By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

In June, it must be repressing to stay in high buildings all day long, yet it is not the best time to dodge the summer heat in the mountains. So is there any better place to hang out? If you want to stroll in a vast flower sea, get closer to green mountains and clear waters, and relax in a featured town for a one-day journey, here is good advice for you.

It is a one-day tour route in Nanchuan District.

Recommended route: Downtown—Daguan Herb Garden—Lixiang Lake—Switzerland-featured Town—Picking blueberries (the scenic spots are around Lixiang Lake)

0.13-square-kilometer verbena field gives you the purple romance

Purple is a color of romance.

Getting off the expressway at Daguan Town and following the traffic signs to drive along Lixianghu Avenue, a beautiful flower sea will embrace you in purple. The vast verbena field seems like bathing in mist, rendering the view picturesque and poetic. As the tiered flowers stretch afar, all that you see borders on magnificent. How romantic and happy it must be to wander with the one you love in a place like this. When gentle breeze wrinkles the purple sea, you may find yourself indulging in the dreamlike scenery.

The verbena sea

One single Verbena may not be special, but thousands of them can be breathtaking. Looking like a palette spilled by Mother Nature, people can’t help but be enchanted.

Best time to enjoy: May-August.

Lixiang Lake

The water area of Lixiang Lake is over 2.2 square kilometers. It is embraced by lush mountains, many harbors, and meandering beachline. Muyu Island, the mid-lake island, provides a home for large stretches of forests given its original landscapes and favorable eco-environment.

Lixiang Lake

This is a place sheltering you from the hustling and bustling cities, and the peaceful environment has reproduced the poem by Tao Yuanming, “when I escape from bitter strife with men, I live a free and easy life again.” A boat or yacht on the crystal-like river, which mirrors the picturesque scenery and brilliantly-blue sky, may take you to a dreamlike world.

Lixiang Lake

Find a dense Chinese larch forest, lay a plastic cloth on the ground with delicacies, and tie the hammock on trees, you may enjoy a relaxed picnic. You are also recommended to snatch a leisure moment in the neighboring farm stays, experience the farming, pick the fruits and vegetables, and taste the farm food.

Switzerland-featured Town

A Switzerland-featured Town is located by Lixiang Lake. Nestling under a mountain, it is unique with the Switzerland-styling castle, church, pool, flower sea, and Chinese parasol trees. Once walking in the town, you will feel like being in an exotic place surrounding with European-styled buildings, cleverly-designed street lamps with beautiful flower baskets, and red floor tiles. All of them seem to be set just for your leisure time.

Switzerland-featured Town

Hang around on the exotic street, or find a shop and take a rest in the sunlight may reinvigorate you.

There are also scenic spots for posing and photo taking, and you may be envied by all who see the photos on your social media platform. In the lake harbor nearby, many small boats are waiting for customers.

Just climb on the Star-watch platform and catch a sight of the glimmering stars dotting on the boundless sky.

Blueberry parks

On your way back, signs will guide you to Lecui Blueberry Park, where over 20 varieties can be found. Since the mid-May, blueberries are becoming ripe. Visitors can pick them in related bases until the end of July.

Blueberries in Blueberry parks

You can also enjoy the blueberries in many farm villages and Hanchangba Village, Muliang Township. Besides, the Eco-agriculture Grand Park consisted of the twelve representative flower gardens also provides an ideal destination. As countless ripe blueberries are hanging on branches, enjoy the farming leisure in farm stays and pick the vegetables and fruits by yourself.

When the weather permits, why not enjoy the leisure and romantic time with your special someone.

Address of Lixiang Lake: Lixianghu Ecological Wetland Park, Daguan Town, Nanchuan District

Route for driving: Downtown—Chongqing-Changsha Expressway—get off the expressway at Daguan Town (56 kilometers), and follow the guidance of the road plates.

Source: Official WeChat Account on CQCB