Worldwanderings.net » mountain http://www.worldwanderings.net Wandering the world one day at a time Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:14:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Entering the Lingyin Temple 灵隐寺 Grounds http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/01/23/entering-the-lingyin-temple-%e7%81%b5%e9%9a%90%e5%af%ba-grounds/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/01/23/entering-the-lingyin-temple-%e7%81%b5%e9%9a%90%e5%af%ba-grounds/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:11:40 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=8036
IMG 8476 Entering the Lingyin Temple 灵隐寺 Grounds

Small Lake Near the Gate

The Lingyin Temple was located in the outskirts of Hangzhou city, in fact you would probably forget how you got here in the first place. All of a sudden we were transported to a place of mountains and rivers. The Lingyin Temple grounds itself has a few sights of its own, we’ll have to see how much we can cover here. We took some photos in front of the gate and I even asked a man to help take a photo of us. My friend was surprised that I let him take hold of my camera. I wasn’t really worried. After all he was just hanging around, he couldn’t possibly be waiting for someone to hand him over a camera, right?

IMG 8473 500x333 Entering the Lingyin Temple 灵隐寺 Grounds

Gate to the Lingyin Temple 灵隐寺 Grounds

Actually the area before the Lingyin Temple was already quite nice. There was another path which seems to lead to the mountain, we asked how far it is to the top of that mountain and the answer was 45 minutes. Somehow I doubt that it will really take only 45 minutes to get there. There was a chair lift but it was out of commission. In the end, we didn’t go to that mountain, I don’t think my friend would like to be climbing mountains here in China.

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2012/01/23/entering-the-lingyin-temple-%e7%81%b5%e9%9a%90%e5%af%ba-grounds/feed/ 0 Ciguang Temple 慈光阁 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/30/ciguang-temple-%e6%85%88%e5%85%89%e9%98%81/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/30/ciguang-temple-%e6%85%88%e5%85%89%e9%98%81/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:40:38 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7109
IMG 6027 500x333 Ciguang Temple 慈光阁

Ciguang Temple 慈光阁 Against the Magnificent Backdrop of Huangshan 黄山

It has been five hours since we started walking down the Western Steps of Huangshan. Prior to this, I had no idea how long the hike will take, I’m just glad that I had companions with me who can understand me. The walk in these parts is much easier now since most of it is flatland. And before I knew it, our Chinese friend said that we had arrived. For out of nowhere we suddenly arrived at civilization. Of all things, there was a Chinese temple looming right in front of us. I didn’t know it yet, but it was already the end of our hike. I thought it was another one of those touristy things they put in the hiking trail.

IMG 6026 500x333 Ciguang Temple 慈光阁

Ciguang Temple 慈光阁 at Huangshan 黄山

That may not be too far from the truth. The Ciguang Temple 慈光阁 used to be an active temple, but now it has been converted into the Huangshan Visitors Center. Come to think of it, Huangshan isn’t exactly a holy mountain in the likes of Mount Tai and Mount Emei. What it lacks in cultural and relgious importance, the mountain makes up for it in terms of raw beauty. I was only too glad to finally arrive here at the temple. Beyond this is the exit. After taking some well deserved photos, Team Laojie has finally set for home.

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/30/ciguang-temple-%e6%85%88%e5%85%89%e9%98%81/feed/ 0 Finally at Ground Level at Huangshan 黄山 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/29/finally-at-ground-level-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/29/finally-at-ground-level-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:37:04 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7103
IMG 6023 Finally at Ground Level at Huangshan 黄山

One of the Last Few Stops We Made

The Western Steps is a fairly long trail. And because of this it is hard to tell where the trail ends especially when viewed from above. In fact, when I was viewing the photos, it was difficult to see where the stairs were even if I just passed through them. It would realize that mountains were just that huge for me to miss the tiny stairs crisscrossing them. This was exactly the case for me. All that walking made me unaware of my surroundings but we finally cross a small ravine via concrete bridge.

IMG 6018 500x333 Finally at Ground Level at Huangshan 黄山

Concrete Bridge at the Bottom of the Western Steps in Huangshan 黄山

Little did I know that we were almost there. We took a few rests in the meantime. I’m sure our legs will be very sore that afternoon and the next day. I haven’t hiked this long in a long, long while and while it is really exhilarating, it is also very exhausting. My bottle of water is almost empty now and I’m really looking forward to our destination. The walk is still one of the more beautiful I have done and I would highly recommend visiting Huangshan.

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/29/finally-at-ground-level-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/feed/ 0 End of the Western Steps at Huangshan 黄山 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/28/end-of-the-western-steps-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/28/end-of-the-western-steps-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/#comments Sun, 28 Aug 2011 13:05:53 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7099
IMG 6014 End of the Western Steps at Huangshan 黄山

Majestic Huangshan 黄山

We have been walking for more than four hours here at the Western Step of Huangshan. Even though it is going down, the constant pounding my knees have been enduring is taking its toll. My legs were also burning from helping to cushion the impact and still no end in sight for the trail. It is too late to think of taking the cable car now. I’m only too glad to see that I wasn’t the only one having a hard time to. At least three fourths of the group are having a hard time, since our British companion is hardly breaking a sweat.

IMG 6010 500x333 End of the Western Steps at Huangshan 黄山

Some Framing of Huangshan 黄山

Each time we stop for a rest, I take my chance to get a photo of the surroundings. Huangshan is truly a very beautiful mountain as it can be seen from any angle. I’m doubly happy to see that the weather has been cooperating this whole time since visibility has been excellent. The Western steps are double the length of the Eastern steps though the former will usually be done downhill. This means we probably will take around five hours to get down the mountain. Just one more hour to go!

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/28/end-of-the-western-steps-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/feed/ 0 Encounter with Wildlife at Huangshan 黄山 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/27/encounter-with-wildlife-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/27/encounter-with-wildlife-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:04:22 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7092
IMG 6008 Encounter with Wildlife at Huangshan 黄山

Shaded Walkway on the Western Steps of Huangshan 黄山

We had no idea where we are an how much further we needed to walk. We were just trying to put one foot in front of the other while not losing our balance. By now, it was pretty obvious that we were already way down the mountain, it was just a question of how much further we needed to walk. There were more and more trees here, although it wasn’t really needed since I would have preferred the sun right now to warm us up. But I didn’t realize that the trees were also the home of wildlife on Huangshan.

IMG 6007 Encounter with Wildlife at Huangshan 黄山

Macaque in the Way in Huangshan 黄山

Directly on our path down the mountain was a macaque. From my experience in Mount Emei in Sichuan, the primates are used to humans and know they are a source of food. Great care must be taken when in the company of these creatures. It would be best to hide any type of food from their sight and hearing as they can be known to be very aggressive. Snatching the food would be the safest thing they could probably do, however they are also known to attack humans in certain instances. We grabbed a stick, probably left by other travelers, to help ward off the macaque in case it gets too aggressive, which it fortunately didn’t. The four of us eyed it warily before making sure that it didn’t follow us. It seems to be basing its operations in that small area so visitors be warned.

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/27/encounter-with-wildlife-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/feed/ 0 A Sliver of Sky 一线天 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/26/a-sliver-of-sky-%e4%b8%80%e7%ba%bf%e5%a4%a9/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/26/a-sliver-of-sky-%e4%b8%80%e7%ba%bf%e5%a4%a9/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:09:41 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7088
IMG 5992 A Sliver of Sky 一线天

A Sliver of Sky 一线天

Huangshan is huge, so huge that it is not possible for one to fully explore the place in one day. You have probably have to stay here a couple of days, that is if your knees can take it. I don’t think my knees would be able to handle the continous pounding. My legs probably won’t have the strength to carry me anyway. My legs actually were still sore from walking on mountains from Jinshanling in Hebei to Mount Tai in Shandong province. This is probably the last major climb/walk I will be having in a while so I might as well make the most of it.

IMG 5995 500x333 A Sliver of Sky 一线天

Mattress Rock

The rock formations of Huangshan never cease to amaze the visitor. There is this particularly narrow passageway which formed naturally over the millennia. The walls of granite appear to sandwich the visitor in between them, this place is call A Sliver of Sky 一线天. Apparently, this is a pretty common name for places like this as it has been given places in other parts of the country. Another rather curious shape is call the mattress rock. I guess it is because it looks like a folded up mattress. By know we were stopping every fifteen minutes, we were walking for three hours now and we were really tired. I wonder how much more we had to walk.

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/26/a-sliver-of-sky-%e4%b8%80%e7%ba%bf%e5%a4%a9/feed/ 0 Small Stopover at Huangshan 黄山 Western Steps http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/25/small-stopover-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1-western-steps/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/25/small-stopover-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1-western-steps/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:43:53 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7083
IMG 5980 500x333 Small Stopover at Huangshan 黄山 Western Steps

Guest Welcoming Pine 迎客树

It seems like we have been walking forever and my knees have begun to hurt from all that walking. When we came upon this clearing which seemed rather important. There were a lot of Chinese calligraphy etched on the rock only confirmed that this was a rather significant place. A large crowd of people were gathered by a tree off to the side of the clearing. It was a well known pine tree Guest Welcoming Pine 迎客松. I don’t really know the significance of the pine tree. I could only deduce from the name they gave since it is at one of the entry points into Huangshan, this tree would be the first ones visitors see.

IMG 5978 500x333 Small Stopover at Huangshan 黄山 Western Steps

Small Clearing Halfway Up Huangshan 黄山

We got our chance to photos here despite the large number of people here. Our Chinese companion specifically had to take a photo with the tree as his mother asked him to. I guess it is that well known. As it turns out, this is also a major fork in the road. From here you can decide to continue on the western steps or wuss out and take the cable car down. It was a mix of dismay and relief that my companions decided to continue on the western steps. The British guy was the one who persuaded me the strongest to keep walking, most probably because he I’m the easiest person to talk to in our group.

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/25/small-stopover-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1-western-steps/feed/ 0 Amazing Mountain Scenery at Huangshan 黄山 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/24/amazing-mountain-scenery-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/24/amazing-mountain-scenery-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:49:40 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7079
IMG 5969 500x333 Amazing Mountain Scenery at Huangshan 黄山

Massive Granite Peak of Huangshan 黄山

I had only walked for an hour down the Huangshan and I was already very impressed with what I have been seeing. This early, I could say that this is probably one of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen. The scenery is surreal that you cannot blame countless painters for turning the scenery into paintings. In fact, so common was this that Huangshan had a specific school of art. Part of the allure here is that large part of the mountain are made of solid granite and there was little vegetation on them. This exposes the color of the mountain even more. Probably giving rise to its name.

IMG 5961 Amazing Mountain Scenery at Huangshan 黄山

Some Autumns Scenery at Huangshan 黄山

The wonderful view only helps to highlight the geological features of Huangshan. Huangshan itself is made up of several peaks some of which I had already passed such as Bright Summit Peak 光明峰, Aoyu Peak 鳌鱼峰 and Lotus Flower Peak 莲花峰., none of which we had the strength nor the interest in climbing. Now that I think about it, we could have spend more time on the mountain like an entire day before going down instead of heading down the mountain the first thing in the morning.

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/24/amazing-mountain-scenery-at-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/feed/ 0 Surreal Landscape of Huangshan 黄山 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/23/surreal-landscape-of-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/23/surreal-landscape-of-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:15:32 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7074
IMG 5950 Surreal Landscape of Huangshan 黄山

Bare Rock Mountainside at Huangshan 黄山

The weather at Huangshan was certainly great. It was actually cold, but since we kept moving, we couldn’t really feel it. In fact, whenever we stop to rest, we suddenly feel the cold and we start to wear our jackets all over again, only to remove them when we start walking again. Huangshan has tens of kilometers of pathways for visitors and one would need to visit the mountain several times to comletely explore all the other paths. I liked the fact that the paths are all well made and very safe. In fact some even have nice bridges just to cross a small ravine.

IMG 5944 500x333 Surreal Landscape of Huangshan 黄山

Bridge on the Huangshan 黄山 Mountainside

In other places they would bore a hole through a part of the mountain to create a stairway for travellers. There are also generous pavillions for the tired and weary. I was also surprised to see numerous tourists climbing their way up the mountain. I was already huffing and puffing my way down the Western steps while these guys are climbing their way up. I don’t know how long it will take to climb up, maybe seven hours? I’m just glad that I didn’t have to do it.

]]> http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/23/surreal-landscape-of-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/feed/ 0 Rock Formations of Huangshan 黄山 http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/22/rock-formations-of-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/ http://www.worldwanderings.net/2011/08/22/rock-formations-of-huangshan-%e9%bb%84%e5%b1%b1/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:59:48 +0000 admin http://www.worldwanderings.net/?p=7070
IMG 5940 Rock Formations of Huangshan 黄山

Narrow Footpath On Huangshan 黄山

The beauty of Huangshan comes from its numerous rock formations that dot its many peaks. It is but natural that the Chinese would come to give these formations and peaks colorful names. Some of them make sense others don’t. Huangshan is known as one of China’s most beautiful mountains, it is not just now but it has been like this for centuries with numerous poets alluding to the beauty of the mountain. Chinese paintings routinely produce likenesses of the mountain. The name Huangshan literally means Yellow Mountain probably because of the color of the bare rock faces of the mountain.

IMG 5957 Rock Formations of Huangshan 黄山

Mobile Phone Rock 手机石 at Huangshan 黄山

Like a lot of mountain ranges, Huangshan also started from the bottom of the sea and its features have been eroded by wind, rain and ice over the millennia. The result is the wondrous landscape that is now known as Huangshan. There are numerous natural pathways which are between two slabs of solid rock. It is just wide enough for a person to pass through. Another interesting formation is the Mobile Phone Rock, as you might guess, it looks like a mobile phone. This is probably one of the newest names given in a while.

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