Travel Guides & Tips in this video
- Tip 1Base yourself in a canal-side boutique hotel for authentic Nanxun ambiance and easy access to water town lanes. (0:00)
- Tip 2Opt for a private canal boat to experience Nanxun from the water; it’s affordable and highly scenic, with clear payment options via Alipay or WeChat. (4:29)
- Tip 3Choose a coffee stop with a view; expect local pricing around 60-70 yuan for a latte and enjoy the quiet amid busy streets. (9:34)
- Tip 4Visit a tea plantation; buy entry with a complimentary tea and consider the full experience, including possible camping or tea-picking in higher seasons. (25:06)
The traveler duo Always Away ventures into Nanxun, an ancient water town near Shanghai, to explore a more affordable, authentic side of traveling in China. They check into a boutique hotel with a canal view, kick off with a free breakfast, and set a balanced budget between comfort and frugality. They rent a Tesla for the weekend and chart a route through canals, coffee shops, and markets, sharing candid thoughts on cost, logistics, and local vibes. A key highlight is a self-owned boat ride along the canals for 180 yuan, a transparent and simple experience that feels surprisingly royal as locals wave from passing boats. They wander through busy streets, discover a vintage café with vinyl displays, sample fresh local strawberries for 13 yuan, and reflect on the warmth and friendliness of Chinese people, which makes travel feel welcoming whether in a big city or a lesser-known tourist area. The day continues with scenic detours: a tea plantation stop where an entry ticket covers a drink,
More about the current video:( 25 / 25 )
Always Away lands in Nanxun, a 750-year-old water town, to show what travel in China feels like without overspending. They stay in a boutique hotel by the water and opt for a sensible budget, enjoying a complimentary ramen breakfast and a modern Japanese loo rather than a luxury view. They rent a Tesla for the weekend, promising a breakdown of costs later. The canal system becomes a central character as they sip coffee at a quiet, retro-inspired shop perched along the water, where a bicycle-filled street buzzes with life. They pick up a bag of locally sourced strawberries for 13 yuan and plan a 20-minute boat ride that costs 180 yuan for exclusive use. The boats run with clear rules, and the experience becomes a vivid, social moment as locals wave and children grin from passing boats. They compare toll costs on a motorway, remarking on how affordable Chinese tolls feel next to Europe. The day also includes a detour to a dramatic coffee location overlooking a canyon-like lake, where they discuss the difference between flat whites and local lattes, and they feed stray dogs and a herd of deer at a nearby deer park and tea plantation. At a tea plantation, they enjoy a free tea with their entrance (68 yuan per person) and marvel at the scale of the plantations, considering camping and tea-picking experiences for a future visit. They end by reflecting on the ease of traveling from Shanghai into the countryside and the value of a quick, well-planned day trip while teasing potential future visits to Hello Kitty Land and Shaun the Sheep merchandise. The episode blends practical budgeting with vivid sensory details, local interactions, and moments of playful spontaneity, making the travel experience feel relatable and achievable for first-time visitors and seasoned explorers alike.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Is Nanxun expensive to visit for a short trip?
- A: Not really. The video shows affordable costs for accommodation, snacks, a private canal boat, and a tea-plantation visit, making it accessible for a tighter travel budget.
