Land of the Rising Sun

Forget Japan, it’s all about Huangshan. If you ever want to experience a sunrise from the top of a mountain without the serious hike and sleeping in a tent, then this is the place for you. Located south west of Shanghai, Mt Huangshan is the living replica of all those mist enshrined mountain landscapes commonly depict China. Epic.

To get there is a bit of a mission, first you need to get a train/bus to Tunxi then a bus/taxi to Tangku (aka Huangshan City), the closest town to the mountain, then another bus to the entrance (foot of the mountain). Then you choose your route, the 10min cable car or the 2.5 hour climb … we took the long way. Fortunately it wasn’t a battle uphill through rough terrain but a long stairway that felt similar to the route that Sam and Frodo took to get into Shelob’s layer (see the 3^rd movie of the Lord Of The Rings)… only less steep, more well kept and nicer scenery… ok the only similarity is there was lots of steps and it was a mountain.

A real test of strength though was not the ascent, as exhausting as it was, but undertaken by the guys carrying the supplies up and down the mountain side. Move aside gym buffs, you have nothing on these men. Balancing serious weights at either end of a wooden pole across their shoulders, it was a feat of crazy strength. And if that wasn’t enough there was also the option of a chair lift from two of these super-humans. And there was me thinking carrying my backpack was enough of a task.

The views of the mountain as we climbed became more stunning (though hazy) and the promise of spectacular views from the top spurred you on and up. We were not disappointed. An array of craggy peaks toped great ravines that sunk down to the earth below sprawled with yellowed rocks (apt, as Huangshan translates as yellow mountains) and green foliage.

So the main reason this place is such a popular tourist destination… the sunrise. Even saying that I was surprised at how busy it was come 5.30am as we made our way up the nearby ‘Purple Cloud Peak’. Feeling adventurous (a rare occurrence given the time of the day) we avoided jostling with the crowds by scrambling up a nearby boulder. We were rewarded with a spectacular vantage point that saw the sun rise in all its bright red glory between a distant twin peak. Amazing!

That done we headed back down the mountain (well up and down and around) greeted by even more spectacular views as we went, finishing the last leg via cable car. All in all, well worth the sweat!