JinYueTan

Well this is much more than a park - more like a nature reserve. And so there is a fee of 30 yuan to enter. There is a Tourist Service Centre near the main entrance but this time they had no English park maps, only Chinese - in fact the center had nothing for foreign visitors.

But the park is huge and has so much to see and do, and I suppose not knowing what to expect is part of the fun. So I will tell you only about some of the main attractions and let you find all the others for yourself.

It has many touristy areas and loads of remote parts where you can find peace and quiet.

It has chair lifts and a downhill sled-like rail that are both quite good fun. People picnic all over the place. 

The biggest attraction is the big bell that you can make sing with a big wooden mallot - the queues are not that bad.

There aren't many places to eat but there are a few but they are very basic - so bring your own is my advice.

There are all sorts of bikes for hire that are a good deal if you want to explore lots of this park in one visit. The further you get the less people you meet. I have seen many parts but I have so much more to discover.

For me and my family we visit regularly and manage to find something new and different each time and prefer the quieter regions. Thomas too prefers to be in the forest or chasing butterflies or trying to catch a dragonfly.

This time I visited the big Temple that I didn't know was there and only found because I went for a stroll while the rice was being cooked in a little restaurant nearby - my wife Mary was hungry and took a chance.

It has quite an impressive building and it isn't too busy. I didn't go inside as I see how much this temple means to the Chinese visitors but I think you can enter if you want. Outside there was more than enough for me to enjoy and photograph.

It was one of the nicest temples I have visited.

There are many lakes with many boats and boat trips available. The bird life and wild life in general is very disappointing, it's one area that has to be improved and I'm sure they are already looking into it.

There are many other areas further out that do have deer and the like but you need to catch an additional bus or have transport to reach them or really like walking. This is what I call the real JinYueTan and I love getting lost in there but that is for another report.

Photos taken by Steve Mellow.

At a different time, autumn and it shows   the park in different light plus they are all wrapped up well.

These photos really add to showing the beauty of the magnificent park. 

Just look at these trees. It just makes me want to go there right now.

The lake at this part of the park is particularly beautiful and a popular spot for wedding photographs.

A great friend form the past, Alice, now married and living in Japan.

Miss you Alice.

You have to rest every now and then as this park is vast and varied. Almost too much to see and experience.

And finally Steve himself. Must have been taken early on as he looks fresh and somehow younger.