First peak of Taihu Lake [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Xuelang Mountain Ecological and Scenic Garden, Wuxi, is known as the "first peak of Taihu Lake". It integrates tourism, leisure, holiday fun, and physical health.

Lavender in the mountain [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Xuelang Mountain Ecological and Scenic Garden opened a rafting resort, on Aug 7, on the slope of Xuelang Mountain close to Taihu Lake and the downtown part of Wuxi. The river starts up on the mountain and runs 2,500 meters down to the fishing center, allowing for a 50-minute raft journey that lets you experience the thrills of rafting, and the beautiful scenery along the banks.

A boat rafts down the channel in Wuxi's Xuelang Mountain Ecological and Scenic Garden. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The resort offers two levels of rafting: one that is more suited to adventurous tourists looking for excitement, or who have some rafting experience, starting at a precipitous part upstream, where the water is faster; and one more suited to children and middle-aged people without rafting experience, which starts in the middle part of the river and is slower.

Visitors enjoy rafting at Wuxi's Xuelang Mountain Ecological and Scenic Garden. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Rafting is a challenging but entertaining sport and it offers visitors both relaxation and a chance to escape the summer heat.