Shanwangping Karst National Ecological Park outside Chongqing, China

© Chen Chao/Getty Images

Shanwangping Karst National Ecological Park outside Chongqing, China

They say the grass is always greener on the other side, but what about in a forest? At the Shanwangping Karst National Ecological Park near Chongqing, China, the change of seasons offers colourful drama, with dawn redwoods, ginkgo trees and Cryptomeria all showing off their different hues. In 2015, Shanwangping was approved as China’s first national karst park. This part of China is known for its karst topography, which includes rock formations like towering arches and extensive caves. But the main attraction here is a breath of fresh air. Shanwangping was included in the country’s annual list of ‘forest oxygen bars’, a campaign that promotes forests with especially clean air quality.