Live Your Best Lives
In the past two days, a predictive article in the famous medical journal "The Lancet" has become popular around the world. The main point is that it predicts that the "pandemic" is expected to end this spring. Professional translators interpret it as "COVID-19 will continue but the end of the pandemic is near."
Image @The Lancet official website
I am not an expert on this either, so if you are interested, you can go and read the professional analysis. I just hope it is true. There are only 6 days left until New Year's Eve. Are you already on your way home?
Today is an exciting day! As of this morning, January 24th, the entire Xi'an area has been downgraded to low-risk! The lockdown has been lifted! The National Health Commission also recently stated: "The Spring Festival travel rush is unlikely to cause a resurgence of the epidemic." Even better news: after this week's work, we'll be off!
You Xiaoxia quickly compiled the 18 most suitable travel destinations for February, the end of winter and the beginning of spring. There are flowers in early spring and snow in late winter. Let's go mountain climbing to pray, explore secret places, visit ancient towns, and spend a reunion year!
đź“ŤHuangshan City, Anhui Province
When talking about Anhui, you might think of Huangshan or Hongcun, but this niche attraction in Anhui is a dreamlike place.
It was once recommended by CCTV for its thousands of acres of plum blossoms. Every spring, countless tourists come here just to see the beautiful scenery of the plum blossoms in full bloom. This is the Flower-Making Fishing Village in She County, Anhui Province.
This place was originally named Hongling Village, 10 kilometers away from the ancient city of Huizhou. The terrain is shaped like a fish, but the villagers make a living by selling flowers and have been making Hui-style bonsai for generations. They only sell plum blossoms and not fish, so it is named "Flower-selling Fishing Village."
This small mountain village has a history of flower planting for more than a thousand years. The village houses are built in a row, with white walls and black tiles, and are staggered in height. In February, with the flowers all over the mountains, it is as beautiful as a painting.
đź“ŤZhangping City, Longyan City, Fujian Province
There is a small city in Fujian that has captured the heart of China National Geographic Magazine. It is Yongfu, Longyan.
This place boasts high-mountain tea grown on soy milk and vibrant azaleas, earning it the nickname "China's Azalea Hometown." But its most captivating claim is its reputation as "China's Most Beautiful Cherry Blossom Spot."
When it comes to cherry blossoms, many people think of Wuhan University. However, Wuhan University boasts only a little over 10 varieties of cherry blossoms. Even Okinawa Island, home to the largest number of cherry blossoms in Japan, currently only has about 20,000 Hikanzakura trees. Yongfu Cherry Blossom Garden, on the other hand, boasts over 100,000 trees of 42 varieties, making it the largest cherry blossom garden in China.
This is also the largest high mountain oolong tea production base. The cherry blossom garden is hidden in this green tea sea. The tea fields are interspersed with cherry blossoms, which complement each other and are particularly romantic.
There is also the internet-famous cherry blossom train that travels through the tea mountains. Just holding your ticket, standing on the platform, and taking the train with your partner is so romantic!
đź“ŤShannan City, Tibet Autonomous Region
Pumoyongcuo, which has appeared many times in the documentary "The Third Pole", has blue ice comparable to Lake Baikal. This "Girl Lake" hidden among the majestic snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas, embraces Yanghu Lake and is adjacent to the sacred mountain Kulagangri, retaining its original and pure beauty.
Perhaps you have seen photos of Pumoyongcuo countless times, but only by stepping into it in person can you feel the visual shock that strikes your heart.
From mid-January to February, blue ice forms, shining brightly under the holy sunlight, stretching for more than ten kilometers. Walking on the ice is like walking into a blue fairy tale world.
Get close to the clear blue ice and feel the fine texture of the ice with your own hands. The changing light and shadow make the blue ice appear extremely magnificent, echoing the white snow on the distant mountains. The whole scene is like a dream.
đź“ŤNingbo City, Zhejiang Province
China-TravelNote's exclusive "Poetic Plum Blossom Route," combining "historic trails and blossom viewing," is the perfect spring outing. The 8-10km hike to the summit of Jiufeng Peak is a moderate distance with easy access, perfect for a family outing.
After a few hours of hiking, you will arrive at the tea house. Then you can climb up to the highest peak along the tea house. You can overlook the vast sea and the endless mountains behind you.
After reaching the top, follow the trail into the scenic area. As soon as you enter the scenic area, you will see a large plum forest. In February, the flowers are in full bloom. It’s just the right time!
đź“ŤAba Prefecture, Sichuan Province
Sichuan boasts an exceptional diversity of natural landscapes, boasting 82 scenic spots. Bipenggou, one of the closest scenic areas in western Sichuan to Chengdu, offers a fairytale wonderland of snowy fun, perfect for a day trip.
In winter, Bipenggou is covered with snow and the top of the mountain is shrouded in white fog.
If the weather is good and the clouds disperse, you can see the beautiful and staggered snow-capped mountain tops, the small houses at the foot of the mountain, the red wooden plank road, and the frozen lake. It feels like you have traveled to a winter wonderland.
đź“ŤNingbo City, Zhejiang Province
Every year during the Spring Festival, the plum blossoms of Xinjian Village in Fenghua's Xikou Town burst into bloom in Plum Blossom Valley. The red blossoms proudly adorn the hillside branches, vibrant yet not overly charming. Walking through the grove, the delicate fragrance of the blossoms is a delightful experience.
Looking around, flowers are in full bloom, the mountains are green and plum blossoms are gorgeous. Passing by the plum forest, the faint fragrance is so refreshing that you can't help but linger there.
đź“ŤBeijing
Dongshiguyan Village, historically known as Shiguya and Shikuya, is commonly known as Dashiguyan.
Mentougou has a long history. In Wangping Town alone, there are several ancient roads crisscrossing the mountains. The most dangerous section even gave birth to cliff carvings.
Hiking on the ancient trail, you can see the mountains of Mentougou from afar, with the Yongding River flowing leisurely between the two mountains.
The ice is thick in February, and you can occasionally hear huge ice cracking sounds, which makes people feel excited. Let's play freely on the ice and skate and check in!
đź“ŤQujing City, Yunnan Province
Every February and March, 800,000 mu of flower fields are in full bloom. This is the first place in the country where rape flowers bloom. It once set a Guinness World Record and was certified as "the world's largest natural garden."
When talking about Luoping, how can we forget the Jinji Peak Cluster? The karst peaks are interspersed among the rapeseed fields, and the different shades of gold echo each other, as if bringing the dreamlike spring pastoral scenery into reality.
Flowers nearly a meter tall transform this area into a golden fairytale. The neatly arranged fields of snails, with graceful lines outlining a 3D painting, are occasionally dotted with peach and pear blossoms.
The Huffington Post rated Luoping as one of the "eight most colorful places" in the world. The colors here have made countless photographers love it!
đź“ŤHonghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Yuanyang, known for its blend of natural beauty and cultural traditions, was once named one of the "50 must-see places in your lifetime." Seven ethnic groups, including the Dai, Zhuang, Yi, Hani, Miao, Yao, and Han, live harmoniously here.
Yuanyang's most famous terraced fields are the result of the tireless efforts of more than a dozen generations of Hani people, year after year, to transform mountains into fields and divert water for farming, turning the Yuanyang terraced fields into a work of art on earth.
From November to April of the following year, the Yuanyang Rice Terraces enter the flooding period. During the flooding period, the terraces are like flawless mirrors, which brings good news to photography enthusiasts and collectors of beautiful scenery.
You can wait for a sunset in Bada, where the golden orange afterglow casts a golden glow over the terraced rice paddies, or for a sunrise in Duoyishu. The Tyndall effect creates ever-changing light and shadows, creating a poetic and picturesque scene with the rolling clouds.
As the only agricultural landscape selected as a World Heritage Site, the Yuanyang Rice Terraces have more than 3,700 steps at their highest point. Even China National Geographic commented that they are "unmatched by any other rice terraces in China and abroad."
đź“ŤYan'an City, Shaanxi Province
A great river has been flowing since ancient times, and it rushes into the Qin-Jin Gorge between the Huanglong Mountains and the Luliang Mountains, and its raging waves create this eternal wonder - Hukou Waterfall.
In February, the surface of the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River was covered with a thick layer of ice, forming the spectacular sight of the "Hukou Glacier".
The "icicles" hanging on the river bank and the ice bridge gradually taking shape not far away form a peculiar "Ice Flowing Fork Bridge". If you go there at noon, you can even see a rainbow.
In February, at the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River, you can stand on the shore to admire the glacier and listen to the sound of the Yellow River rushing beneath the surface.
đź“ŤHangzhou, Zhejiang Province
Jiande is a place with beautiful mountains and rivers and a charming environment. Fuchun River, Xin'an River and Qiandao Lake stretch across the entire area. Since ancient times, it has been known as "a hometown of embroidered mountains and rivers".
Deep in the mountains of Jiande, at an altitude of 700 meters, tens of thousands of acres of natural wild cherry blossoms stretch for dozens of miles and are gradually opening. The distant mountains are shrouded in dark blue, patches of pink and white, and the blossoms are densely packed on the branches, covering the rolling hills.
White and pale pink cherry blossoms, interspersed among the green mountains and forests, are bright and brilliant like brocade clouds when the weather is sunny, and delicate and beautiful when it rains, like a fairyland. Jiande Meicheng Ancient Town, with a history of over 1,700 years, is the birthplace of the spirit of "making contributions and establishing virtues."
Come to Jiande to taste the delicious food, such as tofu buns, Meicheng pancakes, corn cakes, Sandu glutinous rice cakes, etc. You can also climb the ancient city tower to see the confluence of three rivers.
đź“ŤQamdo, Tibet
Laigu Glacier, adjacent to Ranwu Lake, is the source of the Parlung Tsangpo River and one of the three largest glaciers in the world.
Its name comes from the nearby Tibetan village - Laigu Village. The village is surrounded by dense virgin forests and majestic snow-capped peaks. Six groups of marine glaciers can be seen here. It is an excellent place to view glaciers in my country.
Going deep into the ancient glacier, it seems like walking into the ancient ice age. When you get close to the ice cave, you can even see the traces of changes left by nature over hundreds of millions of years.
đź“ŤChangzhi City, Shanxi Province
Deep in the Taihang Mountains, there is a city known as the "Chinese Capital of Colored Sculptures" - Changzhi, Shanxi.
It not only houses numerous ancient temples from the Tang and Song dynasties and Yuan and Ming dynasties, but also houses more than 2,000 colored sculptures from temples and monasteries in various periods from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty over 1,500 years. It is a veritable "Museum of Ancient Culture and Architecture."
The Song Dynasty sculptures in Faxing Temple and Chongqing Temple inherit the charm of Tang Dynasty sculptures, and are elegant and unique in temperament, and are known as the "crown of Song Dynasty sculptures."
Walk into southern Shanxi, chase the colorful sculptures in the hall, and witness the ups and downs along the Fenshui and Yellow Rivers in southern Shanxi.
đź“ŤBaise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
February is the perfect time for outdoor activities in Guangxi. Explore the hidden gems of the karst region and enjoy the outdoors. The caves boast a constant temperature of 19 degrees Celsius year-round, offering sparse crowds and stunning scenery, perfect for avoiding the crowds of Spring Festival.
Fengzidang, Dacao Tiankeng, and 1 Dong 3 Tiankeng all belong to the Leye Tiankeng Group. 1 Dong 3 Tiankeng is a series of three skylights formed by the collapse of the earth's crust due to the uplift of the earth's crust and the disappearance of the river channel.
From the 45m drop of Pit No. 1, experience the joy of abseiling to the bottom and admire the Tyndall Window No. 2, which perfectly interprets the charm of light.
Xiongjia Cave, a highlight of the "Journey to the Center of the Earth" national hiking competition, is a highlight of the trip. The cave is filled with quartz sand crystals, and when you shine your headlights on it, it sparkles like a starry sky.
There are also classic check-in spots, such as the largest tiankeng in the Leye tiankeng group - Dashiwei tiankeng, the mysterious Haokun Lake and other China-TravelNote exclusive attractions.
đź“ŤHailin City, Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province
Northeast China, with its long winters, is a renowned forest region in China. Across the vast expanse of black soil, abundant plant resources grow, blotting out the sun.
In autumn and winter, the forest presents a variety of landscapes, from colorful to snowy.
In February, the scenery here is everywhere, especially on both sides of the Heda Highway. The vast forests and ice and snow are like fairyland paintings, and you can experience the "silver snakes dancing on the mountains and wax elephants galloping on the plains" described in poems.
The trees and vegetation covered with ice and snow form various wonders such as cedars, snow hangings, ice sculptures, etc., like ice and snow elves dancing.
đź“ŤQiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province
Longli Ancient City, formerly known as Longli, is a Ming Dynasty military castle with a history of more than 600 years.
Most of the residents in the city are descendants of the Ming Dynasty garrison soldiers. Locally, the army’s residence is called “tun” and the immigrants’ residence is called “bao”, and their descendants are called “tunbao people”.
The people of Longli, who stick to their ancestral traditions, have miraculously preserved part of the ancient Han culture of the Central Plains and integrated it with the Miao and Dong culture here.
Playing with dragon lanterns, singing Han opera, and celebrating stories are treasures of Longli culture, with dragon dancing being particularly distinctive. Dragon dancers, young and old, all wear painted faces. Every February, Longli Ancient Town hosts a grand "Painted Dragon" carnival!
As soon as the gongs and drums sounded, several dragons came out together and came to the bank of Longxi River to "release the dragon". At the end of the ceremony, firecrackers were set off in the sky, and gongs and drums sounded. The dragon dancers displayed various unique skills, such as the flower-stringing dragon, the rolling dragon, the two dragons fighting for the treasure, and the double dragons playing with the pearl... They were vivid and dazzling.
đź“ŤAba Prefecture, Sichuan Province
Jiaermengcuo is a secret valley in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, where you can find beautiful scenery of western Sichuan, including pristine forests, gurgling streams, meadows and waterfalls.
In February, there is no biting cold wind in Jiaermengcuo, only the powder snow and ice waterfalls.
Occasionally, you can see herdsmen's horses and sheep passing through the area, making it a great place for hiking and playing in the snow around Chengdu.
đź“ŤSuzhou City, Jiangsu Province
Xiangxuehai was the favorite spot for both Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong to admire plum blossoms. Due to its long history and rich cultural heritage, it is listed as one of China's four great plum blossom viewing spots. Emperor Kangxi admired the plum blossoms here three times, and Emperor Qianlong six times, leaving behind imperial tablets and poems.
The Plum Blossom Pavilion stands amidst plum blossoms. Song Lu, the Qing Dynasty governor of Jiangsu Province, inscribed the pavilion with the name "Sea of ​​Fragrant Snow," a timeless wonder. The plum blossoms are in full bloom, their graceful white plum blossoms dancing gracefully and captivatingly.
The charming red plum blossoms, rare varieties of black plum blossoms, jade butterflies, snow-covered chariots, etc. are embedded in the sea of ​​plum blossoms.
Standing on the viewing platform of Wenmei Pavilion, you can smell the subtle fragrance and see the fleeting light of flowers, and a beautiful picture of plum blossoms unfolds before your eyes. You can choose a combination of cycling + flower viewing, or hiking + flower viewing.
It's been two years since the outbreak began. I believe the cold winter will eventually pass, and spring is on its way! The beautiful mountains and rivers of our motherland are with us. If this epidemic can really end in February or March, it will be the most beautiful spring ever!
