Sometimes the best way to escape the summer heat is to get completely soaked!

Dayewa (大野洼) is a favorite summer escape for locals. Hidden in the mountains of Ningguo, Anhui Province, here mountain streams wind through bamboo forests, and the water stays refreshingly cold even on the hottest days.

We spent the day “river tracing” – following a river upstream to its source, scrambling over slippery rocks, and occasionally finding ourselves waist-deep in water. But the real highlight came at the end: rappelling down a waterfall and plunging straight into the cold mountain pool below. Not exactly a gentle way to cool off, but certainly an effective one!

If you're travelling through eastern China in summer, Dayewa is well worth a detour. Just bring a change of clothes — you're going to need it.