Kunqu opera The Peony Pavilionis played on stage. [Photo by Long Wei/ for China Daily]

From Shanghai

It's easy to travel to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, which feature attractions such as cultural relics, steep mountains, delicious cuisines and beautiful ancient towns.

An old Chinese saying goes that "just as there are heavens above, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on Earth", to describe the picturesque views of the two cities.

In Hangzhou, you can rent a bicycle to pedal around the banks of the beautiful West Lake and get a closer look at the lake's bridges, which have inspired numerous Chinese poets throughout history. Take a boat ride at night to enjoy the peaceful lake.

It's also a good time to have a sip of the city's famous Longjing tea, which has a long-lasting aroma. The locals like to visit Lingyin Temple, where there are numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.

Suzhou is known for its traditional Chinese gardens from different dynasties, with well-designed landscapes including rocks, hills and rivers. The Lion Grove Garden, Canglang Pavilion, Lingering Garden and Humble Administrator's Garden are the city's most famous gardens, for their elegant aesthetics and delicate styles.

You can watch Kunqu Opera such as The Peony Pavilion or Suzhou Pingtan performances. The local dialect and traditional musical instruments such as pipa will take you back in time.

Historic towns such as Xitang, Wuzhen and Tongli are home to traditional Chinese houses and pavilions along the rivers and stone bridges.

The family-run hotels often have traditional wooden furniture such as wooden beds with delicate carvings. You can stroll the stone streets, have a rest at a coffee house, and enjoy a moment away from the hustle-and-bustle of the big city.