Paradise found in South Tyrol

Walther square in central Bolzano. [Photo by Rico Sauerborn/China Daily]

You can't come to South Tyrol without hiking in the Dolomites, though. Also known as the Pale Mountains, they take their name from the carbonate rock known as dolomite.

My friend, an expert hiker, checked the weather forecast before we headed out, picking the east of South Tyrol as the best guarantee for clear skies. After a scenic drive around the mountains, including a few stops to take photos, we reached the Dolomiti di Sesto Nature Park, which is composed of rocks and stony ridges amid many species of wild flora and fauna and natural pools.

WWI saw a fierce battle between Italian and Austrian forces in this region, as evidenced by the bullet holes still distinct in the rocks.

Hiking on such wild and rocky terrain is not for the faint of heart. At one point, we felt we'd lost the well-trodden path, but the diversity of views ahead of us encouraged us to continue. I had cause to silently thank my professional hiking boots every rough step of the way.

The sight of two hardcore climbers high up on the rocky rooftop ridge sent shivers down my spine. "That's crazy," I exclaim.

From the small flowers springing out from the strangely-shaped rocks, to the bold cliffs and peaks flecked with snow, and from the green meadows down below up to the vast blue sky, I could only marvel at the beauty and power of nature.

The next morning, as I dragged my tired legs to the living room, my friend was already making plans for another hike.

"You haven't experienced the best of the Dolomites yet, and the weather is much better today."

I felt like I was about to embark on an intense boot camp.

"Can we do a lake trip instead?" I ask. Although checking my daily walking miles on an app gave me a sense of achievement, and hiking on picturesque mountains is certainly appealing, my body was starting to protest.

Sympathetic, my friend took me to Lago Di Tovel inside the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park for a more chilled experience. I gasped at the sight of the shimmering lake, looking like an undiscovered emerald in the wild.

We walked around the lake on a short track and I couldn't take my eyes off the mountains and trees mirrored in the lake, which formed a perfectly symmetrical reflection.

When we reached the lakeshore, it was like being on a calm beach. As we took a little dip in the incredibly clean water, we could see small fish and tadpoles swimming about. I felt like I had been taken to China's Jiuzhaigou－but obviously with far fewer tourists.