Off the beaten track, take a break this fall to explore three hidden gems that the vast expanse of China has to offer, writes Zhang Zixuan.

Summer along with its scorching heat and breathless days has given way to fall, which is probably the best season for traveling in China. This is also perhaps the best time to visit Kanas Lake to have a chance meeting with the mysterious "water monster", navigate the less than 1-meter-wide alleys in Xitang, or watch the sun dip below the horizon from a boat rolling gently on Baiyangdian lake. Traveling is not only about giving a break to our body and mind from the dreariness of everyday life, but also about rejuvenating the soul.

1. Kanas, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region