By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

As summer has come without warning, have you made any plans for your vacation? If not, you might as well enjoy your holiday in Yunlin Tianxiang on the Tianping Mountain, just 2hours' drive from downtown Chongqing.

Sulfur cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus) in full bloom

In June, Yunlin Tianxiang on the Tianping Mountain in Banan District is surrounded by a sea of fascinating sulfur cosmos flowers with overlapped petals. Come and stroll in the sea of flowers, or you may miss the glorious and vibrant scene.

The sulfur cosmos flowers

Sulfur cosmos is an annual herb in Asterales order and Asteraceae family, originally from Mexico. It features opposite, bi-pinnate and partite leaves in lanceolate shape and the flower's taxonomic name in Latin means “wild beauty” for its widely stretching and robust branches.

Flowers are even more beautiful against the blue sky. Have you been attracted to them? Come and enjoy the gorgeous view in Yunlin Tianxiang on the Tianping Mountain in Ersheng Town before late July!

The sea of sulfur cosmos flowers

Tempting sweet and sour Yangmei

“With bareheaded lackeys waving the fan, the May is cool as autumn. Yangmei and the snow-white salt of Wu are served as condiments.”  They are lines in praise of Yangmei in the Song of Liangyuan Park by Li Bai.

Fruit Yangmei

Baked by the burning sun and washed by violent storms, Yangmei in Yunlin Tianxiang is ripe. The crystal and plump purplish-red fruits are so tempting that you cannot stop savoring them. It's an excellent choice to pick and enjoy this fresh fruit in the waxberry garden in Yunlin Tianxiang with your family and friends!

Must-try activities of camping and barbecue

Having tasted various delicacies, you may enjoy the different yet great experience by having an outdoor barbecue. With a fresh summer wind blowing from the trees, you can savor the spicy barbecue delicacies and bubbling beer in a rhythmical piece of music on a small area of ground.

Such a trip only requires a small tent and some baggage. In your 'outdoor palace,' with charming scenery outside, with your loved ones, insects rustling, you will feel energized.

Chicken wings for barbecue

Travel tips

The route I for driving: The Inner Ring — Panlong Interchange (Cimushan Tunnel) — Expressway along the Yangtze River  (Turn right after driving off the expressway from Mudong Town) — Oriental Hot Spring Town — Ersheng Town — Yunlin Tianxiang on Tianping Mountain

The route II for driving: Drive off the Inner Ring from Chayuan — Changsheng — Huimin — Yongxing  — Ersheng Town — Yunlin Tianxiang

Tents in the camping area

Bus Routes:

1. 1. Take the shuttle bus from Nanping to Tianping at Sigongli Transportation Hub Station. It departs twice at 9:30 and 15:30 respectively every day and takes about two hours to reach the destination.
2. 2. Take the shuttle bus from Nanping to Oriental Hot Spring at Sigongli Transportation Hub Station. It departs once every about ten minutes from 6:00 to 18:30 and takes about 70 minutes to reach the destination. When arriving at Ersheng, take the local bus to Yunlin Tianxiang, which takes about 15 minutes.
3. 3. Transfer at Longzhouwan to the shuttle bus from Sigongli Transportation Hub Station to Jiangjia and Tianci. It departs every about one hour and takes about 70 minutes to reach the destination. When arriving at Ersheng, take the local bus to Yunlin Tianxiang, which takes about 15 minutes.

Source: Banan Municipal Commission of Tourism Development