Quanzhou is too crowded, so I went to the less popular and off-the-beaten-path Putian

✨Compared to Quanzhou, which is described as 'half the city is bustling with fireworks, the other half is like a fairyland,' Putian is much more niche It has various temples, Taoist temples, churches, and ancient buildings and houses that can be seen everywhere National treasures are everywhere, the cost of living is cheap, the snacks are the best in southern Fujian, and the attractions do not require admission fees 🚘I took my parents on a trip to Putian, and we really loved it! ❗I've coded a super practical travel guide for you, remember to save it! . 🚆【About Transportation】 Since the attractions in Putian worth visiting are quite scattered, I took my parents from Hangzhou on a high-speed train to Putian Station, which took about 3 and a half hours~ After arriving in Putian, we rented a car for self-driving, which is more convenient for getting around! The car rental cost is 280 yuan/day~ Worried that they would get hungry on the way, I also specifically put some hunger-resistant and nutritious snacks in the car and in the bags we carried, like instant eggs, chicken legs, etc., ready to eat whenever we wanted~ . 💃【Tour Itinerary】 D1 : Nanshan Guanghua Temple + Shakyamuni Buddha Pagoda👉🏻Dongshan Bao'en Temple + Dongshan Meizhou Mazu Palace👉🏻Eastern Twenty-Five Slopes + Hanjiang Old Street District D2: Xinghua Mansion Historical and Cultural Street District👉🏻Yuanmiao Temple Sanqing Hall👉🏻Xinghua Mansion City God Temple . ✅Nanshan Guanghua Temple + Shakyamuni Buddha Pagoda Once you enter Guanghua Temple, you'll see towering ancient trees and numerous monks, with magnificent Buddhist palaces, which is extremely impressive The Shakyamuni Buddha Pagoda is on the left side of the entrance of Guanghua Temple, a national key cultural relic, a stone pagoda in the style of a wooden pavilion, simple and quiet. . ✅Dongshan Bao'en Temple + Dongshan Meizhou Mazu Palace Bao'en Temple is a temple that amazed me, a national protected cultural relic, with a high dome design and a strong sense of space. The Mazu Palace is next to Bao'en Temple, built during the Song Dynasty, with a very characteristic entrance, a very typical Minnan style, great for taking photos. . ✅Eastern Twenty-Five Slopes + Hanjiang Old Street District Buildings from the 1930s, known as the 'Venice of the East,' the red brick structure looks great in photos with a sense of depth, recommended to go in the afternoon for better lighting. Hanjiang Old Street was a real surprise! It hides many local specialty snacks and workshops, giving a sense of time travel. . ✅Xinghua Mansion Historical and Cultural Street District This is the most bustling area in Putian, in addition to the traditional Minnan-style residences, there are various intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, local food, and cultural and creative shops. . ✅Yuanmiao Temple Sanqing Hall One of the most worth-seeing Song Dynasty wooden structures in southern China, known as a wonder of ancient architecture in the south of the Yangtze River, architecture enthusiasts will be thrilled! I stayed there for at least 2 hours! . 🥢【What to Eat】 ✔Tianjiu Wang Qiang Meat: Intangible cultural heritage snack, rich soup, chewy, fragrant! ✔Chen Ji Chunfeng Flat Food: Located in Xitianwei, popular among locals. ✔Braised Noodle Uncle: Signature lychee meat and Putian braised noodles are a must-order. . 🏨【Where to Stay】 When traveling, I'm used to staying at Atour Hotels, booked Yuhu Atour in Putian, The location is in the city center, 348 yuan/night, convenient to go anywhere. . 💁I took my parents on this self-driving route that encapsulates the essence of Putian's old city! The whole journey does not require admission fees! Eating and staying are very cheap! If you also want to find a quiet and less popular city to travel to, I sincerely recommend Putian to you!