Fanjing Mountain, Guizhou

What to do: on a clear night, people can see the reflection of the moon on the smooth rocks, thus the mountain is also named Yuejing (Moon Mirror) Mountain.

Situated in Guizhou Province, Fanjing Mountain is one of the sacred Buddhist mountains in China. It measures 2,572 meters above sea level. It has been designated as a national nature reserve due to the best preserved ecological system. It is a paradise for wild animals. 304 species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles live there including the Guizhou golden monkeys and South China Tiger. It also has a rare tree species, the dove tree.

Location
It is located in junctions of Jiangkou county, Yingjiang county, Songtao county, within Tongren prefecture.

Admission fee: 50 yuan

Danxia Mountain, Guangdong

What to see: the stone pillar "Yangyuan" (male stone) appears dreamy and beautiful in moonlight

Danxiashan (Danxia Mountain) is a famous scenic area near Shaoguan in the northern part of Guangdong Province. The Danxia Mountain is formed by reddish sandstone which has been eroded over time into a series of mountains surrounded by curvaceous cliffs and many unusual rock formations (Danxia Landform). It is described in local signage as a "world famous UNESCO geopark of China". There are a number of temples located throughout the mountains and many scenic walks can be undertaken. There is also a river winding through the mountains on which boat trips can be taken.

There are two particularly famous formations: the stone pillar called "Yangyuan" ("male/father stone") that bears a remarkable resemblance to a phallus, and the Yinyuan hole, which (especially to people who visited the Yangyuan pillar before) somewhat resembles labia.

Admission fee: 100 yuan (ordinary days); 120 yuan (on holidays)
Cable car: 60 yuan (round trip); 40 yuan (single trip) (ordinary days);
70 yuan (round trip); 45 yuan (single trip) (on holidays)

Transportation: take a minibus from Shaohua Hotel in Shaoguan to Renhua. The bus ticket is 10 yuan and the journey takes over one hour. The bus stops at the entrance of Danxia Mountain Scenic Area.

Kaiping Diaolou (Kaiping Watchtowers), Guangdong

What to see: the luxury of the old building in the moonlight

Located mainly in Kaiping county, Guangdong, the Kaiping Diaolou (Kaiping watchtowers) are fortified multi-storey towers, generally made of reinforced concrete. Built in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), they served mainly as the protection against forays by bandits and also the living quarters.

Many watchtowers incorporate the architectural features from China and the West. Therefore, they command the high value of appreciation.

Admission fee: 60 yuan

Shapotou (Sand Slope), Ningxia

What to do: lie down on the desert and watch the rising of the moon

Located 22 kilometers west of Zhongwei county in Ningxia, Shapotou (Sandy Slope) is a cliff-like sand dune and a landmark of the Tengger Desert. The "Bell tolls at the Sandy Slope" is notable scenery. The boundless desert, verdant oasis, limpid lakes, vast grasslands and the primitive life of nomads compose a beautiful picture of the scenic area. Travelers can ride camels and venture into the Tengger Desert, or take the age-old sheepskin rafts across the Yellow River.

Admission fee: 90 yuan

Huashan Mountain, Shaanxi

What to do: visitors may encounter the Taoists performing sword-dance in the moonlit night

Located about 120 kilometers east of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, Huashan Mountain is the western mountain of the five sacred Taoist mountains in China. It is also known as Xi Yue, literally the Western Sacred Mountain. It has a long history of religious significance. Huashan Mountain takes its name after its shape - a lotus flower with five petals. It is well known for the sheer cliffs and plunging ravines. Known as “the most precipitous mountain under heaven”, it is probably the most dangerous mountain in the world that is frequented by hikers.

Admission fee: 100 yuan (April 1 – Nov.30); 50 yuan (Dec.1 – Mar.31)

Liangshan Mountain, Shandong

What to do: lie on the stone plate and watch the moon rising

Located in Liangshan county, Shandong Province, Liangshan Mountain is well known as the stronghold of the 108 legendary heroes of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin in Song Dynasty (960–1279).

Originally, the place was surrounded by the largest marshland, called the Daye Marsh and later the Liangshan Marsh. During the Song Dynasty, the Yellow River passed through the area. Mount Liang was located at the extreme north of what became known as the "eight hundred li moorage of Mount Liang". In history, the Yellow River shifted course many times, which have made the marshes of Liangshan Mountain shrink considerably.

Today, the Liangshan Mountain has been developed into a tourist destination. A number of architectures were built to match the descriptions in Water Margin.

Admission fee: 60 yuan

Zhuge Bagua Village, Zhejiang

What to do: get lost in the alleys in the moonlight

Located in the west of Lanxi in Jinhua city, Zhejiang Province, Zhuge Bagua Village is the biggest settlement for Zhuge Liang's descendants who have lived there for generations. The village is built according to the Eight Diagrams. Visitors can easily get lost in the village. The Zhong Pond is the basic point and the center of the village. Eight roads start from the pond and stretch respectively towards eight hills outside the town. In the village, countless roads connect numerous alleys which circle the village. Most houses are originated from Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The houses and the roads together make a maze out of the village.

Admission fee: 80 yuan