Quick Mini-Breaks in China – Part 4

China Health Insurance offers three more suggestions for a fun quick getaway inside China.

In keeping with the theme of this blog series, here are three more great locations within China to consider as a short getaway for a much needed change of scenery or mental break.

Zhuhai

For residents of Hong Kong or Macau, Zhuhai is practically across the street, and perhaps for this reason it often gets overlooked as a good mini-break destination - but it really is worth a second glance. And, for anyone coming from a more northerly in-land location, Zhuhai’s warm weather and the ability to walk from the city to the beach in just a few minutes in this Special Economic Zone is a welcome change, especially in the winter and early spring, when elsewhere is still quite chilly.

Like many cities in China, Zhuhai has had a major facelift in the past few years. However, since it is not a huge tourism destination there are lots of nice hotels for reasonable rates so a splurge is still fairly easy on the wallet. And, thanks to international airports in both Macau and nearby Sanzaozhen, getting to Zhuhai from all over China is quick and easy.

Within just a few days it’s quite easy to see several sights in Zhuhai. One of the most popular destinations is the Fisher Girl Statue, (though it only takes a quick stop to check this one off the list) but surrounding Xiangle Bay is quite nice too, with views of the city and surrounding mountains, and a long promenade to stroll along the water’s edge. Yuan Ming Palace is popular with locals though it really should be skipped by anyone who hates fake attractions, since this place is actually just a replica of Beijing’s Summer Palace, but surrounded by tacky theme parks.

Instead, head to the suburbs and check out the ruins of the Meixi Stone Archways, a century-old former palace, cemetery and garden complex now open to the public. Or, for a better preserved tourist destination visit Jintai Temple. This functioning Buddhist temple is situated high up in the rolling mountains around Zhuhai and offers excellent views, thus making it clear why all those years ago monks chose to withdraw to these types of locations, as they are quite peaceful.

Zhuhai has plenty to offer nature lovers as well. For Zhuhai’s best beaches hop on a ferry to one of the outlying islands. Flying Sandy Beach (the name sounds unpleasant, but the beach is actually pretty nice) on Gaoland Island is a good spot for relaxing, though it gets crowded in spring and summer. Another cool island for both beaches and history is Dong’ao Island, which still bears remnants of the 18th century opium trade in the form of an abandoned garrison. Otherwise, for hiking and taking in some greenery head to Shijing Mt. Park or Huanying Mountain for a day or two.

Jiuzhaigou

About 300 kilometers north of Chengdu, Juizhaigou takes a bit of effort to get to, but it’s worth it. The main attraction is the UNESCO Heritage landscape of the JiuZhai Valley; a sight which is hard to believe is in China, or anywhere on Earth for that matter. The crystal-blue water is so clear that it seems somehow fake. In reality however, it is just the high concentrations of naturally occurring calcium carbonate that cause the water to stay so clear.

When visiting this area, be sure to look up from time to time as well, since the surrounding forests and snowcapped Min Mountains are breathtaking. Autumn is the most popular time to visit this area, since the blue and turquoise waters are even more incredible when reflecting the red and gold of the changing leaves, but it is also more crowded then as well.

Of course the main reasons to visit Juizhaigou are the pools, lakes, waterfalls and streams, but don’t miss the nearby villages. Ethnically Tibetan, this region of China is actually one of most easily accessible portions of the country to see and experience this unique culture.

Getting to Jiuzhaigou used to be very difficult since it was only accessible by bus, and the ride from Chengdu was around eight hours each way, but there is now a domestic airport in Jiu Huang with dozens of flights daily. As for accommodations, choices range from five-star resorts to small local digs and even homestays, and everything in between.

Additionally, by connecting through Chengdu for a couple of days it’s possible to see the pandas as well, making this a two-for-one trip.

Kunming

Known as China’s “Eternal Spring City,” Kunming is famous for its year round comfortable weather, with a narrow average temperature range of 8°C in for the low winter and a high of only about 20°C in mid-summer. The best time to visit is from October to May, as summer tends to be rainy. Along with the comfortable weather there are a few noteworthy sights in Yunnan’s laid-back capital city.

Famous for its flowers which are exported all over China, Kunming has an excellent 540 acre botanical garden that was constructed as the host facility for the 1999 International Horticultural Expo. Plants and landscapes from all over the world are displayed here, and it forms a huge, relaxing park for guests to stroll around. Otherwise, located right in the heart of the city is the Yuantong Temple, a 1,200 year old walled Buddhist monastery that is now open for visitors to enjoy its bamboo gardens and central pond.

For anyone willing to make the 30 kilometer trek, the limestone formations of Shilin (Stone Forest) are very interesting, just be prepared for the horde of locals who are going to offer tours at the entrance. A little closer to the city is Xishan (West Mountain), which allows casual hiking between 14th century relics and offers great views of the city and nearby Dianchi Lake.

Finally, while in Kunming don’t forget to try plenty of the local food, since Yunnanese cuisine is very unique in China, with flavors and elements of nearby, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Like any city in China there are tons of local or international hotels to choose from, and getting in and out of Kunming is easy by plane.

Check back soon for three more great mini-break destination in China: Harbin, Inner Mongolia and Xiamen. You can also check out other parts of our guide here: Part 3, Part 2, Part 1.