Cool mountain retreat offers a respite for urban dwellers

Tiantai Mountain in Qionglai, west of Sichuan province's capital Chengdu. [Photo by You Zixiu/China Daily]

Fireflies are another big draw.

The local authorities have banned the use of pesticides, and feed the fireflies with snails, both of which make the mountain an ideal home for the small insects.

One can see sparkling fireflies all over the place from April to October, says Xiao.

The local government has invested approximately 460 million yuan ($67 million) to improve Tiantai Mountain's environment starting in mid-2016, and tourist numbers hit 670,000 a year after the project started.

"Most visitors spend two days at the mountain resort," says Xiao.

About 70-80 percent of tourists come from Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

The number of visitors from Xi'an, Shaanxi province has also significantly increased since the high-speed rail line connecting Chengdu and Xi'an began operations at the end of last year, says Xiao.

The business prospects for locals has also improved since tourism took hold in the area.

Now, street peddlers selling local snacks, such as fried fish and baked sweet potatoes can earn up to 1,000 yuan on a good day, says Xiao. And those who run family hotels can make 100,000-200,000 yuan a year.

Gao Siqiong, 50, who was born and raised in the area, has turned her house into a restaurant and private inn since 2008.