SUMMER is supposed to be the season for relaxation and slower pace. Shanghai will soon be sizzling and humid and it's going to stay that way for several months. We pick cool refuges, near and far. Hu Min reports

Corfu, Greece

The island in the Ionian Sea is one of the most beautiful Mediterranean destinations for its spectacular landscape and views of aqua seas, as well as its cultural heritage.

In the beautifully preserved Old Town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical styles can be seen.

Palaces, fortresses, regal public buildings from the Venetian rule can be toured, as well as tiny alleyways with laundry hanging out to dry and small, secluded squares. Strolling through a complex of cobbled streets with stairways and vaulted passages is evocative of Naples or Genoa.

And there's plenty of Greek wine, cheese and good food.

There are many beautiful sites and a string of museums and churches.



Tips: Corfu can be reached by regular, year-round flights from Athens and Thessaloniki. There are ferry connections from other Greek and Italian ports. It's one of the many large Greek islands that can be reached by yacht.

Shenandoah Valley, United States

The Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and West Virginia is famous for the Blue Ridge Mountains, its Civil War history, limestone caverns and spectacular autumn foliage.

Shenandoah National Park runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains from Front Royal to Waynesboro. The Scenic Skyline Drive is the main route through the park, winding for 170 kilometers. There are some 75 breathtaking outlooks along the drive, providing panoramic valley views.

Hiking, fishing and riding are popular activities, and visitors also can admire wildflowers, mountain laurel and ancient trees. The protected area is home to white-tailed deer, bears, raccoons, opossums, foxes, birds and other wildlife.

Popular hikes include treks to Turk Mountain and Corbin Cabin, one of only three traditional log cabins to have survived a recent forest fire.

Shenandoah Valley's limestone geology has created many caverns, with Luray the most famous.



Tips: The speed limit on Skyline Drive is 60 kilometers per hour, due to curves, wildlife and tourists. Watch carefully for animals that may cross your path without warning. There are mileposts along Skyline Drive to help visitors find their way through the park. The string of mileposts begins at Front Royal and continue through to the southern end of the park.



Sanqing Mountain, China

Sanqing Mountain in eastern China's Jiangxi Province is a sacred Taoist mountain and a popular summer resort, famous for misty scenery, cloud formations, granite crags, twisted pine trees and biodiversity.

Ge Hong (AD 283-363), a physician, Taoist alchemist and priest stayed in the mountain, and the remains of his alchemy furnace are well preserved. He was in search of the secret of long life and immortality.

The area is very humid and every year there are more than 200 misty days.

In 2008 the mountain was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Summer is the best season to visit. The average temperature is 21.8 degrees Celsius, but it drops at night.



Tips: Visitors can take buses from the main bus station in Yushan County. Wear sturdy shoes, remember to take food and water for hiking and take a jacket for cool weather.



Paradise Island, Maldives

Snow-soft sand, azure water, abundant sunshine, brilliantly colored coral and swaying palms are on offer at Paradise Island, also known as Lankanfinolhu.

It's a famous tourist destination and dive spot.

The nation of small islands is threatened by rising seas caused by global warming, and eco-tourism is available to raise awarenessof the issues.

The island offers a range of accommodation, including villas, seaside suites, deluxe rooms and cabins. It has spas, karaoke, casinos, clubs, bars and restaurants. There are also scuba diving schools and sports venues.



Tips: Visitors can take speedboats from Male for a 15 to 20-minute ride. Spas should be booked a day in advance because they are popular.

Rose Valley, Bulgaria

Bulgaria is famous for its roses and rose oil, most of it coming from Rose Valley near Kazanlak. In May, June and July it is a fragrant sea of multi-colored flowers, sometimes called "God's garden."

A rose festival is held every June. Visitors to the area can also see magnificent displays of ancient Thracian gold - crowns, jewelry, masks, vessels and other objects.

Around three-fourths of Bulgaria's roses come from the valley where they have been grown for centuries. More than 7,000 varieties are planted.

Only four varieties of roses are used to make Bulgaria's famous rose oil, a powerful fragrance and used in aroma therapy. The valley produces 85 percent of the world's rose oil.

The Rose Valley is just south of the Balkan Mountains and is near Perperikon, the sacred city of the Thracians.

The wine and cheese is delicious.



Tips: It takes more than three hours by bus from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, to the Rose Valley. There are trains to Kazanlak from some cities in Bulgaria, but trains are often late. Private family hotels are recommended.



Great Barrier Reef, Australia

When it's sizzling summer in China, it's winter in Australia and the weather is mild and welcoming in July and August.

The Great Barrier Reef - some of endangered and some still pristine - is one of the natural wonders of the world, blending the brilliant colors of coral and fish with the turquoise and blue of water and sky.

Off the coast of Queensland, winter is sunny and breezy and the humidity is low.

A helicopter ride offers a bird's eye view of the famous Heart Reef, a heart-shaped formation of coral and the site of not a few marriage proposals.

The wildlife is rich: whales, dolphins, dugong, turtles, more than 1,500 species of fish, several thousand types of molluscs and more than 200 species of bird.

Hamilton Island is a gem among the 74 Whitsunday Islands. It's known for pristine beaches, azure waters, awe-inspiring coral, beautiful flora and fauna, fine food and wines. There are plenty of sea sports. The reef stretches for more than 2,000 kilometers offshore.



Tips: There are direct flights from big cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to the reef area. Pills for motion sickness can be helpful. Remember to take a jacket because the temperature drops at night.

Yulong River, China

Drifting along the tranquil Yulong River is a journey into rural China with natural scenery, misted green hills and terraced rice paddies, spectacular rock formations, old bridges, quaint villages with gray tile roofs and whitewashed walls.

The river, known as the Little Li River, flows through the picturesque city of Yangshuo, Guilin, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Many people consider this a better choice than the more famous and crowded Li River.

Floating on a bamboo raft visitors pass a painting of rural life, with groves of bamboo, farmers plowing with water buffalo, women washing, locals fishing and children playing.

Legend has it that a dragon in the East Sea swam to the Yulong ("long" means dragon) River and found it so delightful that he decided to stay. Many visitors said they saw the dragon enjoying river, even in daytime. Yulong means "encountering the dragon."

Fuli Bridge and Yulong Bridge are stone structures dating to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).



Tips: Small bamboo rafts are more fun than large crowded rafts. Make sure a raft has life-preservers.



Porvoo, Finland

Porvoo is a small, medieval town in an idyllic setting in an archipelago. Summer is an ideal time to visit Finland, land of the midnight sun, with spectacular scenery and many outdoors activities.

The summer temperature averages 18 degrees Celsius and the weather is clear and bright, perfect for enjoying forests, lakes and mountains. Hiking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, bicycling and hunting are popular.

Porvoo is perched on the Porvoo River, around 50 kilometers east of Helsinki. Many picturesque, 19th century buildings are made of wood. The Old Town, with dense, narrow streets, dates from the 13th century. At its center is the stone and brick Porvoo Cathedral, parts of which date back to the 11th century. Visitors can stroll along the cobbled streets, enjoying gardens, boutiques, cafes, upscale restaurants and markets. Guided tours are offered.

Archipelago cruises are popular.



Tips: Porvoo is accessible by boat and buses leaving regularly from Helsinki. The summer temperature averages a high of 20-22 degrees Celsius and a low of 9-12 degrees Celsius, so visitors should dress for cool and cold weather.



Mui Ne, Vietnam

This quaint fishing village on the southern coast has become a hot resort destination because of the quaint hamlet and half-moon-shaped bay. There are many hotels, from luxury to family-style, and it's quite built up, with lots of activities.

Fortunately, you can get away from crowds, find a bit of tranquillity on the beach or sit on a balcony and listen to the waves crash. There are plenty of places to enjoy a cup of tea or glass of wine.

The famous sand dunes, both red and white, offer sliding fun. The view from the top of the dunes is magnificent. From the red dunes, you can see the ocean and from the white dunes you can see a large lake ringed by pine trees.



Tips: Mui Ne is 22 kilometers from Phan Thiet, 200 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. It takes about six hours by bus from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne.