3. Linhai Old Street

Walking along the city walls of Linhai is a great experience, especially in the rain, as swallows fly low and the mist turns the scene into a kind of fairyland.

A walk along the wall can be divided into two sections, the old section, and the new, which passes apartments built in the 1980s.

At the end of the walk you will find Ziyang Old Street in the old town of Linhai. This 1 km long street was the location for the small-budget movie The Sweet Life on Toilet.

You will no longer see the scene from the movie in which people queue up to sit on red-lacquered toilets in front of every household, but the stone memorial archways, old restaurants, barbershops and fortune-telling shops are still here.

There are three old shops that are definitely worth a visit. Established in 1861, Cai Yongli's Beam Scale Shop is the oldest store on the street; Dai's Shoe Shop was the first in Linhai to produce hand-made shoes, and Anletian Restaurant, established in the late Qing Dynasty, is a leisurely place to hang out.

4. Taozhu Ancient Town

Though Taozhu Ancient Town charges entry for tourists it is so laid back here that the guy selling tickets is hard to find as he spends most of his time playing cards. Taking a walk along the city walls is the best way to enjoy the town's sights.

The town nestles beside a mountain and is embraced by the city walls

When night falls, a stay at Lang's Old House is a neat experience (40 yuan a night). It is also the only place providing accommodation in the town.

The owner, Lang Xunlu, often talks about the crew of Gate of the Sea, a TV show that was shot here.

You should definitely go to the market, crowded with vendors, stretching from the west gate to the east gate. Fruit and vegetables, and traditional attire in vivid colors, are on sale.

5. Jingxing Rock of Xianju

The Forbidden Kingdom features mind-blowing kungfu from Jackie Chan and Jet Li and the dazzling scenery of Xianju county.

There is a lift to Jingxing Rock that is accessed through a cave, after walking along a short mountain road. The rock is perched on top of a 700-meter-high hill.

From this vantage point watching the marshmallow-like clouds floating over the terraced fields and green valleys, it is easy to appreciate why the place is called Xianju, which means "wonderland".

Xianju is 52 km from Linhai, served by buses every 25 minutes. Xianju has many attractions, such as the Rapeseed Flower Festival in March and April, Waxberry Festival in June, and Sunflower Festival in August.