Summer Retreat: Yixing Bamboo Sea

Step into the bamboo forest as the morning mist lingers, where 100,000 acres of emerald bamboo sway like a green ocean in the wind. Take the cable car skyward, listening to the rustling bamboo tips beneath your feet—it feels like soaring on a sword. At the summit of "Lingyun Pavilion," the mountains at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces emerge faintly from the sea of clouds, resembling an ink-wash painting. Hike down along the "Jade Corridor," where sunlight filters through bamboo leaves like scattered gold, illuminating the frost patterns on the bamboo stalks. Encounter a farmer digging for spring bamboo shoots, who cheerfully teaches you to spot the "yellow-mud arches"—where the tips barely peek out, delicious shoots await. Pause by "Mirror Lake," its waters reflecting bamboo shadows, until black swans glide by, shattering the jade-like surface. Back at the garden, set up a summer feast trio—grilled skewers, lobster, and watermelon—paired with beer, capping off a perfect day.