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Kate's Chronicles
Well I know it is spring as the blossoms are budding, the weather is warming up (in most places) and the trees are starting to get their leaves.....however someone forgot to tell the weatherman this in Huangshan!!!
Off I headed thinking that it would be an ideal time to see the true beauty that everyone talks about. Huangshan - one of the five great mountains of China- was about to be conquered. Started off in Tangkou, a tiny village at the base of the mountain and prepared myself for the trek up the mountain. It was warm and sunny in the township and I thought a good sign for what laid ahead.
Didn't get too far when we started to see the mist floating in and then it started to rain...and it rained continuously for the whole day!! Ended up trudging up the mountain not really appreciating the sights as I had not come prepared and was now soaking wet!!
Reached the top by late afternoon in time for the sunset...or so I thought. Only problem was that with all the rain and fog there was no sunset to be seen. By this time it was bitterly cold and the wind had come up so we booked into the hotel for a hot shower and a change of clothes. Saw a number of tourists in tents and felt pity for them as I figured it would be a cold windy night.
Had dinner at one of the hotels all of which are extraordinarily expensive. Everything that comes up the mountain has to be carried by people hence the cost of everything is expensive +++. Did enjoy a local beer or 2, or 3 before heading off to bed intending to get up early to catch the sunrise.
Chinese tourists are renowned for their noise and lack of consideration for other guests in hotels but they took it to an all time high in Huangshan. Kept awake until nearly 1am so it was difficult to get up at 5am for the sunrise. Dragged myself out of my warm bed, dressed quickly and headed outside only to be greeted by SNOW. Yes about 2 inches of snow lay on the ground, heavy fog in the sky and of course no sunrise to be seen. Could not believe my bad luck to have come all this way and not get either a sunrise or a sunset!!!
Decided the best thing was to head back to bed for a few more hours and hope that the weather improved. Sadly that was not to be so looking at the situation optimistically I decided to enjoy the winter wonderland that was before me. Only difficulty was the ice on the paths which were treacherous and many of the tracks were closed down as being too dangerous for hikers.
A little bit about Huangshan.......
Of all the notable mountains in China, Yellow Mountain (Huangshan), in the south of Anhui province, is probably the most famous. Originally known as Mt. Yishan it was renamed Mt. Huangshan in 747 AD in recognition of the legendary Huang Di, who was the reputed ancestor of the Chinese people and who made magic pills for immortality here. Wu yue is the collective name given to China's most important mountains, It is said that you won't want to visit any other mountains after seeing wu yue but you won't wish to see even wu yue after returning from Yellow Mountain. This saying may give you some idea of the beauty and uniqueness of Yellow Mountain. Together with the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Great Wall, Yellow Mountain has become one of the great symbols of China.
Yellow Mountain can boast not only of its magnificence but also its abundant resources and great variety of zoological species, for which it has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. The strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs are the four wonders of Yellow Mountain (Mt. Huangshan).
Strange Pines
Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) pines are seen in every corner of Yellow Mountain. The seeds fall into the crevices where they take root and grow with great vigor. The uneven terrain prevents the pines from growing upright. Instead they become crooked and even downward. Another feature of Huangshan pines is that many trees grow branches on one side only. The pines grow very slowly due to the poor soil and climatic conditions. A tree less than 3 meters high may have grown for over one hundred years or even several hundred years. The root of a pine is several times or several dozens times longer than the trunk, therefore Huangshan pines stand firmly with dignity, withstanding wind and rain. Every pine is unique though with wonderful names including: Guest-Greeting Pine, Guest-Goodbye Pine, Cushion Pine, Phoenix Pine, Chessboard Pine, Stone Bridge, Black Tiger Pine, Lovers Pine and Sea Exploring Pine.
Absurd Stones
Spectacular rocky peaks will inspire your imagination. Some look like human beings, birds or animals or many other objects. Something that makes the stones even more fascinating is that they assume varied shapes when seen from different angles. Every stone has its own fantastic legend. Fantastic names include Shixin Peak, Lion Peak, Refreshing Terrace, Beginning to Believe Peak, Monkey gazing at the sea, Flying Stone, Lotus Peak (highest peak at 1,864-meter ), Heavenly Capital Peak,
Sea of Clouds
Yellow Mountain is home to clouds and mists. The Sea of Clouds has a fairy tale beauty. According to their locations, the seas of clouds are divided into East Sea, South Sea, West Sea, North Sea and Sky Sea. It is true that a sea of clouds can be seen in many high mountains but that of Yellow Mountain is unique with its oddly shaped rocks and ancient pines. Peaks, large and small, hide and reappear in the boundless waves of clouds.
Hot springs
To be able to refresh yourself in the hot springs on Yellow Mountain is said to be one of the best ways of enjoyment and relaxation. Running out of the Purple Peak of 850 meters, the hot spring in Yellow Mountain is the first stop following the entrance. Legend has it that Huang Di, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, bathed here 49 days before he ascended to heaven and became immortal.
Anyway I made the most of my time on the mountain and despite the cold, snow and ice in springtime did get to appreciate some of the beauty. With the tracks being so dangerous we decided to use the cable car to go down the mountain and could not believe the temperature difference when we got to the bottom. Hope my photos do justice to the scenery...
Bye for now. xx
Off I headed thinking that it would be an ideal time to see the true beauty that everyone talks about. Huangshan - one of the five great mountains of China- was about to be conquered. Started off in Tangkou, a tiny village at the base of the mountain and prepared myself for the trek up the mountain. It was warm and sunny in the township and I thought a good sign for what laid ahead.
Didn't get too far when we started to see the mist floating in and then it started to rain...and it rained continuously for the whole day!! Ended up trudging up the mountain not really appreciating the sights as I had not come prepared and was now soaking wet!!
Reached the top by late afternoon in time for the sunset...or so I thought. Only problem was that with all the rain and fog there was no sunset to be seen. By this time it was bitterly cold and the wind had come up so we booked into the hotel for a hot shower and a change of clothes. Saw a number of tourists in tents and felt pity for them as I figured it would be a cold windy night.
Had dinner at one of the hotels all of which are extraordinarily expensive. Everything that comes up the mountain has to be carried by people hence the cost of everything is expensive +++. Did enjoy a local beer or 2, or 3 before heading off to bed intending to get up early to catch the sunrise.
Chinese tourists are renowned for their noise and lack of consideration for other guests in hotels but they took it to an all time high in Huangshan. Kept awake until nearly 1am so it was difficult to get up at 5am for the sunrise. Dragged myself out of my warm bed, dressed quickly and headed outside only to be greeted by SNOW. Yes about 2 inches of snow lay on the ground, heavy fog in the sky and of course no sunrise to be seen. Could not believe my bad luck to have come all this way and not get either a sunrise or a sunset!!!
Decided the best thing was to head back to bed for a few more hours and hope that the weather improved. Sadly that was not to be so looking at the situation optimistically I decided to enjoy the winter wonderland that was before me. Only difficulty was the ice on the paths which were treacherous and many of the tracks were closed down as being too dangerous for hikers.
A little bit about Huangshan.......
Of all the notable mountains in China, Yellow Mountain (Huangshan), in the south of Anhui province, is probably the most famous. Originally known as Mt. Yishan it was renamed Mt. Huangshan in 747 AD in recognition of the legendary Huang Di, who was the reputed ancestor of the Chinese people and who made magic pills for immortality here. Wu yue is the collective name given to China's most important mountains, It is said that you won't want to visit any other mountains after seeing wu yue but you won't wish to see even wu yue after returning from Yellow Mountain. This saying may give you some idea of the beauty and uniqueness of Yellow Mountain. Together with the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Great Wall, Yellow Mountain has become one of the great symbols of China.
Yellow Mountain can boast not only of its magnificence but also its abundant resources and great variety of zoological species, for which it has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. The strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs are the four wonders of Yellow Mountain (Mt. Huangshan).
Strange Pines
Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) pines are seen in every corner of Yellow Mountain. The seeds fall into the crevices where they take root and grow with great vigor. The uneven terrain prevents the pines from growing upright. Instead they become crooked and even downward. Another feature of Huangshan pines is that many trees grow branches on one side only. The pines grow very slowly due to the poor soil and climatic conditions. A tree less than 3 meters high may have grown for over one hundred years or even several hundred years. The root of a pine is several times or several dozens times longer than the trunk, therefore Huangshan pines stand firmly with dignity, withstanding wind and rain. Every pine is unique though with wonderful names including: Guest-Greeting Pine, Guest-Goodbye Pine, Cushion Pine, Phoenix Pine, Chessboard Pine, Stone Bridge, Black Tiger Pine, Lovers Pine and Sea Exploring Pine.
Absurd Stones
Spectacular rocky peaks will inspire your imagination. Some look like human beings, birds or animals or many other objects. Something that makes the stones even more fascinating is that they assume varied shapes when seen from different angles. Every stone has its own fantastic legend. Fantastic names include Shixin Peak, Lion Peak, Refreshing Terrace, Beginning to Believe Peak, Monkey gazing at the sea, Flying Stone, Lotus Peak (highest peak at 1,864-meter ), Heavenly Capital Peak,
Sea of Clouds
Yellow Mountain is home to clouds and mists. The Sea of Clouds has a fairy tale beauty. According to their locations, the seas of clouds are divided into East Sea, South Sea, West Sea, North Sea and Sky Sea. It is true that a sea of clouds can be seen in many high mountains but that of Yellow Mountain is unique with its oddly shaped rocks and ancient pines. Peaks, large and small, hide and reappear in the boundless waves of clouds.
Hot springs
To be able to refresh yourself in the hot springs on Yellow Mountain is said to be one of the best ways of enjoyment and relaxation. Running out of the Purple Peak of 850 meters, the hot spring in Yellow Mountain is the first stop following the entrance. Legend has it that Huang Di, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, bathed here 49 days before he ascended to heaven and became immortal.
Anyway I made the most of my time on the mountain and despite the cold, snow and ice in springtime did get to appreciate some of the beauty. With the tracks being so dangerous we decided to use the cable car to go down the mountain and could not believe the temperature difference when we got to the bottom. Hope my photos do justice to the scenery...
Bye for now. xx
- comments
Raymond Harvey I still have my heart in my mouth from descending Huanshan down steps made on the outside of the cliff face in some parts and no hand rail. It's a pity you couldn't see the scenery on a nice day, as it's absolutely beautiful. Do it again.......don't think so! appreciate life too much.