Heye Meadow, also known as Lotus Leaf Meadow, is the biggest sub-alpine grassland in North China. It has become an oasis for those wanting to escape the heat this summer. As large areas of China sweltered in high temperatures unexpectedly earlier this summer, tourists from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Inner Mongolia autonomous region swarmed Heye Meadow in search of cool air. It's also a favorite among photographers. At an altitude of 2,784 meters, the meadow is the highest peak of Guancen Mountain in Xinzhou city, Shanxi province. It features towering ancient trees, waterfalls and springs, and grass vegetation. The grasslands have an average temperature of 5 degrees Celsius for the year, with summer very short-lived. [Photo by Cao Jianguo for chinadaily.com.cn]