THE 2010s have already come and gone, and a new decade has begun! Now well into the start of 2020, it’s time to consider your next round of travel plans before the year passes you by. If you missed visiting these best destinations around China in past years, use this list to plan the best time to see them this time around.

February:

Search for the footprints of early spring near Tibet

Bingzhongluo in Yunnan, also called “A Heaven of Peace and Happiness,” is the most beautiful place in Nujiang Grand Canyon. It has a strong Tibetan feel to it as most of its inhabitants are of Tibetan and Nu descents. Geographically, it is very close to Tibet.

Here, you will see the roaring Nujiang River running through steep cliffs and deep valleys, splendid churches and temples, tranquil villages, thick forests and towering snow mountains. It’s a landscape worth losing yourself in.

March:

Discover China’s longest

“flower path”

There is a popular saying in Chinese: “You won’t know the beauty of China if you don’t visit Xinjiang, and you won’t know the beauty of heaven if you don’t visit Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture.”

Spring brings out the best of Xinjiang’s natural beauty. Every spring, lush grass and wildflowers cover the Ili River Valley like an enormous carpet as countless apricot trees full of pink blossoms embellish the green land. Gazing at the starry night while being embraced by the flower sea might be one of the most romantic things you can do this spring.

The peach blossom is the signature flower of spring. When spring comes, Linzhi in Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region welcomes the blossoming of a multitude of pink peach flowers. The pink peach blossom “path” in Linzhi extends 30 kilometers across many counties, making it the longest “flower path” in China. With the snow gleaming white on the mountains behind it, Linzhi is immersed in a pink sea of peach blossoms.

Wuhan University may be the most famous place in China at this time of the year due to its iconic cherry blossoms. Every year around mid March, people across the country fly to the 120-year-old university to enjoy the romantic, pink flower-petal sea surrounding the ancient buildings across the university. However, due to the recent epidemic outbreak, Wuhan is now under quarantine. You might have to skip the destination this year, but keep this astonishing place on your agenda for when life returns normal.

April:

Enjoy a timeless water-town date

The biggest difference between Xitang and other old towns lies in its intact water-town ecology. Cobbled streets, old buildings, bridges arching over canals, rowboats lingering on the river and locals singing folk songs are all featured in Xitang, a charming water town with a history of over 1,000 years in Zhejiang.

The water town is a Level 5A tourist attraction in China with 104 old bridges, 122 old lanes, and long, ceilinged corridors to explore. The local residents have an easygoing and peaceful lifestyle, making Xitang a fantastic place to experience simplicity and leisure.

Qingdao is known as a city that enjoys pleasant temperatures and faces the sea. Located in Shandong Province, Qingdao is surrounded by the Yellow Sea to its east and south. As the summer resort of China, it enjoys pleasant weather throughout the year. April is an especially great time to visit as the coastal city is doused with romantic flowers and enveloped in their fragrance.

(Chen Xiaochun)