Did you know? Traveling can also be a form of wellness. With the frequent arrival of cold air, winter in 2015 is gradually reaching its peak, find aplace that warms both body and soul,take care of your health, and enjoy a perfect winter.
The "Eco Lin'an, Hall of Oxygen Life – China Travel Bloggers’ Journey to Lin'an" event, jointly organized by the Lin'an City Tourism Bureau and Southern TV, is about to kick off. The event will invite renowned essayist @Yan Leshan, well-known scholar @Ding Qizhen, historian @Fan Hong, and other top China travel bloggers to join the Southern TV filming crew on a winter trip to Lin'an. They will experience the thrilling high-altitude skiing, glide through an “ocean of ice and snow,” relax in steamy hot spring resorts, and immerse themselves in the rich rural folk culture.
Lin'an is a model of an eco-wellness quality city, honored as the “Oxygen Hall of Jiangnan” and bearing the golden plaque of “Zhejiang’s Wellness Paradise.” Forest retreats, high-altitude skiing, hot spring therapy, exhilarating rafting, ancient town exploration, and national stone appreciation are just some of the premium resources nurturing Lin'an, which in turn gently “oxygenates” visitors from all over the world like a soft veil.
Built aroundQingshan Lakeis the Bali Qiliu Scenic Island, where over 100 classical Jiangnan-style buildings form an old-fashioned commercial street and an exquisitely designed ancient village. The ancient structures are laid out in a harmonious and picturesque arrangement. Stone carvings, brick carvings, wood carvings, and ingenious architectural layouts showcase a living history of ancient Jiangnan architecture. Strolling along the old merchant street, one can fully enjoy the essence of Pengzu’s wellness culture.
Visitors to this placecan wander through the old commercial street, delighting in the fun of shopping for local specialties; can participate in outdoor activities such as rock climbing and barbecuing, getting close to nature and returning to one’s roots;and alsocan immerse themselves in the essence of Pengzu’s wellness culture, tasting nourishing medicinal dishes such as old duck stewed with Dendrobium and chicken with Gastrodia elata, as well as a variety of local snacks...
Traveling westward along the ring expressway leads to Daming Mountain, known as “Zhejiang’s Little Huangshan.” In winter, Daming Mountain is draped in silvery white, presenting a true northern landscape. The authentic high-altitude forest ski resort sits at an elevation of over 1,200 meters, featuring a 5,000-square-meter snow play area and a 50,000-square-meter skiing zone, making it the largest outdoor ski resort in East China.
Releasing speed and passion in such a place with high negative oxygen ion levels is truly a great “sports wellness experience.” From December to March each year, the bustling Ski Festival, Snowman Competition, and Cliff Ice Hanging Art Exhibition are held in succession.
After frolicking in the snowy wonderland, soaking in the Turuan Hot Springs to rejuvenate the body and mind is nothing short of comforting. Turuan Hot Springs is the No. 1 radon hot spring in East China, known as “the hot spring right at Hangzhou’s doorstep.” With various themed pools such as cherry blossom, rose, and chrysanthemum,they offercold relief,beauty enhancement, and wellness,each with its own unique appeal. Lying in a pool infused with Balinese flair,you canexperiencethe pure beauty of winter,amid swirling mist and dappled tree shadows, as the spring water caresses your tired body and mind like soft silk ribbons. After just a short soak, you may feel drowsy, lulled into a comforting desire to rest in this gentle haven.
Waking up from the cozyhot spring sanctuary, climb Tianmu Mountain, known as the “Marvelous Mountain of Jiangnan,” for arefreshing and invigoratingmountaineering competitions. The mountaingets its name because there is a pool atop both the eastern and western peaks, resembling a pair of eyes gazing up at the skyhence the name,is a famous mountain where Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhismall blend together.
Tianmu Mountainhas a uniquegeographical environment andforest effect,creating a special microclimate. The annual average temperature at Shanzunding is8.8℃, and at the mountain foot it is14.8℃. Vast forests offer tranquility and elegance, staying particularly cool in summer and free from severe cold in winter. The rich plant resources and superior natural environment provide ideal conditions for the growth and reproduction of various animals,with the airfilled with various gaseous substances that markedly alleviate conditions such as neurasthenia and cardiovascular diseases..
Moreover, the first snowfall in southern China each year mostly falls here. The landscape of rime and glazed frost covering the mountains is magnificent, and the frozen rain phenomenon known as the “Tianmu Wood Gourd” spectacle is breathtaking. The legendary “Little Jiuzhai of the South, Source of Taihu Lake” is located at the Taihu Source of East Tianmu Mountain. Wandering through the snowy wonderland to admire strange rocks, cascading springs, and waterfalls is an indescribable delight.
Tianmu Mountain is also a place for Zen meditation and health cultivation. As a renowned religious mountain in the Jiangnan region, it was where the great Taoist master Zhang Daoling of the Eastern Han Dynasty practiced Taoism, historically referred to as the Thirty-Fourth Grotto-Heaven. West Tianmu houses Chan Yuan Temple, a site where the bodhisattva Skanda manifested, and one of the origins of Japanese Zen Buddhism. East Tianmu features Zhao Ming Temple, an ancient mountain monastery over 1,500 years old, where both Skanda and Guanyin bodhisattvas are said to have appeared. A journey of spiritual enlightenment can be realized on this snow-covered high mountain.
Come quickly, seize the tail end of 2015, and during this early winter season perfect for wellness travel, join famed travel bloggers in Lin’an to experience an authentic “Winter Wellness Feast.” Release your body and mind in a “negative oxygen SPA,” soothe your muscles and relieve fatigue in a rose petal hot spring, frolic in the winter snow sea, cleanse your soul through quiet meditation and enlightenment, and open your heart to local customs and traditions.