Huang Shang-Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Country

National labour day holiday and another long bus trip with OK deal-looking forward to the legendary beauty of Yellow Mountain, Huang Shang, and hiking in the mountains, despite having a slightly sprained ankle.

Drive for ever, as the countryside becomes more rural and mountainous. Tea country, terraced hills of soft hummocks ,the workers in their coolie hats with baskets picking the young buds. A glimpse of the traditional, a reminder that not all of China has become urbanised beyond recongnition-yet.

Arrive eventually,2 hours later than anticipated, for a quick lunch stop around 3 and then off for some fresh mountain air and stretching the legs along the Jade Valley, bordered by lush bamboo forests, where Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed.

Climbing up and  then cooling down in the cold water pools.

more posers...

Many padlocked keys hanging on the bridge, a tradition for couples to unite their love forever..Sadly our couple that bought one, had it engraved, only to have it break and had to be stuck on with chewing gum...

Always expect the unexpected in China, climbing up and into the gorge, looked up at the zip wire and see 2 cyclists, one apparently stuck! Quite nerve racking as a crowd gathers (not unusual) to see events unfold. But the unicyclist seemed to save the day and managed to release the other with a hammer and all ended well...

Another hour or more on the bus, and arrive to tumbled down buildings and 1/2 built appartment blocks.. A feeling of trepidation as we walk along a dark bumpy path to the sound of bulfrogs croaking. But through the old gate, along a cobbled lane and into a courtyard, we find ourselfes in a perfect white village with dark tiled rooves, with the river running along side.

 Of course the little restored houses are a little rough and ready (and the electricity cable hanging over the shower in the bathroom was a health and saftey nightmare), but how unexpected and how perfect-a village to ourselves!

Early to bed though tonight, and  after some average food and a couple of beers (apart from Patrick) we all retired.

Had frantic knocking on my door, and had to rescue several large moths from Maria's room-I thought they were beautiful but she didn't quite get that...

4.30am start and after a quick breakfast back on the bus. Stop for snacks to keep us going up the mountain and back on the bus. Off the bus-'queue' for an hour with 20,000 other holiday makers (that should read push, jostle, shove) to get through the entrance

..and then back on a bus. Taken to the starting point of the mountain walks, around hairpin bends by the shuttle buses. Then after much deliberation with the tour guides and refusing to get the cable car up (another 2hr queue) we join the long climb up the steps. The steps that never end..

For the best part of 3 hours we climb and climb, stunning hazy views, but too pained to look!!

 So hot and sweaty, arrive almost at the summit and take a lunch break. Thank God I bought chocolate!

Can you feel the pain??!!

Strolling around the top of the mountain to the peak, and again more steps, and more deliberation as 1/2 of us not wanting to take the easy cable car option down. so a splinter group and off we went, following another route through some truly amazing rock formations, what a shame there are another 60,000 pople enjoying it too!

But then the cable car queue another 2 hours ,so we think, quicker to walk!

queue for the cable car-I don't think so..

2 hours of steps down later, legs trembling and shaking, and thinking when is this going to end, we make it down. Going to pay for this tomorrow. A celebratory much needed beer.

Party time. Campfire the the village courtyard, many beers bought, (the local shop woken late for more supplies),katey's rose,some whiskey,vodka etc lets get the party started! I drank most of a bottle of Dynasty red-not a good idea-and don't mention the Baijiu shots...much dancing and letting down of hair after the day's adrenalin high!

The keyhole door prop..

Bad baijiu

My greatest dance hits of the 70s and 80s helped keep us dancing til the small hours The 'ancient' sedans proved a good foil for drunken revellers and luckily nobody took the boats out tonight! Managed to slip in the dark, lose a flip-flop and re-twist my ankle which had stood up so well on the mountain in sensible walking boots!

Monday, more subdued, an hour in the ancient town on Tonxi-which although full of paintbrushes, tea and the usual tourist paraphenalia had some nice cafes and would have made a pleasant 1/2 day stop.

Great lunch though (although those that missed breakfast succumbed to KFC) and then back on the bus for that 6 hr journey back to Shanghai.

(and yes the legs seized up and couldnt walk properly for 4 days afterwards...)

But-a brilliant memorable China weekend!