Beyond the Hutong: A Slice of Serenity at Hill Station Moganshan

The Hutong theBeijinger

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This article comes from The Hutong (WeChat ID: TheHutong), which aims to educate people about Chinese history, geography, and culture in Beijing and beyond.

Just three hours from Shanghai is a slice of pure serenity, the rolling hills and clear air of Moganshan (莫干山 mògànshān). Recently, The Hutong took a trip to this bamboo paradise.

During colonial days it served as a countryside retreat for Shanghai’s urban elite. By 1910, approximately 300 foreigners, most of them American and British, had set up summer homes on the hill.

Moganshan is part of the Tianmu mountain range, it is 719 meters (2,359 ft) high. Today, the lush bamboo forests provide an escape for modern-day adventurers looking to leave the city behind.

There was a sad and beautiful Chinese legend that says in the period of 770- 476 BC, China’s most talented swordsmiths Ganjiang and Moye lived in the mountains. The couple cast and forged a pair of special swords on the demand of the Emperor of Wu.

However, they were betrayed by the king and had a very tragic ending. To honor them, the people named the mountain as Moganshan, where there’s a lake called Sword Lake.

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Sword Lake is one of the best places to experience the life of a local bamboo farmer on Moganshan, taking part in a wide variety of fun and challenging activities designed to provide a glimpse into the world of a unique rural community.

When we devote ourselves to exploring a new destination, it’s the people who live there that attract us the most, and Moganshan is a great place to get your hands dirty, literally. Farm under the sunshine, use a hoe to harvest seasonal vegetables, or just sit with a local grandfather under the roof to learn how to weave a traditional bamboo basket.

Following the footsteps of the bamboo farmers, the terrain at Moganshan provides a challenging hike. Lost in the whispering of the bamboo forest, it's easy to find inner peace with amazing scenery along the way.

If you're the kind of traveler who gets up early, consider joining the lively local market to have a casual conversation with locals and find out their connection between bamboo and daily life. Then take a walk across town to meet residents and learn about local culture.

In all, Moganshan provides prime opportunities for people to get out of the concrete city and explore a rural area and the environmental issues that people deal with there on a day-to-day basis, making this a perfect trip for a global citizen in search of personal growth.