A spell of hot weather has lingered in the city despite the arrival of liqiu, the start of autumn according to the lunar calendar, earlier this month. One place offering a respite from the heat is the mountains, where the temperature is typically around 3 degrees lower than in the city. For those seeking a cool weekend summer getaway, Siming Mountain, 80 kilometers east of Ningbo, is a good option. Nothing beats floating down a creek together with a group of friends, breathing fresh air and enjoying the view of the green valley below. While you're in the area, combine a rafting trip with a getaway to the beach before autumn begins in earnest.

Water fights during rafting at Siming Mountain Photos: Yang Hui/GT

 

Rafting at Siming Mountain

Located in eastern Zhejiang Province near the small city of Yuyao, Siming Mountain is actually an east-west trending chain of mountains with an average height of 600 to 900 meters above sea level. Relatively unmarred by neighboring pollution sources, the area is home to a variety of flora and fauna. The area is known for its tea, Chinese chestnuts, apricots and bamboo shoots. All these are great tourist attractions during harvest season.

With an average annual temperature of around 13 C, and peak temperatures in the low 30s, Siming Mountain is the perfect place for a summer vacation. A good 260-kilometer drive from downtown Shanghai over the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, a pit stop for lunch in Ningbo is a good way to break up the journey. From Ningbo, it's another two-hour drive to reach the final destination in the mountains. Alternatively, trains from Hongqiao Station to Yuyao take two hours. From there, shuttle buses and vans run to Siming Mountain.

Rafting costs 120 yuan ($19.6) per person, and lasts for about an hour and half. Each raft can accommodate two people. There's no way to avoid getting drenched while rafting, so it's a good idea to wear a bathing suit or quick-drying clothes as well as waterproof shoes or sandals. There's a basic communal locker room with showers, so you can also bring a towel and a change of clothes. Sunglasses and sunscreen are also recommended.

Before getting on the raft, all personal belongings should be left at the baggage storage office. One is not advised to take any electronic devices, camera, keys or cash onto the raft. Life jackets and safety helmets are provided on-site; the hat seems somewhat unnecessary at first, but comes in handy for scooping water out of your raft and makes an excellent weapon in water fights. There are also booths where one can rent or buy water guns to be better equipped for the inevitable aquatic battles. Before getting on the rubber raft, a paddle will be given to each rafter. The floating creek at Sichuangyan in Dayu village is a fine one, cool and clear, which has flat and peaceful sections for one to relax on the water and also man-made steep "rapids" for more adventurous rafters. The creek is only about waist deep where currents run fast, so even those who cannot swim need not panic in the unlikely event of a capsize.

Although you won't be able to take your own camera on the raft, the site's photographers will snap your picture as you cascade down a drift, and you can purchase a photo after you get off the raft. After drying off, recharge with a snack and set off for the next destination, a beach resort at Songlan Mountain.

The beach at Songlan Mountain is not as crowded as China's more well-known beaches.

 

Relax at the beach

Located 9 kilometers from Xiangshan county on the outskirts of Ningbo, the beach at Songlan Mountain is surrounded by mountains and faces the sea. The blue sky, white clouds and golden sand attract a fair share of tourists, but it is cleaner and not as crowded as China's more well-known beaches.

A roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive south from Ningbo, you can stay in the port city or opt to spend the night at a hotel by the beach. A barbecue at the beach is the perfect way to enjoy cool beers and a gentle evening breeze.

If you can get up early enough the next morning, take a walk along the beach to catch the sunrise over the sea. Even on the weekend, there's plenty of space on the beach to sunbathe, throw a Frisbee or kick a ball around as most locals congregate under a stretch of parasols, which can be rented for a small fee, leaving a swath of sunny sand empty. After you've worked up a sweat, take a dip in the ocean to cool off. The admission ticket for the beach is 30 yuan. There are some small restaurants to enjoy a simple seafood meal. The return drive to Shanghai takes about four hours.