A different way to appreciate Mogan Mountain

Mogan Mountain in autumn presents a picturesque landscape of forests in a riot of colors with gold, red, blue and green. File photos

The snow-capped Mogan Mountain.

A balcony at Zhimagu Art Hotel that overlooks a valley.

When talking about tourist attractions in the surrounding areas of Zhejiang and Shanghai, Mogan Mountain always comes first into our mind.

Laced with soothing streams and blanketed in evergreen trees and bamboo, Mogan Mountain used to be one of the favorite summer resorts for royal guests and rich people, who were mostly foreigners, in Shanghai in the early 20th century to while away the summer heat and humidity. Sprawling villas, varying in style from medieval castles to countryside houses and equipped with facilities like tennis courts, dance floors and even swimming pools, were built by these Westerners to be a paradise in the East.

But with the awakening of the lucrative Chinese tourism market in the past decade, Mogan Mountain is making a comeback, thanks to its tranquil scenery, offers of adventurous hikes and most important of all, proximity to big cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Statistics show that more than600 guesthouses offered accommodation to1.89 million tourists on Mogan Mountain last year, with tourism revenue reaching1.89 billion yuan (US$278 million).

Mogan Mountain has always been placed in the list of ideal places for summertime. However, in autumn and winter it offers nothing less.

In autumn, Mogan Mountain presents a picturesque landscape of forests in a riot of colors with gold, red, blue and green, making for sights that excite the senses. The red maple leaves, the fallen phoenix tree leaves paving the road and the golden gingko leaves shining under the sunlight all add a touch to the glorious autumn view.

In winter, without the flourishing summer view and with fewer tourists, Mogan Mountain has a unique charm, especially when a snow turns it into a white fairy world with the forest covered by a thick blanket of snow. In early winter it gives the feel of Kyoto while in mid-winter, Hokkaido. Come here in winter and you can have a romantic getaway with a frosty date and enjoy breathtaking winter scenery.

Zhimagu Art Hotel

The guesthouses in Mogan Mountain have already gained fame among travel lovers. If you crave a rural lifestyle, the guesthouses here are sure to meet your demand. However, there is one particular hotel, with a façade in thick black and red, that stands out among all the other plain-looking guesthouses.

Once you walk into Zhimagu Art Hotel, you will be embraced by its exotic charm and artistic air. Looking at the gate, the array of colorful art works that fill the lobby, the huge swimming pool with a waterfall— instead of feeling like walking into a hotel, you may have the illusion of walking into a magnificent museum.

On the right side of the lobby is a glass corridor leading to the restaurant. To one side of the corridor you can see a waterfall pouring down from the top of a huge wall covered by graffiti. When you still feel amazed and haven’t got enough time to take in the whole scene of the waterfall, the restaurant at the end of the corridor takes you into a medieval European castle. Every detail of the restaurant exudes an ardent feel with grandeur and delicacy.

Walking across the restaurant and go up the stairs, you will find out that the waterfall is actually formed by a huge fan-shaped swimming pool surrounded by grassland. The water of the swimming pool falls down over the edge of the pool and forms the waterfall.

Hot-air balloon

Apart from the super hotel Zhimagu, there is another thing that will enable you enjoy the mountain in a better way: the hot-air balloon. Taking a hot-air balloon and slowly floating to the sky is a romantic way to watch the view of the scenic area.

Hiking is also a popular alternative. Set out from your hotel in the morning and hike the Jianggong Ancient Path surrounded by bamboo forests, then head to a farmer’s house for an authentic lunch and stop at scenic viewing points. The journey is sure to be a relaxing experience.