Mogan's magic

There are numerous hiking and biking trails that meander through the bamboo, strafe streams and wander past waterfalls.

As I walk along these rising and falling paths, I, too, begin to forget my city problems－the work commute combat and putting out the bins.

As well as being endowed with natural beauty, Mogan Mountain has more than its fair share of history. It's said that in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), China's most gifted sword smith, Ganjiang, cast a pair of unique swords here for Emperor Wu. Sword Pond is one of the mountain's must-see attractions.

More recently, Mogan Mountain has been home to a villa owned by Chiang Kai-shek, and Mao Zedong once took a nap here.

Foreign businesspeople, missionaries and customs officials have been coming to Mogan Mountain for its pristine views and fresh air since the 1880s.

Their influence can be seen in the many European-style guesthouses, villas and restaurants that peek out above the tree line to survey the landscape.

Today, these buildings are now characteristic homestays run by local families for both Chinese and overseas tourists.

The combination of residing in a quaint European villa, complete with a wonderfully ornate oak spiral staircase, overlooking a towering mountain range, and eating noodles and a steamed bun seems a little strange at first, but I soon get used to it.

Cheng Zhilan, a homestay owner in Mogan Mountain, says that the most popular time for tourists to visit is during spring and summer, when the cool mountain air and canopy of bamboo provides welcome respite for those from the sweltering cities nearby.

We're here in early March a week after considerable snowfall, but the sun is out, there is warmth in the air and the mountain is coming to life.

Mogan's more recent rejuvenation in the past 10 years has been spearheaded by South African entrepreneur Grant Horsfield, who fell in love with the area after getting lost among the bamboo in the early 2000s.