Mid-July usually kicks off with the hottest days of the summer season.

It usually overlaps with the so-called dog days – the hot and sultry northern hemisphere weather – expected to last for 40 days in the region on the southern banks of the Yangtze River.

Here are some of the best destinations in Quzhou – in East China's Zhejiang province – where you can enjoy a cool summer.

Qianjiangyuan National Forest Park

Qianjiangyuan National Forest Park is located at the source of the Qiantang River and is renowned for its abundance of deep canyons, dense forests, waterfalls, streams and some endangered animals. [Photo/WeChat account: quzhoufb]

This park has been likened to a huge natural oxygen bar, with forest coverage as high as 97.55 percent, making it a great place to escape the summer heat.

In the park, there are numerous wondrous natural sights, such as season-changing forests, flowers in full bloom and fragrant fruit, as well as cultural spots with memorable sculptures and pavilions. 

Longyou Grottoes

Located at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, 3 kilometers north of Longyou county, this is a national 4A-level scenic spot, with 36 caves ranging in size from 1,000 square meters to 3,000 sq m. [Photo/WeChat account: quzhoufb]

The annual temperature of the Longyou Grottoes is about 18 C, making it a great place to cool down. 

The caves are adjacent, but not interlinked to each other. These magnificent natural formations have been dubbed the "Ninth Wonder of the World" and "the ancient Greek shrine of China".

Taoyuan Qili Scenic Area

Taoyuan Qili Scenic Area is located in northwest Qili village, 30 km from downtown Quzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: quzhoufb]

The Taoyuan Qili Scenic Area is the largest national 4A-level rural leisure tourist scenic spot in Zhejiang province. It has a subtropical monsoon climate with distinct seasons and is mild and humid all year round. Its average temperature is around 14.3 C. With an average altitude of 650 meters and a population of 5,082, the area covers 60.45 sq km, with its forest coverage rate reaching 98 percent.