Wuling mountain range, only blonde in this town
Trip Start
Apr 14, 2008
1
19
85
Trip End
Nov 11, 2008
Zhangjiajie,
Hunan,
China
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
28/6/08
I arriving at a town at the base of the Wulingyuan peaks on sunset, 33kms away from Zhanghiajie City. Speaking to the 16 year olds on the bus they said the cheapest accommodation was 100RMB a night. Despite this matched the bible I was determined to find cheaper. So I set of down the road by myself. After 100meters a girl got out of her family car to my aid. She was a guide & was keen to practice some English. She told me the same info as the people on the bus. Stressing the important of budget hotel her dad new a really cheap place. 50RMB a night got me my own ensuite twin room. The carpet was disgusting though; would have filled a Dyson vacuum in
one sweep. I exchanged numbers with her, offered dinner the following night and thanked them. Again I would not be where I am in China with out the help of the locals and the Mandarin phrase book.
After 2 days without a shower I enjoyed the moment. Ready for a walk in town I soon realized this area was a big tourist attraction for the Chinese. There were no English signs in town. Nor could I find a tourist info office or Internet cafe. To terrified to eat local I hit the supermarket. No bread, rice cakes will do, various fruit & instant noodles. Headed back for well deserved sleep.
Day 76. I'm in Suoxiya! (aka Suoxi Gully Town)
29/6/08
The trip to Wulingyuan entrance was sucessful although my attempt to get student discount rightly failed. It was a smacking 248RMB for a 2 day pass. Same price for locals so really should not complain. To get in thumb print entry against an electronic card was required, all very fancy. Turning down the offer of a guide I set out to trek by myself.
I never got lost, but I was never really sure where I was going. 3 maps, 2 from the ticket office & another from the bible, none matched up 100%. I was aiming for the Tianzi mountain walking route (possible to take cable car for more money). For lunch I ate honey on rice crackers followed by an apple & a banana (this was to be my stable diet for the next 3 days).
My feet were wobbling after the 5 hr / 8 kms of walking. The paths or steps were all in good condition made of stone. The karst mountain scenery nature carved by rain, wind & gravity were simply stunning. See pictures A to G.
I returned to the hotel and text Fafang to see if she would join me for the evening. She did, so we walked back through town to the park. It was a Saturday night and quite busy. See picture of us in front of Wulingyuan Entrance (to be added). As a gift she bought me a prized possession of an A4 glossy brochure of the area in English. So much detail and many pictures. There was also info on the town I was staying in, Suoxi Gully (none in the bible). It was then I decided to skip my next destination Wudangshan Range as the bible had even less information on it. Straight to Xi'an, but stay another night here.
Unfortunately she could not join me for dinner as her stomach was hurting. So I headed back my hotel stopping at an Internet games place she pointed out. 60 computers nearly all used. They did not have skype, nor could I access gmail or facebook. So I updated the last entry on my blog and emailed through there. Heading to my room for instant noodles I settled down for the night.
Day 77. Happy Birthday to you......
30/6/08
Happy Birthday to you.....was the sound I woke to as the garbage truck slowly collected waste. Did they just select a random tune from the keyboard to warn people of their presence?
Todays location was to be the Huangshizhai Mountain route & Zhangjiajie forest park. Before I arrived there I stopped off at the worlds highest elevator, called Bin Long or Shuirao Simen, depending on the brochure you use. It cost 56RMB one way, ouch! Not wanting to return I followed the tourist route for a few hours high on the karst mountains. I began to get frustrated as the Asian tourists wanted to shout all the time and hear there echo's. Why won't they listen to the forest. There were many spiders, butterflys and jumping bugs. BUT it was time for a change and to head in the direction of where I was meant to go. So I deviated from the well signed route down a mud path.
It eventually turned to stone again, but less well kept. No shops or tourist in sight. Rewarded by remarkable views and insects batting there wings. By 2.30pm I had not located my position on the map, but I was sure I was heading in the right direction.
Half hour later heading down into the valley a sign presented itself. Two choices, head to the road furthest away from the start point or climb more steps up into the Huangshi mountain (original destination until sidetracked). Of course the later, dispite my legs needing a break from steps.
Climbing these mossy stairs I estimated I must have encounter several thousands steps over 2 days. And then there were cows! I'm not going to argue with an angry mother 4 times the weight of me. Conceding, I turned back and headed to the village.
When I hit the road I thought left, but this was a perfect time to confirm this with my iFriend. He got out his iCompass and indeed it seemed correct, even though the maps were now useless.
5 kms on the road I came to the entrance of the Huangshi. I decided not to follow the path up the mountain but instead follow the river. 10 kms more, but a different kind of flora & forna. Wild squirrels and monkeys were running around.
6pm I made it to the bus stop back at the elevator, full circle in 8hrs. Well over 20 kms for the day. Thighs like thunder. Calves like lightening. Really needed a rest.
My cameras were very inadequate to capture the full beauty of the National Park, but again I try, pictures I to R.
Walking back to the hotel I pass a blond foreigner, I'm not the only one in the town! He was on the phone, but when he got off he came running after me. Although a shower & rest was needed i joined him out for dinner. We accidentally stumbled into his guide friend who spoke excellent English. So I ate local with them for the first time in a couple of days.
Day 78. Yellow Dragon Cave
1/7/08
With names like Magic Needle Tranquilising the Sea and the Throne of the Dragon, the contents of the cave gets you dreaming. The former is insured for 100,000RMB. According to the brochure its the 1st case in world where an individual section of a natural spot has been insured among the world's heritage listed sites.
In fairness the cave matched the hype. It was the most photographic cave I have been to.....
