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 “best forest bath” 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’s name Baihuashan in Chinese literally means a mountain boasting hundreds of flowers.

Apart from the numerous creeks, Baihuashan also has a famous waterfall that’s 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.