Escape the capital and enter the dragon
By William Axford (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-18 10:14
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It can be easy to forget about the outside world if one spends too much time inside Beijing.
The summer would be a waste though if every day was spent chasing down taxis and working compulsively in an office, so do yourself a favor and take a day off to cool down and enjoy Beijing's beautiful natural wonders.
Longqing Gorge is a perfect one-day escape from the city's smog and excessive noise pollution. Also known as the Little Three Gorges, it is nestled between vibrant green peaks and creates a feeling of embarking inside of the earth rather than simply walking along its surface.
Jutting out of the mountains are trees that blanket the rocky surface in swathes of vegetation. The little town resting before the gorge offers a variety of shops and restaurants to see before adventuring further. With a reduced speed of life and being situated at a higher elevation, the area around the gorge is at least a good five degrees cooler than inside the city perimeter.
The sights are immense even before you enter the gorge. A 50 m waterfall covers visitors in a mist, provided by a dam wedged between the two cliffs. A panoramic view of the entire lake can be seen from the top of the dam.
Next to the dam lays a golden dragon, resting along the side of the cliff. The "Soaring Dragon" is only accessible by entering through its mouth and consists of a series of escalators that lead up into the gorge. The dragon is included in the Guinness World Book of Records as the longest series of escalators.
Standing within the gorge itself feels like standing in the center of the earth. A sharp blue sky competing with immovable cliffs creates a serene atmosphere and from here visitors can either travel up the cliffs by foot via the stairs among the trees, take a boat ride upon the pool at the base of the gorge, or ride a cable car to the top.
The cable car taking people skyward is one of the most striking scenes that visitors first see. The 460 m connection starts at the Flowers Cave and ends at the Heavenly Gate. It grants access to the Immortal Courtyard, which is the second largest scenic area in the valley. The courtyard itself rests on the 4,757 m Guifeng Mountain, the highest point within the gorge.
But it's the Longqing Cruise that truly makes the gorge come alive. Gliding along the crisp waters between the looming scenery of jagged cliffs creates a sense of awe as everything towers from above. The 7 km boat ride follows a trek that loops around the entire pool within the gorge, providing sights that would otherwise be impossible to see.
The Fengguan Isle, or Phoenix Coronet, is one such sight and can only be seen through the cruise. The only drawback for expats is that all tours are given in Chinese. The exquisite views and the chance to dart around the cliffs jutting out from the waters, however, more than make up for this.
The most daring sight within the gorge is a man riding a unicycle on a tightrope that's as high up as the mountains themselves. Beneath the unicycle is another man clinging to a cloth, suspended in the air without the aid of safety cables. If visitors themselves are feeling daring, they can pay 150 yuan to bungee jump from the top of one ridge to within meters of the water underneath.
There are other sights to see beyond the gorge itself. Tunnels dug within the mountain are sparsely lit and feel like a path to an excavation site. The Flowers Cave houses plants and replicates environments from all over the world. If mountain climbing or boats seem unattractive, horseback riding is offered around the gorge.
The gorges can still be enjoyed even if you are unable to make it before the end of the season. They reopen in the winter season with the Ice Lantern Festival, where ice and snow sculptures are created during the four-month ice period, but we recommend.
However, visiting the gorge before the end of autumn is highly recommended because of the stunning blue sky. Its green and azure scenery offers travelers a startling reminder that nature sits right on your doorstep, even when home is a concrete apartment block in Beijing.