Hotpot(above) is popular in summer in Chongqing;The shooting site of Transformers 4 in Wulong county(below).[Photo by Yang Feiyue/ China Daily]

We also visited Wulong county, where scenes from Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower and the blockbuster Transformers 4 were shot.

We were pleasantly surprised when we were dropped off for an unplanned excursion at the Jinfo Mountains, halfway along the three-hour trip from downtown to Wulong.

Clouds whooshed through the sky just above us. Lush forests seemed to swallow the heat.

We explored views of the peaks, rock formations and caves while hiking a long path that clings to the sides of the cliffs.

We were greeted by clusters of villas when we arrived in Wulong.

The long gallery leading to the main stage of the open-air performance Impression Wulong felt like passing through a time warp.

The gallery displays photos of naked, wading men pulling boats along the Chuanjiang River as they did years ago.

Rivers and mountains serve as the backdrop for the 70-minute show, which features over 100 actors.

It focuses on the work and lives of boat trackers.

The reason they'd work nude is that their clothes could easily be torn and - more importantly - become tangled by the boats, pitching them into the perilous torrents.

The show, which we enjoyed with barbecue, also portrays a local custom, according to which women would cry the night before their wedding, since they'd leave home to live with their husband's family.

"Show filial piety to your mother-in-law, and take care of her. Don't come back just because you couldn't live up to your responsibilities," a bride's mother tells her daughter in the show.

The cool of the evening made me nearly forget I was still in Chongqing (albeit on its outskirts).

The next morning we hiked Tiankeng's peaks and caves, and viewed the shooting sites of Curse of the Golden Flower and Transformers 4.

Indeed, defying expectations, Chongqing proved to be a cool place to visit in the sweltering summer.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn

About this series

China Daily explores summer destinations and activities throughout the season