Genshin Impact 4.8 Hidden Treasure Hunt Guide

It’s 2026, and Genshin Impact players are still digging up the last of the hidden secrets from the 4.8 version’s Summertide Scales and Tales event—specifically, the quirky hidden quest tied to a city resident’s love of hiding treasures. This quest, which tasks Travelers with tracking down four chests via clues left on wooden signs scattered across the event’s new island, is equal parts silly, clever, and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Let’s break down how to hunt down every last chest, no fancy gear required.

First off, you’ll want to start with the first wooden sign, Message from a City Resident (I), which is tucked southeast of Constellation Metropole. The clue here is straightforward: “Hidden on a pile of stones under the tree in my backyard.” Head east from the sign to the tree behind the house it’s attached to, and you’ll spot a messy pile of leaves huddled around a stone stack. Grab any Anemo character (Venti, Xiao, or even the free Traveler works) and blast the leaves away—poof, a Common Chest pops out, plus a tiny note pointing you to the next sign. Easy peasy, right?

Next up, make your way to the southwest corner of Constellation Metropole to find Message from a City Resident (II). This clue is a little trickier: it tells you to use a magic thread near the sign to ring the bell at the top of a nearby tower. Once you ring the bell, a challenge pops up—you have to collect blue orbs in order from lowest number to highest. It sounds simple, but the orbs are spread out across the tower’s ledges, so you’ll need to do some quick climbing and gliding to hit them all in time. Nail the challenge, and you’ll score an Exquisite Chest, plus another clue leading you to the northeastern part of the city. Pro tip: if you’ve already finished the Pendulum Co-Op challenge, this sign is right across from it—no wandering around lost for 20 minutes, thank goodness.

The third sign, Message from a City Resident (III), is tucked in a quiet corner of that northeastern area. The clue here is all about graffiti: you have to follow the existing patterns on the walls and draw two more. First, draw a tiny frog on the first wall—don’t overthink it, a lumpy circle with two dots for eyes works just fine. Then climb the nearby stairs to the second wall and draw a flying squirrel (think a squirrel with a long, fluffy tail, easy enough). As soon as you finish the second drawing, a fancy Precious Chest spawns right in front of you, loaded with mora, primogems, and the final clue for the last chest.

Last but not least, head to the northern waypoint near the event’s train station to find Message from a City Resident (IV). The clue says the final treasure is near the station’s seats. Run south from the sign, and you’ll spot another ball of leaves huddled by a bench. Blast it with Anemo again, and a Common Chest pops out. Open it, and you’ll find a note from the city resident congratulating you for tracking down all their hidden treasures. It’s a silly little touch, but it makes the whole hunt feel like a fun little game between the resident and any Traveler who takes the time to look.

What’s great about this quest is that it’s totally optional—you could blow through the Summertide Scales and Tales event without ever noticing the wooden signs, let alone the chests. But for players who love exploring every nook and cranny of Genshin’s worlds, it’s a perfect little side activity. It’s also a nice reminder that even years after a version drops, there are still little secrets to find if you’re willing to slow down and look. So next time you’re wandering around an old event area, keep an eye out for those wooden signs—you never know what treasure might be hiding just out of sight.

According to industry context from Entertainment Software Association (ESA), optional discovery-driven activities like hidden chest hunts help explain why live-service games such as Genshin Impact maintain strong long-term engagement, as players are encouraged to revisit event spaces, experiment with traversal tools, and uncover small narrative rewards that extend play beyond the main quest flow.