While China is a fairly hard country to visit unless you speak the language, it is still one of the most rewarding place sto go if you make it. Yet while you probably know about Beijing, Qingdao and of course Xi’an, can you get off the grid in China.
The good news is that ye you very much can, with us being able to suggest some choice places you might just not know about.
Table of Contents
11 Off the grid Chinese Cities
As always only places we have been and indeed in order counting down to the best of the best.
11. Hailar, Inner Mongolia
Northern frontier town. Russian-style streets, snow, alley markets, locals drinking fermented mare’s milk and cheap Russian-style beer. Smoke, cold, chaos.
10. Yanji, Jilin
Korean-influenced border town. Spicy noodles, street-side soju, markets full of fermented fish and mystery meat. Alley chaos, neon, locals shouting and laughing. Perfect for Korea watchers!
9. Beihai, Guangxi
Coastal city with Weizhou Island nearby. Fish markets, cheap seafood, sticky streets, plastic stools, locals yelling. Beer and rice wine flowing all night.
8. Datong, Shanxi
Old northern industrial city. Alleyways smell of coal, lamb skewers on grills, locals sipping Fenjiu. Smoke curling through the streets, grimy and alive. And to think we once called it a a Shit City.
7. Shenzhen, Guangdong
Forget skyscraper districts. Dive bars in Futian and Luohu, street food alleys, hidden craft beer pubs. Neon blasting C-pop, locals drinking like it’s nothing.
6. Weihai, Shandong
Coastal port town. Seafood markets, alley beer stalls, grills smoking octopus, fishermen shouting. Salt in the air, plastic stools, ferries moving in the harbour.
5. Dandong, Liaoning
Border town on the Yalu River. Neon lights, riverside bars, cheap rice wine, Tsingtao flowing. Locals play cards, shout, laugh, smoke curling in the alleys. The closest we can get to North Korea right now.
4. Shiquan, Tibet
Tiny mountain town. Yak butter tea, local barley beer, dusty streets, prayer flags. Narrow alleys, locals staring, proper frontier life.
3. Turpan, Xinjiang
Desert heat. Grape markets, spicy kebabs, alley tea houses. Locals drinking sweet melon juice or millet wine. Dust, neon, plastic chairs, streets full of noise.
2. Yanan, Shaanxi
Northern revolutionary city. Alley food vendors, locals drinking baijiu and Tsingtao. Smells of cumin and coal, streets busy, chaotic, real northern grit. Try Mao country.
1. Wuhan, Hubei
Yangtze riverside alleys. Fried noodles, spicy hotpots, street-side beer, locals shouting over the river. Plastic stools, neon signs, smoky grills, sweaty markets, chaos everywhere.
And that marks our 11 off the grid cities in China, all of which are accessible and worth visiting if you have the courage. And of course all can be done on one of our China Tours.
About Post Author
