THE hot summer is here, and so is the hot travel season. If you are hesitant about traveling because you are worried about large crowds, here are some recommended summer resorts that are not very well-known to the public. Cangmi Ancient Road, Beijing Located in the mountain areas of Yanqing County, Cangmi Ancient Road Scenic Area is an ideal place for people to escape from the hot summer and noisy crowds. The 120km ancient road was built to transport rice from Zhenzhuquan Village to the mountain areas. The area covers an area of 850 square kilometers and is known as a “natural museum for trees and flowers.” The average temperature in the area is about 25 degrees Celsius in July and August, which is 5 degrees cooler than the city of Beijing. Other recommended places in the area include Wulong Valley and Baihe Rock Workshop. There are plenty of summer resorts in the area that offer services such as local cuisine, hot springs, rock climbing and hiking facilities. Tickets for entering the area are 120 yuan per person. Transport: Fly to Beijing from Shenzhen airport, and take a coach to Yanqing County. You can then take a bus to the area from downtown Yanqing. Mogan Mountain, Zhejiang Located in Deqing County in Zhejiang Province, Mogan Mountain has been listed as one of the “four best summer resorts in China.” Covering an area of 43 square kilometers, it is famous for its wild bamboo and dispersed villas of different styles and enthralling legends. Bamboo can be seen everywhere in Mogan Mountain. Lush, fresh bamboo covers the whole mountain, providing a tranquil atmosphere. Trees, bamboo, grasses and the mountain itself form a green sea to get lost in. Hundreds of springs and waterfalls make the mountain the best place to escape the summer heat. The average summer temperature of Mogan Mountain is only 24 degrees Celsius. Villas hidden in the bamboo forest may also surprise you. More than 200 villas representing different styles are why the mountain is also called “The World Architecture Museum.” Tickets for the scenic area are 80 yuan per person. Transport: Fly to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, from Shenzhen airport, and take a train to the area. Shentangyu Valley, Beijing Shentangyu Natural Scenic Area is situated in Huairou County, about 66 km from downtown Beijing. The area was an important fortress for Beijing during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and the section of the Great Wall in the area is relatively well preserved. This is an ideal place for summer hiking. There are hills to climb, brooks and streams to wade through and the ruins of the Great Wall to explore. The section of the Yanxi River that runs through this area has crystal-clear water and is a perfect place for swimming in the summertime. A heaven for photographers, this area has plenty of rocks, hills, waterways and historical attractions. Tickets for entering the area are 35 yuan per person. Transport: Fly to Beijing from Shenzhen airport, and take a coach to Huairou. Get to the scenic area by bus from downtown Huairou. Dashanbao, Yunnan Dashanbao Nature Reserve is located in the Dashanbao Township of Yunnan Province. Covering an area of 192 square kilometers, it is a State-level nature reserve and an important international wetland area with an elevation of up to 3,300 meters. The area includes two major spots: Dahaizi Wetland and Jigong Mountain. Hundreds of national first-level protected animals, such as the black-neck crane, live at the Dahaizi Wetland. Every year, the cranes migrate to the wetland from the Tibet Plateau at the end of October and leave in April the next year. Jigong Mountain is shaped like a head of a roaster, from where the name “Jigong” originated. Jigongshan Grand Valley, a proper area to watch clouds and sunsets, is majestic, unique and precipitous. The area is free for visitors. Transport: Fly to Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, from Shenzhen airport, and take a coach to the mountain.(Wang Yuanyuan) THE hot summer is here, and so is the hot travel season. If you are hesitant about traveling because you are worried about large crowds, here are some recommended summer resorts that are not very well-known to the public. Cangmi Ancient Road, Beijing Located in the mountain areas of Yanqing County, Cangmi Ancient Road Scenic Area is an ideal place for people to escape from the hot summer and noisy crowds. The 120km ancient road was built to transport rice from Zhenzhuquan Village to the mountain areas. The area covers an area of 850 square kilometers and is known as a “natural museum for trees and flowers.” The average temperature in the area is about 25 degrees Celsius in July and August, which is 5 degrees cooler than the city of Beijing. Other recommended places in the area include Wulong Valley and Baihe Rock Workshop. There are plenty of summer resorts in the area that offer services such as local cuisine, hot springs, rock climbing and hiking facilities. Tickets for entering the area are 120 yuan per person. Transport: Fly to Beijing from Shenzhen airport, and take a coach to Yanqing County. You can then take a bus to the area from downtown Yanqing. Mogan Mountain, Zhejiang Located in Deqing County in Zhejiang Province, Mogan Mountain has been listed as one of the “four best summer resorts in China.” Covering an area of 43 square kilometers, it is famous for its wild bamboo and dispersed villas of different styles and enthralling legends. Bamboo can be seen everywhere in Mogan Mountain. Lush, fresh bamboo covers the whole mountain, providing a tranquil atmosphere. Trees, bamboo, grasses and the mountain itself form a green sea to get lost in. Hundreds of springs and waterfalls make the mountain the best place to escape the summer heat. The average summer temperature of Mogan Mountain is only 24 degrees Celsius. Villas hidden in the bamboo forest may also surprise you. More than 200 villas representing different styles are why the mountain is also called “The World Architecture Museum.” Tickets for the scenic area are 80 yuan per person. Transport: Fly to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, from Shenzhen airport, and take a train to the area. Shentangyu Valley, Beijing Shentangyu Natural Scenic Area is situated in Huairou County, about 66 km from downtown Beijing. The area was an important fortress for Beijing during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and the section of the Great Wall in the area is relatively well preserved. This is an ideal place for summer hiking. There are hills to climb, brooks and streams to wade through and the ruins of the Great Wall to explore. The section of the Yanxi River that runs through this area has crystal-clear water and is a perfect place for swimming in the summertime. A heaven for photographers, this area has plenty of rocks, hills, waterways and historical attractions. Tickets for entering the area are 35 yuan per person. Transport: Fly to Beijing from Shenzhen airport, and take a coach to Huairou. Get to the scenic area by bus from downtown Huairou. Dashanbao, Yunnan Dashanbao Nature Reserve is located in the Dashanbao Township of Yunnan Province. Covering an area of 192 square kilometers, it is a State-level nature reserve and an important international wetland area with an elevation of up to 3,300 meters. The area includes two major spots: Dahaizi Wetland and Jigong Mountain. Hundreds of national first-level protected animals, such as the black-neck crane, live at the Dahaizi Wetland. Every year, the cranes migrate to the wetland from the Tibet Plateau at the end of October and leave in April the next year. Jigong Mountain is shaped like a head of a roaster, from where the name “Jigong” originated. Jigongshan Grand Valley, a proper area to watch clouds and sunsets, is majestic, unique and precipitous. The area is free for visitors. Transport: Fly to Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, from Shenzhen airport, and take a coach to the mountain.(Wang Yuanyuan) | 