So what do you do for fun on a weekend when you've been shipped to China on a work trip? Visit Mount Huangshan, of course!
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-2scZrXN/0/a1530f31/M/20170519_145606-M.jpg]
The Chinese have a lot of sayings. One of them is that there are many tall mountains in China, but after visiting Mount Huangshan, you will not bother visiting the others. I'm not sure if that is accurate, but I wasn't about to turn down the offer from one of my colleagues in the Hangzhou area. There were six of us on this trek - three from our Central PA office, two from our southern China manufacturing site, and our host.
First, you have to get there. It's at least a 3-hour drive from Hangzhou to the Northern Gate of the Scenic area. And you have to dodge the typical road hazards.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-TfxsNFr/0/251ed0c4/M/20170519_121311-M.jpg]
Next, it's a good idea to stop for lunch and use the indoor facilities before heading up the mountain. By the way, did you know that Long Dong translates to "Dragon East"?
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-Ftcsz5B/0/18bd39e7/M/20170519_123225-M.jpg]
Our plan included a gondola ride to the Red Cloud Peak then trekking to the Bright Top Peak at 1860m (6102') before heading to our hotel near the summit. Yes... hotel. I was expecting something closer to a hostel or guesthouse but it was a bona-fide hotel.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-HHCjf9g/0/7d611a82/M/20170519_132923-M.jpg]
Views on the gondola ride
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-9pdFMSL/0/6129c18f/M/20170519_133624-M.jpg]
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-6KXnL2J/0/33177b87/M/20170519_133828-M.jpg]
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-3FWvmsZ/0/d6134382/M/20170519_134111-M.jpg]
There are reported to be 1000 steps from the gondola station to the summit. Here's an example of the types of steps.
Easy fun steps
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-tjL26x2/0/1f0ec003/M/20170519_135057-M.jpg]
Light cursing steps
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-tDXpW3B/0/2d9faec2/M/20170519_144447-M.jpg]
WTF steps
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-mmfSpkC/0/98ec7227/M/20170519_145117-M.jpg]
I'm sure we've all had times where we wished there were nice cast steps on the AT. Yeah, they were better than your typical AT staircase but man... there were a lot of them!
Oh - guess how all of the supplies are brought up to the hotel and concession stands near the summit?
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-R5RD8Nn/0/4e2a22f6/M/20170519_135708-M.jpg]
One of my colleagues asked one of these sherpa dudes how much he got paid. The answer was 60 RMB per 50kg load. The sherpas all try to do balanced 100 kg trips to maximize their earnings. Let me convert that to English units:
100 kg = 220 pounds. 120 RMB = $17.43. I felt half guilty for buying a 120 RMB sweat jacket at the lower gift shop (didn't pack a jacket on this trip). We didn't ask if he was able to ride in the gondola or if that 120 RMB was from the bottom of the mountain.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-2scZrXN/0/a1530f31/M/20170519_145606-M.jpg]
The Chinese have a lot of sayings. One of them is that there are many tall mountains in China, but after visiting Mount Huangshan, you will not bother visiting the others. I'm not sure if that is accurate, but I wasn't about to turn down the offer from one of my colleagues in the Hangzhou area. There were six of us on this trek - three from our Central PA office, two from our southern China manufacturing site, and our host.
First, you have to get there. It's at least a 3-hour drive from Hangzhou to the Northern Gate of the Scenic area. And you have to dodge the typical road hazards.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-TfxsNFr/0/251ed0c4/M/20170519_121311-M.jpg]
Next, it's a good idea to stop for lunch and use the indoor facilities before heading up the mountain. By the way, did you know that Long Dong translates to "Dragon East"?
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-Ftcsz5B/0/18bd39e7/M/20170519_123225-M.jpg]
Our plan included a gondola ride to the Red Cloud Peak then trekking to the Bright Top Peak at 1860m (6102') before heading to our hotel near the summit. Yes... hotel. I was expecting something closer to a hostel or guesthouse but it was a bona-fide hotel.
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-HHCjf9g/0/7d611a82/M/20170519_132923-M.jpg]
Views on the gondola ride
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-9pdFMSL/0/6129c18f/M/20170519_133624-M.jpg]
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-6KXnL2J/0/33177b87/M/20170519_133828-M.jpg]
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-3FWvmsZ/0/d6134382/M/20170519_134111-M.jpg]
There are reported to be 1000 steps from the gondola station to the summit. Here's an example of the types of steps.
Easy fun steps
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-tjL26x2/0/1f0ec003/M/20170519_135057-M.jpg]
Light cursing steps
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-tDXpW3B/0/2d9faec2/M/20170519_144447-M.jpg]
WTF steps
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-mmfSpkC/0/98ec7227/M/20170519_145117-M.jpg]
I'm sure we've all had times where we wished there were nice cast steps on the AT. Yeah, they were better than your typical AT staircase but man... there were a lot of them!
Oh - guess how all of the supplies are brought up to the hotel and concession stands near the summit?
[IMG:https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Mount-Huangshan---Yellow-Mountai/i-R5RD8Nn/0/4e2a22f6/M/20170519_135708-M.jpg]
One of my colleagues asked one of these sherpa dudes how much he got paid. The answer was 60 RMB per 50kg load. The sherpas all try to do balanced 100 kg trips to maximize their earnings. Let me convert that to English units:
100 kg = 220 pounds. 120 RMB = $17.43. I felt half guilty for buying a 120 RMB sweat jacket at the lower gift shop (didn't pack a jacket on this trip). We didn't ask if he was able to ride in the gondola or if that 120 RMB was from the bottom of the mountain.
Trudgin' along the AT since 2003. Completed Sections: Springer Mountain to Clingmans Dome and Max Patch NC to Gorham NH
"The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard
"The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations...those are pretty good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard