China Aug 2002

Huangshan or Yellow Mountain was the main attraction on this trip, but we also went to visit another water town close to Shanghai, and to quick trip to Nanjing. We met my parents in Shanghai, as they were traveling on a tour round China. We had a couple of good day with them, and we went to Nanjing to visit Helen's parents with them.

In Yellow Mountain we hiked to the top, stayed there over night to see the sun rise, and then hiked back down again. The hike included an almost 3000feet altitude difference, so it was a though hike both going up and going down. You can take the cable car, but we felt we would get a better experience if we hiked up. We went up the east route, and down the western route. I Huangshan we also visited Jade garden, a beautiful place, where part of the movie Crouching Tiger ... was filmed.

We visited a water town close to Shanghai the first weekend of my trip

People visiting the local store

Life goes on the the town

There were some very narrow streets in the town

Yes, people live here normal life here - even though there are a lot of visitors

Helen and I in a wood carving shop in the water town

Lunch in Shanghai.

Helen and my parents in the train on the way to Nanjing

All of us in Nanjing

Helen, my parents and Helen's parents in Nanjing

My parents when visiting Nanjing

Lunch in Nanjing before going back to Suzhou where my parents rejoined their tour group

We ran into a traffic accident on the way from Nanjing to Suzhou - the highway stopped completely

The accident was right next to this lake, and I got a nice view of the sunset

Saying good bye to my parents

There were a lot of people on the train, so it was an interesting experience.

We continued from Nanjing to Yellow Mountain by train - hard seat

Helen and I on the way up to the top of Yellow Mountain

People carry all goods to the top. They often carry up to 100kg - double their own weight

Another beautiful view on the way to the top

Some of the people carry a lot of stuff

View of Yellow Mountain on the way to the top

Here we are at the top just outside the Hotel where we stayed

Before sunrise at top of Yellow Mountain

Getting closer

Yes, we can see the sun

It took a few minutes for the sun to rise.

A lot of people got up early to view the sun rise

The mountains are beautiful in the early morning

Helen and I at the top of Yellow Mountain

Another sun rise picture

The mountains just after sun rise

Yellow Mountain is a mountain like no other that I have seen

View back up at the mountain

Hiking down was easier, but Helen's legs were tired afterwards

We passed many very narrow paths on the way down

Some places you walk on the outside of the mountain

Many places to put locks up where after you throw the key away - we also put up a lock

Nice view at the top of the mountain

Interesting rock formation - floating rock it was called-

Helen on the way to the "floating" rock

Here I am on the way back down from "floating" rock.

We hiked to the highest point in Yellow Mountain, and it was steep going back down

Helen and I at the floating rock (photo taken the other way)

View back up the top on the way down. Note the many people visiting Yellow Mountain

First view at the entrance to Jade Garden

There were quite a few small waterfalls in Jade garden even this late in the season

Helen at the end of the path in Jade garden

Another look beyond the end of Jade Garden

Another view into the bamboo forest in Jade Garden

Helen at an interesting formation in Jade Garden

Yes, there were some nice waterfalls

We hiked in a bamboo forest

Another waterfall

We stopped to rest along the river

Nice view of the Bamboo forest

The water was very clear

Helen and I on one of the famous places in Jade Garden