I know a lot of people in my neighborhood and when we meet we usually greet each other with "ni hao!" or "chi fan le ma?" However, recently everyone’s also been asking "When are you going home?" Well, I’m not returning back to England but this time of the year, with Spring Festival coming, many foreigners are wondering what to do.

Spring Festival seems to be similar to Christmas back home － lots of good food and drink, spending all day with your family, watching TV and playing games. Last year I was invited to a friend’s house and that was interesting but this year I’d like to do something different.

Many foreigners usually take advantage of the long holiday to go travelling in China. Those living in Hangzhou are desperate to escape the cold, damp winter. The most popular place to go is Yunnan with its spring-like climate and many interesting places to visit. Others go in search of sun and head for tropical Thailand. Some foreign friends also mentioned Harbin and the incredible Ice Sculpture Festival that is held there. The problem with all these suggestions is that I’ve been to all of them and I’ve been thinking hard what to do this time.

Actually I’m a terrible traveler with little sense of direction so I certainly don’t want to go on a long trip. More than that I think I need a different kind of ‘holiday’. We live busy lives and then we holiday in the same way － rushing from place to place, trying to see things and do things. I think I need a refreshing break where I don’t do much at all.

For foreigners Hangzhou is a large city with lots of traffic and noise. What I’d really like is to get some peace and quiet. But where to go to escape from the concrete jungle － to get some fresh air and rest? That’s when a Ningbo friend mentioned Putuo Mountain and what she told me sounds wonderful; an island with lots of temples, great scenery, few cars and lots of fresh air.

However, it seems I may not be quite alone as she mentioned lots of people like to go there. It seems I’m not the only one wanting to "get away from it all". A lot of my Chinese friends also want a break from the hectic city life. However, Putuo Mountain　still sounds good and I can’t wait to go.

By Arthur J from England

Source: City Express

Editor: Guo Changdong