查看原文
其他

10 Picture-Perfect Mountain Escapes for Nature Lovers

ShanghaiWOWeng 2018-12-02




Although summer time may mean a rush to the pool or to the beach, there is still something magical about cool mountain getaways. In true Shanghai WOW! style, we have rounded up 10 amazing mountains to visit this summer to give you a little respite from the heat.



1. Moganshan


Photo source: China Holiday


Considered to be the Hamptons of Shanghai, Moganshan is a popular escape for expatriates looking to seek respite from the city’s summer heat. Lakes and bamboo forests create a relaxing background away from the daily hustle and bustle.


Closest city: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Deqing


Brief History


Photo source: Vogue


Treaties forced on China during the Opium Wars gave missionary societies the right to own property outside the trading enclaves governed by foreigners in certain port cities. Missionaries first came to Moganshan in the late 19th century, looking for an alternative to Lushan, a popular retreat in Jiangxi Province.


By the spring of 1898, there was a rush for property on the mountain.



The first foreigner to buy land on Moganshan was the Rev. F. W. Farnham of Shanghai, who bought 75 acres on a tea plantation. (Source: New York Times). What's more, a General Chiang Kai Shek reportedly spent his honeymoon on the mountain with his wife Song Mei Ling.


What to Do


Hike through Mt. Moganshan and catch the beautiful scenery that ranges from waterfalls to a bamboo forest.


Photo source: Books and Bao


How to Get There


Drive 2.5 hours from Shanghai or take the train to Hangzhou and connect to Deqing. You can also travel via car to the mountain (depending on your lodging location).


Notable Hotels



Naked Stables, Naked Castle, Moganshan Lodge, Le Passage Chine


Traveler’s tip: Hotels at the scenic spots can be expensive, even more so during peak season. So, opt for a hotel in another location but be sure to arrange transportation to and from the mountain.


2. Yandangshan



Yandanshan is a coastal mountain range in southeastern Zhejiang province in eastern China, covering much of the prefecture-level city of Wenzhou. Considered to be a county level city in under the administration of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, the mountains run through Yuqing city.


Oddly-shaped mountains created from volcanic activity


Closest City: Yueqing


Brief History


Yandangshan was formed by volcanic activity over 120 million years ago. The main peak of North Yandang - Baigangjian - stands at 1,150 m (3,770 ft) above sea level. This mountain inspired many Buddhist scriptures, poems and was a popular destination in the North and South period.


Photo source: Vincent Scarset


There are many temples that are constructed on the mountains, many of which were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. However, a number have been rebuilt since then.


Guanyin Temple is nestled between the LingFeng peaks. Photo source: wzyds.com


One impressive temple to visit is the Guanyin Temple, located between the LingFeng peaks. The structure was originally built in 265AD.


What to Do



There are three major scenic areas in Yandanshan. North Yandang Scenic Area (Lingshan Ding) is considered a China “5A scenic area” with an area of 450 km2 (170 sq mi) and is famous for Lingfeng Peaks, Lingyan Rock, Great Dragon Pond Waterfall and Xiansheng Gate.



Xiansheng Gate comprises two cliffs above the ground 200 meters and is several meters away from each other separated by two crystal and murmuring streams.


Great Dragon Pond waterfall is 190meters high. Photo credit: absolutechina


Photo credit: wzyds.com


Middle Yandang Scenic Area is a "4A scenic area" in south of Yueqing County with a total scenic area of 93 km2. Yangjiaodong/Fangshan Scenic Area is on the border between Wenzhou and Taizhou. This is a single mountain, but the name of the scenic area changes on the border.


Lingyan scenic spot. Photo credit: wzyds.com


How to Get There


Visitors can access Yandanshan via Yandangshan Railway Station, on the fast railway track between Ningbo and Wenzhou.


Temples and mountains at Yandangshan. Photo source: wzyds.com


Notable Hotels


Staying within the scenic area is easy with a lot of small in choices such as Yandangshan Villas, which makes seeing the mountain hike easier.


3. Manjuelong Village


Serene valley of Manjuelong Village. Photo Source: Dianping user 咏讚


Manjuelong Village is located in a valley surrounded by hills in the mountaneous area of West Lake in Hangzhou. This is also known as an osmanthus paradise, especially in the autumn season when the flower is in full bloom.


Osmanthus flower in full bloom. Photo credit: gohz.com


Closest city: Hangzhou



Brief History


Buddhist temples used to stand there during the Period of Wuyue (907-978) when monks planted sweet-scented osmanthus in the valley. Villagers have been living on osmanthus flowers from generation to generation since the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Now all households in the valley without exception have their own osmanthus groves. 


Harvesting osmanthus. Photo credit: Gohz.com


Osmanthus trees can be seen everywhere in the valley and they are either in front of or behind farmers’ houses, inside and outside the village, along both sides of the road, and all over the sloping hills.


Photo credit: Gohz.com


What to Do


As this is an osmanthus paradise there is plenty to see and do, including eating osmanthus flavored food on top of enjoying the scenery.


Photo credit: Shanghai Daily


However, located nearby there is also Linying temple. Built in 326 A.D. at the foot of Lingyin Mountain, this temple features a main hall extending 33.5 meters in height, a statue of Sakyamuni carved out of 24 pieces of camphor wood and a laughing Buddha covered in gold.


Nestled within the mountains of West Lake, private villas dot the landscape promising quiet escapes outside of popular hotels. Photo credit: Dianping user 咏讚


How to Get There


From Hangzhou you can reach this area via a taxi or private car.


Villa Lan Residences


Notable Hotels


Travelers have the choice to stay in the traditional hotels within Hangzhou and come to Majuelong for a day trip. However, if the beauty of the landscape captivates you, then you can stay in one of the many guest villas available.


The Sunsite Residences


4. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain



Located in Yunnan province, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a prominent feature overlooking the Old Town of Lijiang.


Closest City: Lijiang


Photo source: IHG


Brief History


The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is part of the the larger Yulong Mountains, that stretches further north. The tallest peak is named Shanzidou and stands at 5,596m above sea level.


Photo source: ChinaDaily, via Twitter


What to Do


Photo source: China Daily


At the base of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain sits the Old Town of Lijiang. Most of the activities surrounding the mountain are easily accessible via Lijiang - from understanding the nearly forgotten Naxi culture to exploring the different water towns.


Scenes from “Impression of Lijiang”


From Lijiang, take a 30 minute bus ride up to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You can watch the beautifully choreographed, “Impressions of Lijiang” that is directed by Zhang Yimou.


Photo source: China Discovery


However, another spectacular site to visit will be Tiger Leaping Gorge. Located 60km of Lijiang, it is a scenic canyon on the Jinsha River, a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze River. There are two hiking courses, one stretching 195km (121 mi) “Low course”, and the other stretching 22km (14 mi) - “High road”.


Photo source: Top China Travel


On the “High Road” trail, you can expect to see a variety of micro-ecosystems, waterfalls and a fair number of guesthouses for trekkers. However, since some of the inns are not well maintained it is advisable not to go during the wet mountain months.


Photo source: Yunnan Adventure Travel


Aside from the mountain scenery, one of the highlights is seeing the ethnic minority culture in Lijiang. One of the prominent minorities in this area is the Naxi culture. And you can see their influences throughout the city. In the evening, you can catch a Naxi concert in the Dongba Palace in the Old Town.



How to Get There


From Shanghai, the easiest and most direct way to Lijiang is via plane. You can take a direct flight which will be under four hours.


Photo source: Hotels.com


Notable Hotels


If you want to spend a longer time on the mountain, you can easily book the Jinmao Puxiu, which is formerly known as the Grand Hyatt Mountain Lodge. But, there are plenty of inns and homestays in the Old Town of Lijiang and also in the Shuhe watertown.


Photo source: Visions of Travel


5. Shangri-La


Shangri-La. Photo source: Banyan Tree


Shangri-La is "Eden in dream" since it first appeared in British novelist James Hilton's Lost Horizon in 1939. In Tibetan, Shangri-La means the "sun and moon in heart", an ideal home only found in heaven. Here the lofty and continuous snowy mountains, endless grasslands, steep and grand gorges, azure lakes and the bucolic villages always leave a deep impression on its visitors.


Villages in the mountains of Shangri-La. Photo source: SCMP


Closest City: Diqing, Lijiang


Brief History


Shangri-La is located in the plains of the Yunnan section of the Hengduan Mountains at an average altitude of more than 3,000 meters (about 9,843 feet) above sea level. It has a mix of minority culture including Tibetan, Han, Naxii and Yi.


Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery that is known as the little Potala Palace. Photo source: China Discovery


What to Do


Shangri-La is famous for the beautiful scenery and bucolic villages. It is also famous for Potatso National Park which is notable as the first national park in China to meet International Union for Conservation of Nature standards.


Bita Lake Nature Reserve, part of the Potatso National park. Photo source: China Adventure Tours


It incorporates the Bita Lake Nature Reserve and the Duhu Scenic Area in the Hongshan region. As such they are part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas World Heritage Site .


Duhu Scenic area, part of Potatso National Park. Photo source: Chinatours


Dukezong was a key stop on the Ancient Tea-horse Road and a focal point for Han-Tibetan exchanges. It is the largest and best-preserved Tibetan city among China 147 Tibetan counties.


Old town of Dukezong. Photo source: China Travel


How to Get There


There are two ways to reach Shangri-La. The first is to take a flight to the city of Diqing, or take a 4-hour bus ride from Lijiang.


Notable Hotels


There are a lot of hotel and resort selections in Shangri-La including the Blossom Hill Inn, Banyan Tree, Songtsam Shangri-la (Lvgu) Lodge and Arro Khampa Shangrila by Zinc Journey which are in quiet locations with promising views as well as proximity to key sites.


Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery peering from the courtyard of Arro Khampa Shangrila By Zinc Journey Photo Source: Tripadvisor


6. Huangshan



Located in Anhui, Mount Huangshan is famous for its knife like peaks, low-hanging clouds, distinctively shaped granite rocks and twisted pine trees. This mountain has inspired many classical poems and paintings.


Photo source: Anne McKinnell photography


Closest City: Huangshan


Brief History


Huangshan was formed approximately 100 million years ago and gained its unique rock formations in the Quaternary Glaciation. It was originally called Mount Yishan, but it was changed to Mount Huangshan in 747 AD by Royal decree.


Lotus Peak. Photo source: Chinaclickgo)


Celestial Peak


The Huangshan mountain range has many peaks, some more than 1,000 meters (3,250 feet) high. The three tallest and best-known peaks are Lotus Peak (Lianhua Feng, 1,864 m), Bright Peak (Guangming Ding, 1,840 m) and Celestial Peak (Tiandu Feng, literally Capital of Heaven Peak, 1,829 m).


Sunrise at Bright Peak


What to Do


Watching the sunrise is considered a "mandatory" part of visiting the area. A phenomenon known as Buddha's Light is also well-known and, on average, Buddha's Light only appears a couple of times per month.


Photo source: China Discovery


Aside from the beauty of Mt. Huangshan, there are side excursions to take including a visit to Emerald Valley. Emerald Valley is also known as “Lovers Valley” because of its scenic and mesmerizing beauty. It is 6km stretch of waterway at the foothills of Mt. Huangshan. But what is amazing about it is the vibrant green of its waters.



If this spot looks familiar to you, it's because this is one of the filming sites of the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.



But more famously, this area is known for the ancient towns of Hong Cun and Xidi, which are recognized by UNESCO for preserving the architectural elements representing ancient Ming and Qing dynasties.



However, if you are looking for a livelier atmosphere, the town center of Tunxi may just be what you need. It’s a commercial area with shopping, restaurants and a few western-style beer bars.


Tunxi Street. Photo source: China Discovery


How to Get There


Visitors to Huangshan can chose to take a plane to Huangshan Tunxi airport for a quick 1.5-hour flight or take the high-speed train which is about 5 hours. If you decide on a traditional train the ride will be 13 hours.


Notable Hotels


For adventurers who plan on seeing the sunrise at the peak, a viable option will be a pick of the small inns located on the mountain. 


Xihai Hotel on Huangshan provides a deck to watch the sunrise Photo source: Tripadvisor user JamesT)


Banyan Tree Huangshan is nestled at the foothills of the mountain


Another option is to find a hotel outside of the mountain area and make climbing the mountain a daytrip.


Crowne Plaza on Tianping Lake provides scenic views


7. Yangshuo


Photo source: Audley Travel


Yangshuo county is famous for being surrounded by karst peaks located near the city of Guilin.


Photo source: China Daily


Closest City: Guilin


Brief History


Guilin is also known as the"Forest of Sweet Osmanthus” due to the large number of fragrant sweet osmanthus trees located in the city. The city has long been renowned for its scenery of karst topography and is one of China's most popular tourist destinations.


Floating on the Yulong River is also a past time in Yangshuo.



What to Do


A Yangshuo River Cruise will provide any visitor with a dazzling experience of the peaceful Li River and the karst peaks.


A river ride will give visitors a glimpse of dailylife. Photo source: Incredible Sites.com


One of the biggest attractions of Yangshuo is the Impression Sanjie Liu light show along the Li River, just outside the center. There is an amphitheater built on the banks of the river, from where you can get amazing views.


Performers on the River Li. Photo source: incredible sights


How to Get There


There are two options when going to Guilin: high speed train (at least 7 hours) or via plane.


Notable Hotels


If you are going with little kids, staying in the Xiangbaishan area will have spectacular views. Just be sure to select the room with a view! If you are traveling with little ones, there is a Club Med that will have activities to entertain your kids.


Room with a view from Secret Courtyard Resort. Photo source: Tripadvisor


8. Changbaishan


Aerial view of Taichi Lake on Mount Changbai. Photo source: Absolute China Tours


Changbai Shan ("Perpetually White Mountain"), or Mount Changbai, is a volcanic mountain located in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture of Jilin Province in northeast China, on the border with North Korea. In fact, it straddles the border, part of the mountain lying in North Korea and part in China and is known for its pristine natural surroundings and alpine conditions - perfect in the winter for skiing.


Photo source: Absolute China Tours


Closest City: Changchun, Tonghua


Brief History


Changbai Mountains are endowed with rich natural resources and charming scenery. Although the mountain's true beauty comes out in the winter, summer attracts visitors who are looking to cool down. There is a lot of cultural significance of this mountain to Chinese and North Korean cultures, and the exact border between China and North Korea is still in dispute.


Heavenly Lake at sunset. Photo source: visit tour China


What to Do


This is a quiet mountain area which is ideal if you are seeking a real getaway. If scenic trips are what you are after, you will need to visit Heavenly Lake (Tianchi). The lake lies at the top of Baitou Mountain - the highest peak of the Changbai Mountains - and straddles the China-Korea border. It is actually a crater in which mountain streams converge from all directions. A typical alpine lake 2,155 meters above sea level, it covers 912 square kilometers and is 312.7 meters deep at its deepest point. 


View of Heavenly Lake (Tianchi). Photo source: China.org


Changbai Mountains Falls is sixty-eight-meters in height and pours down from a notch on the north bank of Tianchi, 1,250 meters above sea level. Poetically described as a great piece of silk suspended from the sky or a dancing silver dragon, the thunderous fall is one of the most magnificent sights in the Changbai Mountains.


Photo source: Chinafacttours.com


How to Get There


From Changchun take a train or bus to Yanji, which is the town at the bottom of the mountain.


Notable Hotels


Park Hyatt Changbaishan and Hyatt Regency provide beautiful access to the slopes and also ski related activities. Other major hotels are also located here including the Westin, IBSIS and Holiday Inn.


9. Zhangjiajie


Photo source: Tommy Zhao


Closest City: Changsha


Brief History


The Zhangjiajie National Forest was recognized in 1982 as China’s first national forest park. It's 12,000 acres are actually part of a much larger chunk of land known as Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Wulingyuan is an officially recognized UNESCO World Heritage site.



What to Do 


The Bailong Elevator, which takes visitors the top of a 330 meter cliff, is perfect for sweeping views of the mountain. Bailong is the world’s tallest elevator and can surprisingly can go from bottom to top in under two minutes - even while at its 50 person capacity. The Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, the highest and longest (300 meters high and 430 meters long).


Photo source: Dezeen


How to Get There


There are four flights a day from PVG to Zhangjiajie Hehua ('Lotus Flower') Airport. The trip takes about 2.5 hours one-way. There are lots of alternative options if you’re feeling adventurous too. 


You could fly into Changsha, which has a scenic four-hour bus trip to Zhangjiajie for RMB 120. You can also go by rail. There are two direct trains that run daily: K533 and K1373, from Shanghai South Railway Station to Zhangjiajie Railway Station. Departure times are 11:25am and 5pm (respectively), and the trip takes 22 hours and 30 minutes.


Photo source: Tommy Zhao


Notable Hotels


There are lots of accommodation options in the foothills of the mountain, such as the Pullman hotel, however there are also plenty of private inns located within the park itself, depending if you plan to stay in the mountains.


10. Yunhe Rice Terraces

 

Photo source: Top China Travel


Yunhe Terraces covers a total area of 51 square kilometers, containing mountains, hills, and valleys surrounding it. The altitude of the terraces ranges from 200 to 1,400 meters, which gives Yunhe Rice Terraces its amazing scenery. Winding in a maze up mountainsides from 200 to 1,400 meters, individual terraces can be constructed of as many as 700 layers. The view of the Rice Terraces is a pretty sight for photography.



Closest City: Lishui, Hangzhou


Photo source: Epoch Times


Brief History


Yunhe rice terraces began in the early Tang Dynasty and continued to thrive through the Yuan and Ming Dynasty. Together, it has a history of over 1,000 years. Yunhe literally means "peaceful clouds" in Chinese. The landscape of rice terrace varies throughout the year.


What to Do


There are plenty of activities to do in Yunhe, but the predominant one is enjoying the scenery from the rice terrace.


Photo source: Top China Travel


How to Get There


It is easy to get to LIshi via Hangzhou, whether it is by high speed train or bus.


Notable Hotels


Large hotel chains have not yet entered the area, therefore it predominantely has more with local inns.


A stay at the Yunhe Yunman Hotel will offer unparellel views of the terrace. Photo source: Tripadvisor


We would love to hear from you. Of the 10 mountains, which one would you like to visit?


Which of these 10 mountains would you love to visit? Leave your comments below!





20 Breathtaking Cities Within 6 Hours of Shanghai

Tried and Tested: Reiki Healing



    您可能也对以下帖子感兴趣

    文章有问题?点此查看未经处理的缓存