From Shanghai

It's easy to travel to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, which feature attractions such as cultural relics, steep mountains, delicious cuisines and beautiful ancient towns.

An old Chinese saying goes that "just as there are heavens above, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on Earth", to describe the picturesque views of the two cities.

In Hangzhou, you can rent a bicycle to pedal around the banks of the beautiful West Lake and get a closer look at the lake's bridges, which have inspired numerous Chinese poets throughout history. Take a boat ride at night to enjoy the peaceful lake.

It's also a good time to have a sip of the city's famous Longjing tea, which has a long-lasting aroma. The locals like to visit Lingyin Temple, where there are numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.

Suzhou is known for its traditional Chinese gardens from different dynasties, with well-designed landscapes including rocks, hills and rivers. The Lion Grove Garden, Canglang Pavilion, Lingering Garden and Humble Administrator's Garden are the city's most famous gardens, for their elegant aesthetics and delicate styles.

You can watch Kunqu Opera such as The Peony Pavilion or Suzhou Pingtan performances. The local dialect and traditional musical instruments such as pipa will take you back in time.

Historic towns such as Xitang, Wuzhen and Tongli are home to traditional Chinese houses and pavilions along the rivers and stone bridges.

The family-run hotels often have traditional wooden furniture such as wooden beds with delicate carvings. You can stroll the stone streets, have a rest at a coffee house, and enjoy a moment away from the hustle-and-bustle of the big city.

From Guangzhou

The Guiyang-Guangzhou high-speed rail was launched in December, cutting travel time between the two cities down to just four hours. It's now more convenient to visit Qiandongnan Miao and the Dong autonomous prefecture in Guizhou province, a popular destination for backpackers because of its exotic ethnic groups and natural landscapes.

Starting from Guangzhou, you can have a pleasant four-day getaway in Guiyang. Make sure to visit the downtown and enjoy delicious street food and beer.

The next day, you can join a one-day group tour or take a bus to Huangguoshu Waterfall, which is about 150 km away. It's one of the largest waterfalls in China, and the main waterfall is 67 meters high and 83.3 meters wide.

The scenery changes as you climb. Enter Water-Curtain Cave to get a breathtaking view of the waterfall from the back.

On the third day, visit Xijiang Miao village in Leishan county, the largest ethnic Miao village in China. The ethnic Miao cultures and heritage have been well preserved, and the village hosts some famous festivals for the Miao people.

Wooden stilt houses sit along the mountains, with the Baishui River passing underneath. At night, lights from inside the homes brighten up the dark sky.

After staying one night at the village, you can rub shoulders with the locals, dine on genuine Miao cuisines, and buy souvenirs, before heading for the railway station.