A naturally elevating trip

Guizhou's stunning landscapes, and lack of crowds, make it a perfect place to lift the spirits, Chen Liang reports.

This year, domestic tourism is not just hot, it is sizzling. It seems that every popular tourist attraction is crowded and every hotel at a popular scenic area is charging top dollar.

To avoid joining the hordes of tourists — it's a challenge, believe me — you have to be patient and sometimes think creatively.

I stayed at home in Beijing in July and August, waiting for the end of the summer vacation. In September, two friends and I started thinking of finding a "cool" place to have a four- or five-day trip to get close to nature and regain our stamina, which had been consumed by the intense summer heat.