Opening Chat

Recently, my friends have been enthusiastically discussing their future travel plans. Some say "I want to see the aurora in Iceland," others say "I want to vacation in the Maldives," but many have also developed a strong interest in domestic travel. As a travel blogger who has been on the road for years, I've traveled across China and visited many popular international destinations. But honestly, the more deeply I experience it, the more I discover the incredible charm of domestic travel.

I remember last summer when I stayed in a small mountain village in Sichuan for half a month. Waking up to birdsong in the morning, opening the window to see clouds rolling before my eyes, and sitting around the fire pit with villagers at night, listening to stories passed down in this land. That slow-paced lifestyle deeply fascinated me, making me realize that travel isn't just about checking places off a list and taking photos, but experiencing a way of life and immersing oneself in culture.

Budget Analysis

When it comes to travel, many people's first reaction is "expensive." But when you calculate carefully, domestic travel actually offers great value for money. Let me share my travel budget with you.

Last year I spent a week in Yunnan, from Kunming to Dali, then to Lijiang, and finally to Shangri-La. Here's how the expenses broke down: round-trip flights 1,200 yuan (booked special fares two months in advance), accommodation in characteristic guesthouses averaged 200-300 yuan per night, totaling 1,800 yuan for seven days. For meals, I mainly chose local specialty restaurants, averaging 30-50 yuan per meal, about 150 yuan per day for three meals plus snacks, bringing food expenses to around 1,050 yuan for seven days. Attraction tickets plus local transportation came to about 950 yuan.

In total, the entire trip cost just over 5,000 yuan. For comparison, a trip of the same length to Japan's Kansai region would cost 8,000 yuan just for flights and accommodation. In the Kansai area, a regular bowl of ramen costs 280-350 yuan RMB, and daily meals would cost at least 600 yuan. Not to mention various transportation costs and attraction tickets, which would easily push the total over 10,000 yuan.

According to Ctrip's latest "2023 Domestic Tourism Consumption Report," domestic tourists spend an average of 500-800 yuan per day. This figure includes high-consumption groups in first-tier cities. If you're careful with spending and choose second or third-tier cities or less popular destinations, you can easily keep daily expenses under 400 yuan. In comparison, international travel averages 1,500-2,000 yuan per day, and that's being relatively economical.

Deep Experience

Speaking of deep experiences, my recent stay in a Dong village in southeastern Guizhou was particularly memorable. I stayed there for a whole week, living in a wooden house owned by a Dong grandmother. The house was over a hundred years old, built entirely with mortise and tenon joints, without using a single nail.

Every morning around five, I would wake up to birdsong. Grandmother would already be up, busy in the courtyard. I followed her to the vegetable garden behind the village to pick fresh vegetables, learning to identify which wild vegetables were edible and which herbs had medicinal properties. Grandmother would explain as she worked, and though I couldn't understand much Dong language, she would explain in simple Mandarin.

In the mornings, I would learn to weave Dong brocade with the village aunties. Dong brocade is an intangible cultural heritage of the Dong people, with each piece taking months to complete. The aunties told me that every pattern in the brocade tells a story, some recording Dong history, others depicting good wishes. Though I was clumsy, the aunties were very patient in teaching me.

At noon, everyone would gather to eat. Dong meals always include sour fish, cured meat, and sticky rice. Every meal was like a festival, with everyone chatting away. Though we didn't share a language, laughter was universal.

Evening was the moment I looked forward to most. The whole village would gather in the drum tower, singing and dancing around the fire pit. The Dong people are natural singers, their grand songs known as the "aerial chorus." Though I couldn't understand the lyrics, the melodious tunes captivated me. The elders would tell ancient legends while young people listened attentively, afraid to miss any exciting details.

This week's accommodation cost just over 1,000 yuan, cheaper than one night in Tokyo. But the experience I gained was priceless. I learned some simple Dong songs and made many friends. When I left, grandmother specially packed some sticky rice cakes for me to take, saying they would help me remember their taste when I came back next time.

Innovative Travel Styles

Domestic travel nowadays has really evolved, completely transforming the traditional group tour model. I've recently tried many fresh approaches, each bringing delightful surprises.

Let me talk about my farming experience in a Jiangnan water town. I chose a guesthouse built in a century-old residence, owned by a post-80s returnee who transformed his ancestral home into a stylishly designed accommodation. But he preserved the vegetable garden in the courtyard and specially designated an area for growing rice.

I arrived just in time for rice transplanting season. Honestly, as someone who grew up in the city, I knew nothing about farming. But the owner patiently taught me how to transplant rice seedlings. Bending over to work in the paddy field was really tiring, leaving me sore all over after just one morning, but seeing the seedlings I planted lined up neatly in the field gave me an indescribable sense of achievement.

In the evening, we had to herd the ducks back to their coop. These ducks eat pests in the rice fields during the day and return to rest at night. The owner's wife taught me how to pickle salted duck eggs, saying I could taste my own pickled eggs when I visit next time.

The food exploration tour in Xi'an also left a deep impression. I took a noodle-making course taught by a chef with over thirty years of experience. He not only taught us how to knead and roll dough but also explained the historical stories behind different noodle dishes. For instance, why "saozi" noodles are called saozi, and why yangrou paomo needs eighteen breaks. By the end of the day, I had not only learned how to make several noodle dishes but also gained much knowledge about Xi'an's food culture.

Most memorable was my late-night food experience in Chongqing. Chongqing people have a very special rhythm to life - 10 PM is when the day really begins. I found a串串 shop that had been open for over twenty years and ate from 10 PM until 2 AM. The owner was a native Chongqing woman who loved to chat. While cooking skewers, she told me about Chongqing's changes and the stories she had witnessed over the years. Those street-level stories and the atmosphere of daily life let me experience the most authentic Chongqing.

Convenient Transportation

Speaking of the advantages of domestic travel, convenient transportation is definitely a top priority. The high-speed rail network now covers most of the country, and with comprehensive flight routes, you can truly go anywhere on a whim.

I remember once having a sudden craving for a food tour. After having douzhir and jiaoquan for breakfast in Beijing, I took the 9 AM high-speed train and arrived in Xi'an by noon. After having a bowl of yangrou paomo in the Muslim Quarter and touring the Bell Tower, I took another high-speed train to Chengdu at 4 PM. By 8 PM, I was already sitting in a hotpot restaurant on Chunxi Road. Experiencing the specialty foods of three cities in one day - just thinking about it is exciting.

Moreover, high-speed trains are really comfortable now, with spacious seats, stable internet, and various snack options. Most importantly, the tickets are very affordable. That three-segment high-speed rail journey cost just over 1,000 yuan. Abroad, forget about crossing three cities in a day - just the transit time between flights would be exhausting.

Also, domestic transportation apps are exceptionally well-developed. Whether booking tickets, changing reservations, or checking real-time traffic conditions, everything can be easily done on your phone. As someone who often adjusts itineraries based on weather conditions, these convenient apps make changing flight or train tickets no problem at all.

Experience Sharing

Years of travel have taught me many money-saving and worry-free tips. For instance, traveling during off-peak seasons is really important. Last November, I went to Daocheng Yading on a whim. Many people said winter wasn't a good time to visit Daocheng, that the scenery wouldn't be beautiful. But that experience completely changed my perspective.

First, regarding accommodation prices, guesthouses that cost 700-800 yuan per night during peak season were only 200-300 yuan in off-season. And because there were fewer tourists, the owners would take extra care of each guest. In the evenings, the owner would organize butter tea gatherings for guests to chat.

The scenic area experience was completely different too. The guide told me that during peak season, they receive tens of thousands of visitors daily, and people often wait hours for shuttle buses. When I went, there were maybe a few hundred people in the entire scenic area, and shuttle buses were available without waiting. Most importantly, Daocheng Yading has its own unique beauty in winter. Snow-covered peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and prayer flags floating in the mountain air created a unique scene.

Advance planning is also key to saving money. I now typically book flights and accommodation 3-6 months ahead. Based on my statistics, the same hotel booked in advance saves at least 30%. Especially for distinctive guesthouses in popular scenic areas, which are usually fully booked during peak season, booking ahead not only saves money but also secures desired rooms.

Now major travel platforms offer various promotions, and making good use of these offers is another way to save money. I monitor promotions across several platforms and book wherever there are activities. Last year, just through these coupons and points, I saved at least 3,000 yuan.

Also, learn to utilize membership benefits. For example, some hotel membership programs offer free room upgrades or additional services after accumulating certain points. Airline mileage points can also be used to redeem tickets or upgrade seats.

Concluding Thoughts

Looking back on these years of travel, I increasingly feel that travel's significance isn't about how far you go, but how much you see and feel. While domestic travel might not make your social media feed look cool or earn you those so-called "high-end" labels, it can give you a genuine, in-depth experience.

In the Dong village of Guizhou, I learned to appreciate the most primitive human warmth. In the water towns of Jiangnan, I experienced the wisdom of farming civilization. In Xi'an's ancient city, I felt the weight of history. On Chongqing's streets, I tasted the flavor of everyday life. These experiences taught me that travel isn't about comparing who goes further, but about truly experiencing a place's culture and atmosphere.

Next week, I'm planning to go lake-circling in Qinghai, wanting to experience stargazing camping by Qinghai Lake. If you're also interested in domestic travel, feel free to follow my updates - I'll continue sharing more interesting travel stories. Also welcome to share your travel experiences in the comments section, let's discover more possibilities in domestic travel together.