🌿Help! I discovered a heavenly summer resort in Guizhou! The average temperature in July is only 18°C, and you still need a quilt at night—no air conditioning needed at all, so comfortable!
💙This place is Weining Caohai, the largest plateau freshwater lake in Guizhou, known as the "Pearl of the Plateau." I originally just wanted to find a place to escape the heat, but after going there, I didn’t want to leave. It’s truly healing...
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🚲 My three-day, two-night healing trip around the lake
Day 1: Xihai Pier → Cycling on the lakeside greenway → Watching the sunset at Jiangjiawan
🚄 I took the high-speed train from Guiyang, which took just over an hour. When I got off the train, my first feeling was: so cool! The breeze was refreshing, completely free from summer heat.
🏨 After dropping off my luggage, I couldn’t wait to go to Caohai. Xihai Pier is the entrance to Caohai, no ticket needed, you can enter directly. Walking along the wooden boardwalk, there are reeds on both sides, and when the wind blows, the reeds rustle, very soothing.
🚲 In the afternoon, I rented a bike and rode along the 25-kilometer lakeside greenway. Both sides are full of reeds and aquatic plants, with villages and cattle and sheep in the distance. The scenery is absolutely beautiful!
💨 I stopped to take photos whenever I saw something nice and rested by the roadside when tired. The wind blew past my ears, carrying the scent of lake water and fresh grass—so comfortable. That feeling of freedom and ease hadn’t come to me in a long time.
🌅 In the evening, I went to Jiangjiawan to watch the sunset. It’s the best spot for sunsets and not crowded. The sun slowly set, dyeing the sky and lake golden. The reeds shimmered in the sunset, water birds flew over the water... At that moment, I truly felt all my worries disappear.
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Day 2: Beipo Ecological Park → Boat tour of Caohai → Yinlong Happiness Town
🌄 On the second day, I got up early to watch the sunrise at Beipo Ecological Park. Beipo is on the north side of Caohai, and climbing up there gives a panoramic view of the entire lake.
☀️ The sunrise was stunning! The sun slowly rose behind the mountain, golden sunlight spilled over the lake, lighting up all of Caohai. Smoke rose from distant villages, birds flew over the lake—it was like a painting.
⛵️ In the morning, I took an official wooden boat deep into the Caohai wetlands. The boatman slowly steered through the reeds, which were taller than a person on both sides. The boat passed through like entering a maze.
🐦 Along the way, I saw many water birds—egrets, wild ducks... and many I couldn’t name. They weren’t afraid of people and swam right beside the boat. The boatman told me many stories about Caohai and taught me to identify various birds, which was very interesting.
💡 Boat tips:
· Take the official boat for safety and reliability
· About 50 RMB per person for over an hour ride
· Go in the morning or evening for good light and more birds
· Bring a hat, the sun can be strong
🏘️ In the afternoon, I visited Yinlong Happiness Town, a very comfortable village right by Caohai. Every household has a yard with flowers and vegetables. I strolled around and chatted with local grandmas who were very warm and even gave me some homegrown plums.
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Day 3: Baicaoping → Old Town food tour → Return trip
🌿 On the third day, I went to Baicaoping, Guizhou’s largest natural grassland, about a half-hour drive from Caohai. When I arrived, I exclaimed! An endless grassland, with cattle and sheep grazing as the wind blew the grass low—so beautiful!
🐑 I walked for a long time on the grassland, watching the wind turbines in the distance, the grazing cattle and sheep, and the blue sky with white clouds drifting by... I felt completely open and free. I also chatted with local herders who were incredibly simple and kind.
🍜 In the afternoon, I returned to the county town and ate lots of delicious food in the old town. Weining has so many great dishes!
· Weining Buckwheat Rice: made from buckwheat, served with ham and pickled vegetables, very fragrant
· Weining Little Bapaba: made from glutinous rice with filling inside, pan-fried to golden, crispy outside and sticky inside
· Mutton Soup Pot: black mountain goat meat, soup is very fresh and not gamey at all
· Roasted Potatoes: grilled potatoes with chili powder, incredibly tasty
· Bitter Buckwheat Tea: local specialty, fragrant and helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol
💰 Prices are really affordable! A bowl of buckwheat rice costs 10 RMB, little bapaba 1 RMB each, a big bowl of mutton soup 20 RMB... I ate a lot and spent less than 30 RMB, so cost-effective!
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🌿 Why recommend Weining Caohai
1. Cool! Average temperature in July is 18°C, you need a quilt at night, perfect for summer escape
2. Few people! Unlike other crowded popular spots, it’s quiet here, perfect for relaxing
3. Beautiful scenery! Plateau lake, reed marshes, vast grasslands—every photo looks like a masterpiece
4. Cheap! Free admission, affordable food and lodging, great value for money
5. Healing! Spending a few days here feels like a full cleanse
💭 I stayed at Caohai for three days and barely used my phone. Every day I just looked at the lake, daydreamed, rode my bike, and ate good food. That slow pace of life was so comfortable.
After returning, I often think back to my days at Caohai. I remember the sound of wind through the reeds, the lake water lapping the shore, the evening sunset, the morning sunrise... those scenes are so healing just to recall.
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📝 Practical guide
🚄 Transportation:
· High-speed train to Caohai Station, 1.5 hours from Guiyang, 2 hours from Kunming
· Taxi in the county town is very cheap, starting at 5 RMB
· For around the lake, renting a bike or electric scooter is recommended
🏠 Accommodation:
· Recommended to stay by Caohai, with lake views right from your window
· Many hotels in the county town, cheap and clean
🌡️ July weather:
· 15-25°C, not hot during the day, a bit cool at night
· Bring a light jacket for mornings and evenings
· Strong UV rays, remember sunscreen
🕐 Best time to visit:
· June to August, best for summer escape, lush aquatic plants
· December to March, best for birdwatching, can see black-necked cranes
🎫 Tickets:
· Caohai is free to enter
· Boat rides cost about 50 RMB
· Beipo Ecological Park is free
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💕 Final thoughts
People nowadays are really anxious, always rushing—rushing work, rushing the subway... It feels like slowing down is a crime. But during these days at Caohai, I finally slowed down.
I would sit by the lake and daydream for an entire afternoon, thinking of nothing, just watching the water, clouds, and birds. I would spend an hour slowly eating a bowl of buckwheat rice, savoring every bite. I would chat with strangers for a long time, listening to their stories.
🌾 Life can be this simple and beautiful. We are always chasing a better life but forget to stop and enjoy the scenery around us.
If you’re tired too, come to Caohai. Here, you don’t have to rush, don’t need to plan, don’t have to squeeze with crowds. You just need to slow down and truly feel the wind, the sunshine, the lake, and life.
Trust me, you’ll fall in love with this place.
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Accommodation
🏨 Caohai Courtyard Homestay
Located beside the Caohai Nature Reserve, very close to the lake shore, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the shimmering water. The modern steel structure roof design is very stylish.
🏨 Weining Blue Bay Hotel (Caohai Beipo Ecological Park Convention Center Branch)
80% of rooms have views of Caohai, only 300 meters in a straight line from the lake, excellent location with wide scenic views.
🏨 Weining Yixin Hotel
Located on Binhai Avenue, with the Plateau Pearl’s magnificent sky on the left and the lively Caohai ecological scenery on the right. Features a café and gym.
🏨 Draw·High-altitude Self-service Seaview Residence
High-altitude lake view rooms with direct views of Caohai, excellent facilities, clean, very cost-effective, suitable for young people.
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