"China Cool" is trending! Come to China for a cool summer getaway!

Foreign tourists visiting the Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province.

Recently, "China Cool" has become a buzzword. Thanks to its vast territory and diverse summer retreat resources, China caters to the varied needs of domestic and international tourists—whether they seek to cool off, sightsee, or enjoy in-depth travel experiences. Bolstered by favorable factors such as visa-free policies and excellent tourism infrastructure, many foreign tourists are flocking to China this summer to escape the heat, and the country’s summer offerings continue to garner praise.

Walnut kernels, cinnamon, *rushan* (a type of dairy snack), and Sichuan peppercorns—none of these ingredients look like what one would typically expect in tea. Spanish tourist Juan Antonio watched with curiosity as they were added to the teacup one by one.

In the lounge of the Shangri-La Hotel in Kunming, Antonio was keenly experiencing the intangible cultural heritage ceremony of the Bai ethnic group’s "Three-Course Tea." He took a cautious sip: "A bitter, charred taste hit the tip of my tongue first, followed by the milky aroma of the *rushan*, and then a hint of numbing sensation rising from the back of my tongue." Antonio told the reporter, "It’s amazing—an experience like no other!"

"The first course is bitter tea, the second is sweet tea, and the third is the tea of ​​lingering aftertaste; only after finishing all three cups can one truly say they have experienced the hospitality of the Bai people," explained tea artist Zhang Li.

Antonio’s trip to Yunnan had a single purpose: to find a cool escape.

Since the start of summer, Europe has been battered by successive heatwaves; Spain, in particular, has been scorched by temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius—"hot as an oven." When his flight landed in Kunming and the cabin door opened, a gentle breeze greeted him, and the temperature felt like a comfortable 24 or 25 degrees Celsius. "I’ve arrived in nature’s ‘air-conditioned room’!" Antonio exclaimed.

While in Kunming, Antonio made a special visit to Yuantong Temple. With a history spanning over 1,200 years, this ancient temple breaks the conventional architectural mold by being built on a downward slope; as one descends step by step into the temple grounds, the city's hustle and bustle—and the summer heat—seem to fade away. "An ancient temple standing in calm composure, facing a high-rise just a hundred meters away—this is the China I wanted to discover," said Anthony.

This was Anthony’s eighth visit to China, but his first time in Yunnan. Before arriving, he had read several books about the region; while he couldn't yet distinguish the nuances of the various ethnic groups' costumes and customs, the urge to see it all firsthand made him feel like a child about to open a treasure chest.

Kunming was merely the overture. Next, Anthony would travel to Dali to experience Bai-style tie-dyeing, explore ancient Naxi residences in Lijiang, gaze at the "Golden Mountain" (sunlight hitting the peaks) in Shangri-La, and take a detour to the Yuanyang Rice Terraces to look down upon the "fingerprints of the earth." Each stop was like a different ingredient in the traditional "Three-Course Tea" ceremony, adding rich, layered flavors to his memories of Yunnan.

At the Huangshizhai Scenic Area within Zhangjiajie National Forest Park—situated at an altitude of over 1,200 meters—lush greenery abounds and cool breezes blow, keeping the temperature among the forest of peaks at a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius.

Foreign tourists strolled along the sightseeing paths, pausing to take photos and soak in the panoramic views of the quartz sandstone peaks, fully enjoying the cool, pleasant atmosphere of this misty, high-altitude wonderland. French tourist Isabelle Sala remarked, "It’s a wonderful journey; being immersed in nature with my family feels amazing! It feels so cool here, and the air is incredibly fresh."

Cool breezes swept across the summit, while the waters of the Golden Whip Stream murmured below. Shaded by trees along its course, the stream remains a crystal-clear 16 to 18 degrees Celsius year-round. Walking along the Golden Whip Stream, Belgian tourist Charles Bourgeois marveled, "The forest park is stunning. You can admire the beautiful scenery while staying cool—it’s a perfect place to escape the summer heat."

"Three thousand strange peaks and eight hundred beautiful waters"—this phrase vividly captures the breathtaking scenery of Zhangjiajie. To reach the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area and view the forest of peaks, visitors take the Bailong Elevator; rising a vertical distance of 335 meters, it whisks passengers to the summit in just 88 seconds. The Bailong Elevator observation deck is a popular spot for international tourists; as the elevator car rapidly ascends, visitors are treated to a panoramic view of quartz sandstone peaks in a myriad of shapes.

To handle the summer influx of visitors, the scenic area has implemented various measures to keep things cool and comfortable, thereby enhancing the overall visitor experience. Luca Rossi, a tourist from Italy, remarked, "The service here is excellent, and the scenery is breathtaking. Traveling in China has been incredibly convenient, and the people are so friendly; my friends and I have made wonderful memories here."

Beyond the natural scenery, the area's diverse range of activities also appeals to international tourists. Visitors can walk across the glass bridge, tackle the *via ferrata* climbing route, or ride the high-altitude zipline, fully immersing themselves in the joy of outdoor sports. Statistics show that during the one-month summer peak, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park welcomed 104,100 international tourist visits—a year-on-year increase of 46.78%—with visitors hailing from 148 countries and regions worldwide.

Location: Mohe, Heilongjiang

Early in the morning in Arctic Village, Mohe, Heilongjiang, a light mist hangs over the river, and the breeze drifting through the pine forest carries a refreshing chill—the temperature is a cool 17°C. Li Huimin, a tourist from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, stands wrapped in a light windbreaker before the "Northernmost Point of China" stone monument, snapping photos of the vast, pristine Russian forests on the opposite bank.

"It’s nearly 35°C during the day in Kuala Lumpur right now; you’re drenched in sweat just minutes after stepping outside. But here, even the breeze is cool, and I actually need a quilt to sleep at night," Li says with a smile. It is the first time she has spent a summer without running the air conditioning all night long. "Traveling all the way from the tropics to China's northernmost point—the contrast is truly amazing."

Since the start of summer, the number of international flights connecting Harbin, Heilongjiang, to destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia has increased. Consequently, more Southeast Asian tourists are choosing to head north, making Mohe their summer getaway destination.

Mohe boasts an average summer temperature of around 19°C and a forest coverage rate exceeding 90%. Its unique geographical location grants it exceptionally long daylight hours in summer; the "City That Never Sleeps" phenomenon—characterized by its unique celestial light—combined with the vast, rugged border forests, holds immense appeal for tourists from Southeast Asia who are accustomed to tropical climates. Statistics show that Southeast Asia has become a key source region for inbound tourism to Heilongjiang.

Strolling through Arctic Village, tourists from Bangkok, Thailand, can be found in the "Northernmost Post Office" carefully selecting postcards featuring aurora and forest motifs; they stamp them with the exclusive "China's Northernmost Point" postmark before sending them home. At the "I've Found the North" stone monument on Arctic Sandbar, Singaporean tourists queue up to take photos, capturing the fun of "finding the North." Nearby, at the Ewenki Reindeer Tribe settlement, Vietnamese tourists hold moss to interact with reindeer, immersing themselves in the unique local lifestyle. The magnificent river bend at "Longjiang's First Bay" and the misty morning wetlands of the "Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns" have also become popular spots for foreign visitors.

At 8:00 PM, while it is still daylight, Li Huimin and her companions sit on the stone steps by the river, waiting for the chance to spot the aurora as night falls. A refreshing evening breeze sweeps by, carrying the sound of rustling pine trees. "Traveling from the tropics to China's Arctic—this has been the most comfortable summer I've ever experienced," Li Huimin says, gazing at the shimmering water.