Niumulin, in Yongchun county, boasts one of the best virgin forests in Fujian province. [Photo: China Daily]

With a diverse landscape and a martial arts tradition rooted in tai chi, Niumulin has everything to calm the mind and soul.

Niumulin offers a quiet getaway with its pristine, primitive forests, just an hour's drive from Yongchun county, East China's Fujian province. The forest is not only a refuge from the hustle and bustle of urban life, with barely touched subtropical bio-diversity; but also allows exploration of a well-preserved local culture, whose high point is Wing Chun kungfu.

Niumulin has a diverse landscape ranging from subtropical rainforest to broad leaf forest. But the most impressive sight is still provided by the plant that has become a symbol of China - bamboo groves.

The classic fight scene in the bamboo forest in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon captures the look of Niumulin in all its glory.

The only difference being, instead of kungfu masters flying through the bamboo reeds, you have monkeys - hundreds of them.

Dongxi Valley is a must-see, in Niumulin. [Photo: China Daily]
 
Walking along a stone lined path, snaking its way in the shadows of Niumulin, you can see warning signs everywhere. One of them reads: "Do not tease the monkeys, they are not interested in flirting, they only believe in the law of the jungle."

But of the group of monkeys we encountered, only one jumped down and grabbed the cookie in my hand, the others simply ignored us.

"The monkeys here are much more polite and civilized than those I have encountered in Emei Mountain in Sichuan province," our guide said.