"The mountain wind blows away the summer heat, the fragrance of pears mingles with that of lotus flowers. When I woke up, my phone showed the outdoor temperature was 24℃—this is what a cool summer should feel like!" On a July day, Ms. Liu, a retired teacher from Nan'an District, Chongqing Municipality, posted a moment on her social media from the homestay courtyard she rented in Puwei Town, Miyi County, Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province. This is the third consecutive year she has visited Miyi.

Like Ms. Liu, more and more urban tourists are choosing this small town at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan as their summer destination. With an annual average temperature of 20℃, a forest coverage rate of 64.7%, and an air quality excellent rate of over 98%, Miyi has become a summer retreat for people from Sichuan and Chongqing.

Puwei Town: A Summer Retreat Fragrant with Flowers and Fruits

Puwei Town, located about 35 kilometers northwest of Miyi County, is a typical agricultural town. With an altitude ranging from 1,680 to 2,800 meters, it has an annual average temperature of 17℃, a forest coverage rate of 80%, and an air quality excellent rate of 99%.

"I heard about this place from friends last year, so several families came here together for summer. It will probably become a regular thing," said Mr. Yang and Mr. Lu from Leshan, who are visiting Puwei Town for the second year for summer sojourn. "Every day when we open the window, it's not only cool, but also surrounded by blooming flowers and fruit forests. The air is exceptionally fresh."

For a summer sojourn, "accommodation" is essential. The homestay facilities in Puwei Town are advancing in sync. "At present, 29 homestays in the town are already open," a staff member of the town government introduced. The town receives over 2,000 health and wellness visitors annually, mostly from Chengdu, Chongqing and other places.

In addition to "affordability," Puwei Town also boasts several high-quality homestays, among which Lanreyueshe stands out. Built against mountains and waters, the homestay features a unique decoration style that skillfully blends modern minimalism with Chinese Zen aesthetics. It has both the romance of blooming flowers in the courtyard and the grace of "small bridges, flowing water, and rural homes." As the homestay manager put it, "Here, guests can listen to the wind, admire the moon, gaze at mountains and waters, sip tea and meditate, enjoying physical and mental relaxation and freedom."

Notably, Puwei Town is famous for producing high-quality fruits, especially "Sun Snow Pears." To enhance visitors' experience, the village roads within 5 kilometers around the core pear orchard area have been upgraded into colorful sightseeing trails, with delicate pavilions and excellent-viewing platforms built along the way.

With flowers to admire in spring, coolness to enjoy in summer, fruits to pick in autumn, and wellness to pursue in winter, Puwei Town's health and wellness industry is thriving with vitality.

Zhuanxu Dragon Cave: A "Natural Oxygen Therapy Center" in a Cool Cave

Driving along Provincial Highway 214 to Baima Town, you will reach the Zhuanxu Dragon Cave Scenic Area, known as the "First Cave of Panxi," hidden in the Longzhou Mountain Range. This karst wonderland, 26 kilometers from Miyi County, has an annual average temperature of only 15-18℃ and a vegetation coverage rate of up to 85%, making it a natural cool palace for summer.

Covering an area of about 1.08 square kilometers, the Zhuanxu Dragon Cave Scenic Area consists of Zhuanxu Culture Square, Zhuanxu Dragon Cave, Longyin Gorge, Wild Botanical Garden, and Longzhou Mountain Scenic Area, featuring five highlights: profound Zhuanxu culture, unique cave landscapes, beautiful canyon waterfalls, stunning mountain flower seas, and high-quality vacation climate.

Entering the 1,800-meter-long dragon cave, the cave with a vertical drop of over 200 meters reveals a unique world inside. The white and crystal-clear stalactites look dreamlike under the lights, with three masterpieces—Snow Mountain Waterfall, Dreamy Heavenly Palace, and Yaochi Fairyland—unfolding one after another. Stalactites and flowing springs and waterfalls complement each other perfectly. The concentration of negative ions per cubic centimeter in the cave is far higher than that in ordinary scenic spots; taking a deep breath fills you with refreshing freshness, earning it the title of "natural oxygen therapy center."

Outside the cave, 23 Longtan Waterfall Groups flow down along the stream, with rare plants like Alsophila spinulosa dotted in between, and ten thousand mu of azaleas hidden in the peaks of Longzhou Mountain. As the "hometown of Zhuanxu," the scenic area integrates dragon culture elements, from sacrificial customs to characteristic cultural and creative products, adding cultural connotations to the cool journey.

Bajiaoqing: A Water Town Picture with Blooming Lotus

To cool off in Miyi, a visit to Bajiaoqing Village in Binggu Town for a "Moonlight Over the Lotus Pond" experience is also a great choice. The village has a 300-mu lotus pond; stepping into Bajiaoqing feels like entering a poetic painting. Visitors stroll along the pond, admiring the lotus flowers in various poses—green lotus leaves, frogs croaking in unison—forming a beautiful dynamic and static picture.

Ding Youjun, a villager, said, "Tourists come in droves to admire the lotus in Bajiaoqing. The climate here is cool; you still need a quilt to sleep at night." It is reported that July is the peak blooming period, and August is the best time for flower viewing.

With its unique geographical advantages and rich tourism resources, Miyi is striving to build a distinctive brand integrating summer cooling, health and wellness, and culture and tourism. This summer, why not step into Miyi, embrace the 20℃ coolness, explore the most beautiful scenery, and start an unforgettable summer journey. (Text/Photos by Liu Ruijia)