Summer Getaway from Shanghai

Take a deep breath of the lovely spring breeze  blowing from the Huangpu River, it might be your last chance this year. Prepare yourself for a long, rainy, hot summer watching millions of people pouring into the city for the Expo.

Don’t freak out. Instead, dream about your summer vacation! If you have enough money and time, it won’t be a problem to just indulge yourself all over the world, but not everyone’s wallet is that fat, right? So here are some fabulous summer getaway ideas, all costing you 4 days or less, within a budget of RMB3500.

Staying in China offers a variety of options. The vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia starts growing green from the middle of June. Nomads celebrate summer like a carnival, they feed their horses and sheep to the best condition. They walk out of a yurt and dance around bonfires under a starry night. They have archery and wrestling races following the spirit of their ancestor Genghis Khan…and you can join the fun! Three hours driving from the grassland, discover the Gobi desert where you can try camel riding and sand slid. Better to plan this trip before September, because after summer, the grassland is no longer green and a night in a Mongolian yurt will be freezing. You can also choose to overnight in the modern city of Hohhot (near the grassland) and Erdous (near the desert). There are direct flights between Shanghai and those 2 cities.

Some people just have to go to the beach. I can’t say I agree but I have to admit how much I love the feeling of forgetting all the work crap and just lying down on the sands and catching some rays, watching handsome boys and pretty girls pass by. For those who have gone to Sanya more than once, I recommend you try another beach site in China: Xiamen. Stay on Gulangyu Island, where the historical architecture has been converted to elegant boutique hotels. This small peaceful island has frequent short ferries to the city. The UNESCO World Heritage Hakka House is 2 hours driving away from here. You can find those unique round houses nowhere else, which can amazingly house a whole tribe.

If you prefer summers in the mountains, you are lucky. Lots of choices are nearby. Mo Gan Shan is so near that you can make it a cool daytrip with friends. Not challenging enough? HuangShan will never let you down. There is a saying that “No mountain is worth seeing after a trip to Huangshan”. Maybe you have friends coming this summer from overseas for Expo, contributing to the high density of the city. To show your hospitality, you might take them to some classic scenic spots in China…Beijing? Guilin? The weather in Beijing is worse than Shanghai in the summer, so spend less time in the city part. A wise choice is visiting the Chengde Summer Resort near Beijing, just like ancient Chinese emperors did. If going to the Great Wall, the Badaling part will give heat stroke in the middle day of summer. Why not drive half an hour longer and linger at Mutianyu Great Wall, where there are less crowds, less vendors, and more shading forts. Guilin is always popular, but personally I think it’s over reputed. Don’t waste too much time in Guilin. Instead, have a refreshing cruise on the Li River towards Yangshuo. This charming county definitely will comfort you and refresh your Shanghai heart.

Article From: http://www.chinamastertravel.com/travelog/Summer-Getaway-from-Shanghai.html