Life River in Bama resembles the Chinese character ming, meaning life, in cursive script. [Photo By Yang Feiyue / China Daily]

Fengshan

Fengshan is roughly two hours' drive from Donglan, on a road that spirals up and down a mountain.

We stopped halfway down the mountain to view Yuanyang Lake and visit Yuanyang Cave.

The lake is far from the cave of the same name, but we can see two pools of blue on a stretch of grassland in the distance. Modern scientific methods have yet to fathom the depth of the two parts that make up the lake, a local official told us.

Inside the entrance of Yuanyang Cave, a dimly - lit tunnel stretches 119 meters to end in a wonderland grotto that covers 29,000 square meters.

The cavern is home to stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns and stone curtains of various size and shape, formed by minerals in the water that slowly drips from the roof of the cave.

It takes roughly an hour to tour the entire cave. No overcoat is needed, despite the season, as the cave maintains a steady temperature of around 20 C year - round.

The highlight of my trip was a sightseeing voyage on the waters of the Sanmen Sea in Fengshan. This lake, thus named because of its sea - like tides, is surrounded by spectacular mountain cliffs with many natural caves and rock arches through which you can sail aboard a raft.