雁荡山

Why this place

Yandang Mountain is a volcanic caldera landscape of rhyolite peaks and caves, and it has been a Chinese scenic destination since the Tang dynasty. Its peculiarity is that the peaks are best viewed at night, when their silhouettes change shape entirely — a tradition called 'viewing the mountain in moonlight'.

What to see

• The Lingfeng (Spirit Peak) at night — the local tradition of silhouette-viewing
• The Big Dragon Waterfall (Dalongqiu), one of the tallest in southeast China
• The Lingyan temple and its flying rock, at the foot of the peaks
• The Xiansheng Gate and the volcanic rock formations of the inner valleys

What to eat

• Wenzhou coastal cooking — light and fresh, with mountain vegetables
• Yandang's own tea and the local bamboo shoots

How to plan

Two days, staying in the Lingfeng or Lingyan area.

Best time

April–June and September–November