Many students experience post-gaokao depression, overeating, or social withdrawal—collectively known as "post-gaokao syndrome"—between the end of the college entrance exams and the release of results. Here, we’d like to remind all test-takers that besides maintaining regular and healthy eating habits, taking an appropriate trip with family or friends can be beneficial. On one hand, it allows you to relax both body and mind amidst beautiful scenery, and on the other, it helps you enjoy harmonious companionship during the journey, making up for the lack of social interaction caused by exam preparation.
For urban residents with such needs, ideal destinations should be relatively close, offer both sightseeing and summer retreat features, provide good value for ticket prices, and help avoid crowded areas. Among the budget-friendly scenic spots in North China suitable for family trips and small group travel, Luya Mountain Scenic Area is a great choice. A big weekend getaway can be formed by combining a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai with a rejuvenating trip to Luya.
The Eternal Ice Cave—My Friends and I Were Stunned
The Eternal Ice Cave is located within the Luya Mountain Scenic Area in Shanxi. Here, ice pillars remain unmelted all year round, making it a true wonder of the world. Formed during the Quaternary Glacial Period of the Cenozoic Era, this ice cave boasts a history of 3 million years. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that, given the local climate conditions outside the cave, freezing temperatures necessary for ice formation simply shouldn’t exist—yet inside, the ice pillars persist year-round, growing thicker the deeper you go. It is the largest ice cave discovered in China to date and also a rare large ice cave found outside of permanent permafrost regions in the world.
