hong Food No.1 | ★★★ (mildly spicy and appetizing) | --- **⚠️ Kid-friendly pitfalls to avoid** 1. **Transportation**: - Rent electric scooters in Wanfenglin > cars (scattered attractions, stop and play anytime, but must bring child safety helmets). 2. **Safety**: - Maling River Canyon trails are slippery, hold kids tight! Rafting recommended only for kids over 10. 3. **Accommodation**: - Book Mushroom Hotel at least 1 month in advance! Prices double in summer. 4. **Gear**: - **Essentials**: sun-protective clothing, mosquito repellent, water shoes (for wading/rice fields), light jacket (big temperature difference morning and night). --- **💡 Fun fact: Why is it said to be "more stunning than Switzerland"?** - **Wanfenglin**: 20,000 conical peaks stretch to the horizon, **Bagua Fields natural landscaping** beats artificial pastures. - **Maling River Canyon**: over 100 waterfalls hanging on cliffs, **rugged fissures** rarely found even in the Alps. - **Cultural depth**: Buyei ancient villages with 600 years of continuous life, more vivid and lively than European towns. > **Estimated expenses reference** (3 adults 1 child, 5 days 4 nights): > - Accommodation: 2500 yuan (homestays + Mushroom Hotel) > - Food: 1200 yuan (hearty meals every time) > - Tickets + experiences: 800 yuan (many child discounts) > - Transportation: 600 yuan (car rental + taxis) > **Total about 5100 yuan**, cost-performance ratio beats popular summer resorts! **Final reminder**: Check the weather before departure! Maling River is more spectacular on rainy days, but cycling must pause. Xingyi’s beauty is not in trendy check-ins, but in opening the window to see mountains and catching fish in the fields — that’s the kind of trip kids will remember for years. 🌾👨‍👩‍👧‍👦