Escape the heat! Reach four cool 20℃ secret spots just 1.5 hours from downtown Chongqing for a weekend with your girlfriends

1️⃣ Beibei Jindao Gorge & Pianyan Ancient Town

- Cool fun: Set up a table to play mahjong and eat chilled watermelon in the shallow streams of Pianyan Ancient Town, experiencing the leisurely "water teahouse"; challenge yourself with "human drifting" (meat drifting) and creek descent in Jindao Gorge, enjoy a 24℃ canyon stream water fight, adrenaline and coolness soaring together.
- Foodie hits: Must-try in the ancient town are Wang Douhua and riverbank fried fish; at the foot of Jindao Gorge, feast on spicy Sanxikou tofu fish, all for about 50 RMB per person, so satisfying you'll want to stomp your feet.
- Stay in a painting: Recommended [Pianyan Ancient Town Inn] for about 100 RMB per person to stay in a riverside stilt house, or [Jindao Gorge Two Rivers Holiday Hotel] with forest rooms (breakfast included, from 400 RMB).
- Transport: Navigate to "Pianyan Ancient Town" from downtown, 1.5 hours, free parking.

2️⃣ Nanchuan Shanwangping

- Cool fun: Enter the "Chinese Redwood Forest" for 19℃ forest camping! Walk through the light and shadow tunnel of dawn redwoods and Chinese cedars, lie in a hammock and instantly feel like you're in a Hayao Miyazaki manga; climb Fengchui Ridge at dusk to chase the cloud waterfall spectacle.
- Foodie hits: At the foot of the mountain, enjoy farmhouse dishes like bamboo shoot and cured pig's trotters soup, incredibly fresh!
- Stay in a painting: Campers choose Wanjuanshutai campsite (60 RMB per spot), hotel lovers stay at [Shanwangping Karst Resort Hotel] with floor-to-ceiling windows to watch the starry sky (from 500 RMB).
- Transport: Navigate to "Shanwangping Scenic Area," 1.5 hours direct, entrance fee 20 RMB.

3️⃣ Jiangjin Simian Mountain

- Cool fun: The 5A-level summer resort top pick! Check in at Asia’s tallest waterfall "Wangxiangtai," where the mist under the waterfall instantly cools the air by 10℃; raft on Longtan Lake alongside egrets, perfect for forest-style photos.
- Foodie hits: Mid-mountain farmhouse dishes include selenium-rich tofu pudding and pepper chicken, spicy and fresh paired with mountain spring ice beer!
- Stay in a painting: Highly recommend [Luneng Beautiful Countryside] forest treehouse (700 RMB/night), or choose boutique homestay [Wangshanyuan] at the foot of Simian Mountain with waterfall views from your window (from 300 RMB).
- Transport: Downtown - Ring Expressway - Simian Mountain Town, 1.5 hours, entrance fee 90 RMB.

4️⃣ Qijiang Hengshan

- Cool fun: The 25℃ "Air-conditioned Town" lives up to its name! Cycle through a thousand-acre grassland, explore the Danxia peaks of Guniu Peak for cliffside photos; stay overnight in Gaomiao Village for the camping music festival (every Friday and Saturday), with beer, BBQ, and live shows for a super fun time.
- Foodie hits: Freshly picked mountain blueberries, farmhouse braised mountain goat meat tender and without gamey taste!
- Stay in a painting: Gaomiao Village farmhouse is the best value (all-inclusive 150 RMB/day), or go for light luxury at [Hengshan Huaxiangu Homestay] with a bathtub view of the sea of clouds (from 600 RMB).
- Transport: Navigate to "Hengshan Tourism Resort," 1 hour direct, no entrance fee.

💡 Girlfriend Exclusive Tips

① Jindao Gorge creek descent requires booking a coach one day in advance, wear quick-dry clothes + creek shoes;

② Bring a thin down jacket for camping at Shanwangping, night temperature only 16℃;

③ Shoot the Simian Mountain waterfall before 10:00 for fewer people and better light;

④ Bring a picnic mat for Hengshan music festival, claim the best spot on the grass!

No fuss summer escape, be a mountain fairy this weekend~ 👯‍♀️