Chinese Online Class - Retreat to the mountainside this summer

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CITYLIFE / Odds & Ends






Retreat to the mountainside this summer


(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-08-06 11:44



While summers are hot in the city, you can find some respite in the
mountains. They offer rivers and trees that create cool retreat away from
the unbearable heat. Here are some getaways to mountains near Beijing,
Shanghai and elsewhere.

Beijing

Miaofengshan Mountain



A famous Buddhist resort, temperature at Miaofengshan Mountain is usually
8 degrees Celsius lower than the city.

Near the parking lot, there is a teahouse, called Jitianle, which offers
tourists a place to take a short rest before starting their pilgrimage.
This teahouse boasts a traditional Chinese courtyard, the center of which
stands a wisteria tree, creating a typical scenario in old Chinese
farmhouses. There are seats along its winding hallways where visitors can
sample fresh rose flowers skullcap tea, which is a specialty of
Miaofengshan Mountain. The tea is free of charge and tourists just need
to pay for the seat.

The temple that sits on Miaofengshan Mountain is called Niangniangmiao
Temple, which is said helps couples who wish for a son. But if you are
not there to ask for a bundle of joy, you can pray for good fortune by
buying some incense for 10 yuan.

On weekends, Miaofengshan Mountain also holds ceremonies to distribute
free green bean rice porridge, which is soft and tastes good.

Ticket: 30 yuan

How to get there: Take Fushilu and head west until you reach Shimenlu. Go
along the road and take a left turn at Sanjiadian. Continue on and
thentake 109 National Way to Longquan Hotel. It will lead you to the
entrance of Danlicun Village, then take a right turn and go ahead to
reach Miaofengshan Mountain Scenic Resort.

Lingshan Mountain



Crowned as the highest mountain in outskirts of Beijing, Lingshan
Mountain has an average temperature of 12 degrees Celsius lower than
downtown Beijing. And the top of the mountain is covered with snow all
year round.

Despite the extreme heat in downtown Beijing, Lingshan Mountain is having
its springtime now. Meadows thrive with green grass, languid white sheep
wander across the meadow, and you can see outlines of distant mountains
in the clear sky.

At night tourists may camp on the soft meadow enjoying a sweet sleep
rarely seen in the hot summer. A dark blue sky studded with shining stars
may come as a bonus. Just remember to take some thick clothes to keep
warm in the cool air and some mosquito-repellent to avoid bites.

A Tibetan folklore festival is currently going on at Lingshan Mountain
featuring Tibetan style singing, dancing as well as bonfire parties.

Ticket: 35 yuan How to get there: Take Fushilu and head west until you
reach Sanjiadian, Mentougou District. Then take 109 National Way and
continue west, passing Yanchizhen, Qijiazhuang and Hongshuikoucun village
to reach the entrance of Lingshan Mountain Scenic Resort.

Baihuashan Mountain



Boasting the third highest peak outside of Beijing, Baihuashan Mountain
is a nice cool retreat with winding creeks and dense vegetation, which
make the temperature here on average 10 degrees Celsius lower than
downtown Beijing.

Baihuashan has also won acclaim as the 鈥渂est forest bath鈥� in a
Beijing suburb. The Forest here is dominated by various pine trees, like
larch and Chinese pine, an the ground is dotted with wild flowers. In
fact, the mountain鈥檚 name Baihuashan in Chinese literally means a
mountain boasting hundreds of flowers.

Apart from the numerous creeks, Baihuashan also has a famous waterfall
that鈥檚 150 meters tall. The water crashing down below creates a huge
roar and the sound reverberates among the trees making it sound even
bigger. The waterfall viewing spot is built so close to the waterfall
that when tourists stand there, they can even feel the cool mist.

Currently an outdoor concert featuring Chinese ethnic songs is on at
Baihuashan on weekends and it will last until August 13.

Ticket: 30yuan How to get there: Take Fushilu and head west until you
reach Shuangyuhuandao, Mentougou District. Then take 109 National Way and
go west for about 100 kilometers until you arrive at Baihuashan Mountain
Scenic Resort.




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