Situated along a winding path from a village, Miao Ling Villa makes a good choice for a restful night before climbing nearby Jiufeng Mountain at sunrise. The villa is adorned by purple magnolia blooms for three seasons a year, and is right next to Dajue Temple in western Beijing.

Miao Ling Villa has more than 70 standard and deluxe hotel rooms, and an outdoor dining area that accommodates 200 people. Facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, massages, cinema, bowling, snooker and a gym.

When planning your outing to visit the Buddha at Dajue Temple, also allow time to take in the villa's own unique treasure - a humongous inkstone with carvings of a dragon and phoenix. The afternoon could be spent picking fruit or vegetable at nearby farmers' fields.

To get there from Summer Palace颐和园, head to Baiwangshan百望山, then the hot spring温泉, Bei'anhe Xikou北安河西口

6 Beijia Huayuanlu, Bei'anhe, Haidian District. 6248-1188. 海淀区北安河贝家花园路6号

(China Daily 09/27/2007 page14)