Wake up with the sound of the bell, and then spend a routine day ending up with exhausted body and mind –that is probably a humdrum day without exception to you. Have you ever thought of finding some spiritual retreats to relax yourself – places to save you from chaos and nerves of the daily life?

1. Mt. Wudang (æ­¦å½"å±±)

Highlight: Mt. Wudang is perhaps the most famous Taoism holy land in China. It is the birthplace of Wudang school Kung Fu (martial arts).

It covers an area of 321 square kilometers of width, with very rich beautiful sceneries and cultural relics. The main tourist resorts include: three ponds, nine springs, nine wells, nine platforms, ten pools, ten stones, eleven caves, thirty six cliffs and seventy two peaks, all of them compose incomparable Chinese traditional mount-water drawings.

Besides the beautiful sceneries, the old Taoism buildings constructed over a long span of ancient Chinese dynasties deserve the calling of construction miracle in the whole world. In Tang Dynasty (627-649) the emperor Li Shimin ordered the construction of Five Dragon Ancestral Temple.

Location: Mt. Wudang is located southwest of Shiyan, northwest of Hubei Province, China.

Ticket price: 100 yuan per person (not including Golden Peak and Purple Cloud Palace)

Traffic: You can take Jampan in Wudang Mountain. It's more than 10 kilometers step mountain road from Nanyan to Jindian, the fare is 80 yuan. In addition, there are ropeways, one side is Qiongtai Zhongguan, and another side is between the Xiuqiu Peak and Lion Peak, which is 100 meters to Golden Temple. Runtime of one way is no more than half an hour, the fare of double way is 70 yuan.

2. Mt. Lushan (庐山)

Highlight: Mt. Lushan boasts in its mighty peaks, roaring waterfalls, mysterious clouds and mists, philosophical religions, an ancient academy, numerous remains of ice age and many western-styled villas.

Known for its cool weather and an ideal getaway for summer vacations, Mt. Lushan is one of top ten mountains in China. It is a UNESCO designated world-heritage site, as well as one of the A key tourism scenic spots in China.

Location: Lushan Mountain is located on the Poyang Lake Basin in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province.

Ticket price: 180 yuan per person.

Traffic: Visitors usually go to Lushan Mountain via Jiujiang, which is located at the middle to lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Jiujiang offers very convenient train and river transportations, and is the only city where the Beijing-Kowloon Railway intersects with the Yangtze River.

There are tour buses going to Lushan Mountain from the Yanshui Pavillion (烟水亭) near the Gantang Lake (ç"˜æ£ æ¹–). There are also tour buses to Lushan from the Jiujiang Ferry Terminal (九江客运码头).

3. Mt. Emei (峨眉山)

Highlight: Jinding is the best place to experience the Four Wonders of Mt. Emei: the Buddha's Halo (rainbow-like rings that surround and move with your shadow), the Sea of Clouds, the Holy Lamp (or Divine Lights) and the Golden Summit Sunrise.

Mt. Emei has been designated a World Heritage Site thanks to its breathtaking scenery, mysterious natural wonders, and historical Buddhist sites. The full day's hike to the summit is an unforgettable experience, but minibuses and cable cars make faster alternatives for travelers.

Location: Mt. Emei lies 150 km away from Chengdu, 130 km from the Shuangliu International Airport and only 28 km from Leshan.

Ticket price: 150 yuan per person.

Traffic: Minibuses and cable cars can take tourists most of the way up the mountain. Most opt for tours from Chengdu, about three hours to the mountain base.

4. Mt. Wutai (äº"台山)

Highlight: It is the highest point in the province. It is known as the residence of the bodhisattva Manjusri(文殊菩萨), and as a result is also a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination, with many temples and natural sights. Points of interest include Tang Dynasty (618–907) era timber halls located at Nanchan Temple and Foguang Temple, as well as a giant white stupa at Tayuan Temple built during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

It is as famous as Mt. Emei in Sichuan Province, Mt. Putuo in Zhejiang Province, and Mt.Jiuhua in Anhui Province, all of which are renowned as the four sacred Buddhist Mountains.

Location: Mt. Wutaishan lies in Wutai county in Xinzhou region, Shanxi Province.

Ticket price: 168 yuan per person.

Traffic: Tourists can go to Taiyuan by air or by train and then take a bus to Mt. Wutai.