May is the best time of the year to travel in China. The average temperature is around 25 degree centigrade in the north and 30 degrees centigrade in the south. For readers itching to take a break, we present two pages of recommendations by CITS Beijing, followed by some suggestion for weekend tours in Beijing itself.

Choice One: Shanxi Province

The major sites here are Yungang Stone Caves, Xuankong Temple, Nine Dragon Wall and Wutai Mountain. Usually the tour takes two days. The first day should be for the biggest stone carving groups in Yungang Stone Caves and Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple and Nine Dragon Wall. The second day, you can go to Hengshan Mountain. A complete Wutaishan tour takes two days.

Tours (traveling by hard sleeper) cost 650 yuan ($78) for Dadong and 800 yuan ($96) for Wutaishan.
Choice Two: Shandong Province in East China

Shandong is the hometown of Confucius. Those who are interested can go to Confucius Temple, Confucius Forest, Confucius Palace, and then Taishan Mountain. Tours (traveling by hard sleeper) cost 780 yuan ($93.60).

Choice Three: Henan Province in Central China

The Yellow River, the ancient capital Kaifeng, White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple and Longmen Stone Caves are all special scenes in central Henan. Tours (traveling by hard sleeper) cost 1,080 yuan ($129.60). The tour to Luoyang costs 880 yuan ($105.60).

Choice Four: Hebei Province
This is where most of the northern summer resorts are Beidaihe and Chengde, for example. Wulingshan is one of the major sites. It is situated in Xinglong County in northern Hebei. It is a two-hour drive. The mountain is 2,118 meters high and is called the first mountain in east Beijing. The mountain was closed for afforestation for 260 years. It is called the Òone of rarest green treasures?of China.

Choice Five: Tianjin

Most Beijingers are familiar with TianjinÕs baozi, food street, commercial street and tourist street, but few know that TianjinÕs suburbs are worth visiting, too. Jiudingshan Natural Reserve is one of the best spots.

Choice Six: Luoyang and Xian, eight days

Xian and Luoyang have been Chinas capital for several dynasties. Xian is regarded as the best-preserved ancient capital. Major attractions here include the Qianling Tombs, Yongtai Princess's Tomb, Famen Temple, the Terracotta Warriors, Huaqing Pool, Dayan Tower, Huashan Mountain, Banpo Village, Tablets Forest, Shaolin Temple, White Horse Temple, Zhong Yue Temple and Longmen Stone Caves.

Tours to Xian, Huashan Mountain and Luoyang (by hard sleeper) cost 1,975 yuan ($237).

Choice Seven: Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, eight or nine days

For older people, the delicate garden city of Suzhou and beautiful Hangzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing and Shanghai are an ideal choice. Tours to Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi and Nanjing (by hard sleeper) cost 1,880-1,969 yuan ($225-236).

Choice Eight: Kunming, Xishuangbanna for minority flavors and customs.

Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Stone Forest and Miama. Tours (traveling by plane) cost 4,450-4,750 yuan ($534-570).

Choice Nine: Guilin, regarded as the most beautiful place in China, seven days.

From Guilin to Yangshuo along the Lijiang River. Beautiful mountains, clear water, a strange cave and the stone are the most attractive features. A seven-day tour (traveling by hard sleeper) cost 1,580-1,780 yuan ($190-214). By plane, a four-day tour costs 3,350 yuan ($402).

Choice 10: Zhangjiajie Zhangjiajie is in northwest Hunan Province. Its main area, Wulings area, is 390 square kilometers. It is recognized by UNESCO as a site of world significance, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Suoxi Valley, Tianzishan Natural Reserve and Zhangjiazhai Scenic Area. The area features dangerous and strangely shaped mountains, clouds, fog and changing mountain views. Zhangjiajie and Furongzhen seven-day tour by hard sleeper is 1,680 yuan ($202).

Choice 11: Wuyishan Mountain.

The mountain is in northern Fujian Province. The whole area is 60 square kilometers. Here nature presents itself in its full wild and rugged glory. WuyiÕs crystal clear waters and spectacular mountains are still unspoiled. Hence it has a growing reputation as being the best scenic wonder in southeast China.

A six-day round-trip ticket by hard sleeper to Wuyishan costs 1,850 yuan ($222). A nine-day tour to Wuyishan and Xiamen (traveling by hard sleeper) is 2,580 yuan ($310). By plane, a five-day tour is 3,680 yuan ($442).

Note: The prices offered in the above information are just for your reference. They may vary by season, group and tour agency. Readers may consult more than 30 tour agencies in the street behind the Beijing International Hotel.

Most of the above information was provided by the Beijing office of the China International Travel Service (CITS).