As the temperature keeps climbing, it takes a lot of patience to stay in the oven of Shanghai. Even the dust in the air seems roasted. So why not slip away to somewhere cool for a refreshing holiday?
Besides Yellow Mountain, there are many other mountain resorts for you to go to ward off the heat. Here's a list for your reference.
Mogan Mountain
In Deqing County of Huzhou City in northeastern Zhejiang Province, Mogan Mountain has been listed as one of the "Four Best Summer Resorts" in China. Covered with lush fresh bamboo, the mountain with an average elevation of 500 meters has a tranquil atmosphere.
Hundreds of springs and waterfalls make the mountain the best place to escape the summer heat.
The scattered villas in the mountain of different styles provide tourists with pleasant accommodation as well as local specialities.
Transportation: It takes around two to three hours by coach from Shanghai Railway Station or the Bus Station on Qiujiang Road via Huzhou to Mt Mogan. Or you can get a shuttle bus in Hangzhou.
Admission: 65 yuan
Tianmu Mountain
West of Hangzhou, Tianmu Mountain is called "a natural botanic garden" because more than 2,000 plant species grow there. The reserve is particularly well known for the rare huge ancient forests, where the wild gingko of Mesozoic era can be found.
It is also a paradise for several hundred animal and bird species, 30 of which are endangered such as the cloud leopard and the black muntjac. Tea grown in the valleys covered in mist has an unmistakable taste.
Transportation: First get to Hangzhou and then take a bus to Lin'an at the West Bus Station.
Admission: 80 yuan
Wuyi Mountain
Wuyi Mountain in Fujian Province is the largest, most representative example of a largely intact forest encompassing the diversity of Chinese sub-tropical forest and rainforest.
The 60-kilometer-long Nine Bend River meanders among the hills, presenting the most attractive tourist route in this scenic zone. The landscape of great beauty has been protected for more than 12 centuries. The site of the Wuyi Palace was built in the 7th century for emperors to do sacrifice rites.
The mountain is also a center of Chinese Taoism.
Transportation: 10 hours to get from Shanghai to Mt Wuyi by train K163 or K197. Or you may go by air to Wuyi Mountain airport and take a taxi for about 30 yuan to the mountain.
Admission: 140 yuan for one day, 150 yuan for two days and 160 yuan for three days.
Emei Mountain
Emei Mountain in Sichuan Province is well-known for its natural scenery, Buddhist culture, abundant range of species and unique rock formations. On the Golden Summit, the weather is cool all year round and you can enjoy the great spectacle of sunrise and cloud seas.
After the sunrise, which is varied in different weather conditions and seasons, millions of the sun's rays shoot onto the ground. The whole mountain is gold in color, from top to bottom and shows all her beauty to visitors.
Moreover, the thousands of rare monkeys on the mountain are another special attraction.
Transportation: 90 minutes from Chengdu Airport to the scenic area.
Admission: 100 yuan
Lushan Mountain
In northern Jiangxi Province, Lushan Mountain faces the Yangtze River to the north and on the east borders Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China.
It is best known for three spectacles: the cloud sea, the waterfalls and the craggy cliffs, which have been depicted in many poems since ancient times.
The ever-changing mist that can come or disappear suddenly makes the mountain a mystery.
At the cinema in the center of the mountain, a film called "Romance on Lushan Mountain" has been shown since 1980, which is a Guinness World Record for its longest screening time in the same cinema.
Transportation: Get to Nanchang from Shanghai, and then find the shuttle buses at the Long-distance Bus Station in the morning.
Admission: 160 yuan
(China Daily by Lu Rong August 2, 2007)
