Cool mountain retreat offers a respite for urbanites

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It's like you have entered an air-conditioned world when you set foot on Tiantai Mountain in Qionglai, west of Sichuan Province's capital Chengdu.

A roughly two-hour drive from Chengdu airport, the mountain resort offers serenity from the fast pace of modern society.

The forest closes in on us as we drive up the mountain road. A waterfall cascades right next to a stone bridge and wets our faces as we cross.

I can't help but take a deep breath.

"The temperature averages 16 degrees all the year round," says Xiao Longmin, a local official.

The mountain covers an area of 192 square kilometers, and has plenty of facilities for tourists.

"It's very relaxing to play [mahjong] while soaking your feet in running river water," says Xiao.

Tiantai Mountain in Qionglai, west of Sichuan Province's capital Chengdu. /CD Photo

Fireflies are another big draw.

The local authorities have banned the use of pesticides, and feed the fireflies with snails, both of which make the mountain an ideal home for the small insects.

Sparkling fireflies can be seen all over the place between April to October, Xiao says.

The local government has invested approximately 460 million yuan (67 million US dollars) on improving Tiantai Mountain's environment since mid-2016, and tourist numbers quickly hit 670,000 a year after the project started.

"Most visitors spend two days at the mountain resort," says Xiao.

About 75 percent of the tourists come from the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou.

The number of visitors from Xi'an and Shaanxi Province has also significantly increased since the high-speed rail line connecting Chengdu and Xi'an went into operation at the end of last year, says Xiao.

Business prospects for locals have also improved since tourism became the focal point of the area.

Now, street peddlers selling local snacks, such as fried fish and baked sweet potatoes can earn up to 1,000 yuan on a good day, says Xiao. And those who run family hotels can make between 100,000 and 200,000 yuan a year.

Gao Siqiong, 50, who was born and raised in the area, turned her house into a restaurant and private inn in 2008.

The view of Tiantai Mountain in Qionglai, west of Sichuan Province's capital Chengdu. /CD Photo

Speaking about the business in the area, Gao, who makes 60,000 yuan in profit a year, says: "All hotels here are fully booked during the peak seasons."

Currently, the Tiantai Mountain authority plans to launch an online parking lot booking system for self-drive tourists. There are 1,700 parking lots, and tourists can make reservations in advance.

"This is to avoid traffic congestion during peak season," says Xiao, adding that the scenic spot once received 140,000 tourists a day.

For those who can;t get a parking spot, a bus service will be available, says Xiao.

For now, the mountain is striving to be a national 5A scenic spot. So, in addition to tourism development, the local authority is also focusing on environmental protection.

As a result, rare plant species are being monitored and pest control has been implemented.

Also, a pollution treatment system has been put in place for restaurants and hotels.

Gao believes that the future is bright, adding: "Even more people will come if the mountain becomes a national 5A tourist attraction."

Source(s): China Daily