Each of the gorges has its own unique characteristics. Gushan Gorge looks like a grotesque art work; Longfeng Gorge features twists and turns and Bali Gorge has sharp cliffs.

We jump into a rubber boat and go rafting at Yezhulin once we are ashore. It turns out to be a nice change of pace.

The course runs 6 km, with a 158-meter fall, and many sections offer galloping rapids. In some buffering zones, we paddle. Everyone is exhausted after the adventure.

Despite its rich tourism resources, Jiyuan has gone all out to upgrade its infrastructure.

Liu Huihua, an official with the Jiyuan tourism development commission, says: "The mountain area takes up more than 80 percent of Jiyuan, which gives the city huge potential to develop tourism."

So, the local government has earmarked more than 300 million yuan ($45.13 million) to build facilities.

Highways connecting it to surrounding cities including Luoyang and Yangcheng are underway, and the Hohhot-Nanning high-speed rail line will have a stop at Jiyuan. An airport will also be built.

In recent years, a total of 40 million yuan has been spent annually for tourism promotion, subsidies and tourism business development.

Meanwhile, work on a Taoist park at Wangwu Mountain is now under way, and Taoist music and rural tourism festivals are also staged.

A cycling greenway and pedestrian lane is also being developed for tourists, and dozens of agriculture parks and farms are being built for those who desire rural leisure.

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn