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!**
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**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).
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**📝 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).
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**🍜 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) |
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**⚠️ 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).
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**💡 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. 🌾👨👩👧👦