Thanks for your candid reporting. I’ll skip most of these “popular” and trendy places. I totally understand your point that the touristy places have become formulaic and blasé. Chinese people are very competitive. If one does something interesting, everyone wants to do the same. 一窝风。(is my Chinese correct? I haven’t read and written Chinese for over 30 years.) Your video killed my already tepid desire to visit this and many places. Thank you!
If your shoots turn out well on a rainy or cloudy day, chances are the place is intrinsically beautiful and livable. Of course, it depends on your connection to and feel for the place. It’s always best to visit a place in not so great weather or season so that you can find out what it is like to live there after the “honeymoon.”