Escape to Chengde's 20°C Summer – Pure Genius!

During this scorching heatwave, I actually found a 20°C summer paradise in Chengde! 🌿 Colorful Forest Park has perfectly nailed the "summer retreat + fun" combo – discovering such a comfortably cool spot in summer feels absolutely heavenly! The moment I entered the park, I was blown away: the dense forest coverage makes it feel like stepping into a natural oxygen bar, with the fresh scent of greenery in the air. The 12-20°C temperature is so pleasant you'll need long sleeves – a whole different world compared to Beijing's sauna-like weather! 🐿️ Spotting squirrels darting around and getting to pet fluffy alpacas along the way is pure therapy. Don't miss the newly launched Valley Carnival Night (since July 15th) – nonstop fun from afternoon till late night: • The wildman puppets and animal parade are eye-catching – high-five them for Instagram-worthy shots that'll make you the star of your feed • The intangible cultural heritage fire pot performance will leave you breathless! Watching masters juggle fireballs barehanded had everyone gasping in awe • The massive bonfire for 1,000 people instantly electrifies the atmosphere – all your worries melt away while dancing around the flames • The grand finale 30-minute fireworks display against the forest backdrop is breathtakingly beautiful – no phone camera could capture even 1% of its magic 💡 Insider tip: Day tickets (¥140-200) offer amazing value, while ¥300 gets you access to most activities – perfect for students on a budget! Here are 3 tested itineraries for different needs: ▫️ Scenic Relaxation Route: Take the train to Cloud Pavilion → hop on an off-road vehicle to Sky Road (epic views!) → ride camels to Forest Ranch for animal encounters → enjoy lakeside afternoon tea at Mirror Lake ▫️ Family Fun Route: Grass sliding + Squirrel Village (kids can interact with squirrels) + animal feeding + alpaca afternoon tea – my niece refused to leave! ▫️ Hiking Adventure: Walk from Cloud Pavilion through birch forests via suspension bridges to Mirror Lake, with sunlight filtering through leaves creating perfect forest photography ⚠️ Pro tips: 1. Strong UV! Pack sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen – unless you want panda-arm tan lines like me 2. Bring long sleeves for the significant day-night temperature difference (denim jackets work great over dresses for photos) 3. Just 3 hours from Beijing – perfect for weekend getaways Accommodation: • Fengning Colorful Forest Resort Hotel (stunning forest views) • Squirrel Hotel (adorable themed rooms for families) • 16°C Hotel (budget-friendly with complimentary tickets) Food Recs: • Lakeside Restaurant's afternoon tea (blissful desserts with views) • Forest Ranch BBQ (entertaining alpaca sightings while dining) For anyone wanting to escape the heat this summer, Colorful Forest is the answer! Breathe fresh forest air by day, party under fireworks at night – pure joy! 🥳