15 Hidden Foreign-Like Scenic Spots in China: Travel the World Without Leaving Home!

In 2020, has the pandemic disrupted your travel plans?

Many friends have left messages asking, "Is it possible to travel abroad now?"

For international travel, I think it's best to hold off for now. If it's not absolutely necessary, staying within China is a better option.

To soothe that wanderlust for foreign destinations, I've found some domestic alternatives that are just as stunning—without worrying about pandemic prevention or flight costs.

You can travel the world without leaving China.

Kashgar, Xinjiang vs. Morocco

Traveling from China to Morocco requires a dozen-hour flight. Instead, visit the old city of Kashgar in Xinjiang.

As you stroll through its alleys, you'll be immersed in strong Uyghur culture, with surprises at every turn. Before coming, you might have imagined it; after arriving, it exceeds all expectations.

There are shops selling souvenirs, but the local residents' daily life is still preserved.

Just wandering around, you can lose yourself in this simple, cozy atmosphere.

Harbin vs. Russia

No matter how enchanting Russia is, I still prefer Harbin.

Because in winter, Harbin turns into a snowy wonderland.

Stroll along Central Street, enjoy a frozen sugar-coated hawthorn skewer, a Maidel ice cream bar, and gaze at the Saint Sophia Cathedral—these are the romances Harbin offers us.

Mohe Arctic Village vs. Iceland

In Arctic Village, you can find China's northernmost home, northernmost sentry post, northernmost post office... It's the only place in China where you have a chance to see the Northern Lights.

This unique location offers an equally unique experience.

If you can catch the aurora borealis here, you're lucky. If not, the starry sky is also a wonderful sight.

The white snow and stars make this small village shine.

Kanas, Xinjiang vs. Switzerland

If there's a place God favors most, if not Switzerland, then it must be Kanas.

Whether in spring, summer, autumn, or winter, Kanas captivates every traveler with its unique charm.

Among all its colors, autumn is the most stunning, as if God has poured every color imaginable into this place.

Standing there, you may find it hard to describe the beauty with words.

Chaka Salt Lake vs. Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia

Uyuni is far away, but Chaka Salt Lake is close.

The dreamlike mirror of the sky, where reality and illusion blend, is a dream destination for many.

The lake surface is like a mirror prepared for the sky to dress up. All the noise and worries dissolve in an instant when you see such beauty.

Hoh Xil vs. East African Grasslands

Hoh Xil, the uninhabited region—a place where no one lives, yet a place where a traveler's soul can rest.

Endless sand dunes, majestic snow mountains, clear blue lakes, deep green marshes, thriving wildlife... It's mysterious and wild.

It's a forbidden zone for humans but a paradise for animals.

Don't try to conquer it; admire its beauty from afar and respect nature—that's what we should do.

Qaidam Basin vs. U.S. Route 66

Driving through the Qaidam Basin on its highways gives you an otherworldly feeling.

The long road stretches to the horizon, with Gobi and desert hiding numerous Yardang landforms and oil rigs that look like movie sets—who wouldn't be awed by such grandeur?

Textbooks call Qaidam a treasure bowl, but you have to experience it to truly understand its power.

Guanhu Village, Shenzhen vs. Kamakura, Japan

Want Japanese-style simplicity? You don't need to go to Japan.

Few people know about Guanhu Village—quiet beaches, gentle sea breeze, Japanese-style houses... Everything here feels relaxed.

Walk aimlessly, take photos casually. Sometimes, stumbling upon a place can make you fall in love with it.

Xiaoruo Village, Zhejiang vs. Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre in Italy is a dream for many girls, with its colorful houses creating a fairy-tale world.

China has its own "Cinque Terre" in Zhejiang, called Xiaoruo Village.

If you have time, I hope you can stay a few days here with your loved one.

Wake up every day to the rising sun and gentle sea breeze, surrounded by a world of colors, making your heart joyful.

Yadan Devil City vs. Egypt

The grandeur of Egypt's pyramids can also be found at Yadan Devil City.

Amidst endless yellow sand and Gobi, shaped by wind, it stands magnificent and weathered, showing itself to the world.

They stand alone on the Gobi. Watch a sunset here—as golden light spills over this magical land, everything turns golden, leaving viewers mesmerized.

Yucha Grand Canyon, Shaanxi vs. Antelope Canyon, USA

Antelope Canyon is far away and hard to book, so why not visit Yucha Grand Canyon in northern Shaanxi?

It's a "natural rift wonder on the Loess Plateau," a unique geological marvel, probably the most beautiful scar on Earth.

It's like an exquisite art palace. The canyon walls appear soft but are extremely hard; the rock surface looks polished with flowing patterns. Sunlight enters from the top, creating magical colors.

Dongtai Jinai'er Lake vs. Maldives

If we talk about the hottest travel destination recently, it must be Dongtai Jinai'er Lake.

"China's Maldives" makes you feel like you've stepped into an ancient world, a paradise on earth. Without going to the Maldives, you can see that Tiffany blue.

This is the image of an island dream.

The source of the dreamy blue lake is meltwater from the Kunlun Mountains, pure and pristine.

Anjihai Grand Canyon vs. Grand Canyon, USA

Only here can you truly understand the meaning of nature's craftsmanship. Words become powerless.

It's like an abstract painting; you can stare at it for a long time, unwilling to leave.

This is a photographer's dream—stunning cliffs, captivating red rock formations... every shot is a masterpiece.

Huocheng, Xinjiang vs. Provence, France

The romance of French lavender can be felt in Huocheng, Xinjiang.

Vast lavender fields paint the world purple, and the air is filled with their fragrance.

They effortlessly awaken a girl's heart.

Strolling here, letting your hair catch the scent—this romance goes straight to the heart.

Baishuitai, Shangri-La vs. Pamukkale, Turkey

Don't go all the way to Turkey! Baishuitai in Yunnan might satisfy your fantasy even more.

It's Shangri-La's cascading skirt—elegant and flowing, enchanting at first sight.

The snowy white natural terraces stack layer upon layer like jade terraces, like big clusters of cotton blooming on the hills. Streams trickle down, filling each step with pale blue pools.

After seeing these hidden foreign-like spots in China, are you tempted?

On China's 9.6 million square kilometers of land, there are far more such beauties waiting for us to discover.

When you have time, just go!