Tongcheng Travel has released its "2026 Summer Travel Trend Report", highlighting two Shanxi locations among China's top 10 summer retreat destinations. Datong city ranked seventh for long-distance summer travel, while Lingchuan county in Jincheng city emerged as a "dark horse" destination.

Datong's appeal lies in its unique blend of cultural and ecological attractions. Known for its ancient architecture and mountainous landscapes, Datong offers an integrated "cooling and educational" vacation experience. Meanwhile, Lingchuan boasts breathtaking cloud-covered canyons and rustic village accommodations, offering a relaxed, minimally commercialized mountain retreat experience.

This summer, inbound tourism has emerged as a new growth driver. Flight bookings from European cities like Edinburgh and Madrid to domestic summer destinations have surged by over 80 percent year-on-year. Many international tourists are eager to experience the refreshing dual charm of Shanxi's ancient cities and its natural beauty.

As diverse summer tourism offerings invigorate cultural and travel consumption, Shanxi leverages Datong's long-haul cultural tours and Lingchuan's short-haul mountain retreats as key attractions, creating a unique cultural and natural summer retreat system in North China.