Sightseeing Pathway in The Works @ Shifou Mountain (石佛山), Hunan, China

Singaporeans are well known to be choosy when it comes to job application.

But in this particular case, you can pay me Singapore one million dollars to do just fifteen minutes of work and i would decline your offer right away without a nanosecond of consideration.

For any acrophobic, this is like the worst job ever!

The view may be breathtaking, the air might be crisp and fresh but there's no way i can walk on the wooden planks when a misstep would mean a few hundred meters down the mountain! Damn, just this thought is sufficient for me to feel a shiver down my spine.

The best thing? There's no bloody safety harness!!

At least not in the few pictures i have posted here.

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Basic Information

This three feet wide (around a meter) wooden pathway, when finished, would be China's longest sightseeing path at 2.89 kilometers.

Glass Sky Walk @ Heavenly Gate Mountain (天门山), Zhanjiajie, Hunan, China

Whenever anyone asks me on my favourite tourist spot(s) during my trip to the birthplace of Mao Zedong, Hunan, two places come to mind.

The little yet charming centuries-old town known as Phoenix old town and Tian Men Shan (directly translated as Heavenly Gate, Sky's Door, Heaven's Door or Sky's Gate Mountain).

A major regret for the trip that took place in 2009 was that despite paying an exorbitant 500 RMB, i was at Heavenly Gate Mountain for merely half a day. Most of the time was spent within the main attraction; the big hole that gives the mountain its name and fame.

But i know, from internet sources, that there is more to the mystic mountain.

Its latest attraction is this walkway suspended precariously by the side of the cliff at a height of more than 4,700 feet (equivalent to over 1,400 meters)!

Okay, it's just a walkway by the side of a mountain and there are hundreds of such man-made paths all over the world!

There is one key difference; this one features a see-through floor!

For someone who has a phobia of heights, this is one challenge i might have to decline although the glass bottomed walkway spans only slightly more than 60 meters.

I am not afraid of trying (not even dying)! In fact, i am more afraid i would embarrass myself by crawling across the walkway like a robotic baby doll!

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Thanks to Ms Sandra Chui for sending me the powerpoint slides!

For my travelogue on Tian Men Shan (天门山), click HERE

For my travelogue on Phoenix Old Town (凤凰古镇), click HERE

Yuanjiajie Scenic Area (袁家界景区) @Zhangjiajie (张家界), Hunan, China

My last post for a trip made last October!

In order to get to this highly elevated area, deemed to be the most beautiful in the whole Zhangjiajie region, there is this outdoor elevator (Bai Long Scenic Elevator) that will bring us 335 meters up.

The scenery was amazing, offering a bird's eyes view of the surroundings that inspired Avatar the movie.

It was probably at this time that i felt a pang of regret; of not buying a DSLR earlier!!

After walking for around one hour though, we get kind of jaded. It's roughly the same rocky formations again and again, with only slight variation to the height, width and/or gradient.

The troops of tourist invading the viewing platforms and jostling for much desired photographic spots were also getting to our nerves.

If people ever say Singaporeans are very kiasu (afraid to lose), i presume they have never been to China!

Despite the above factors, one spot worth noting was the magnificent natural bridge! Yes, you can confidently walk and cross over to the other karst pillar!

As with most overseas destinations, certain myths are fabricated to generate much interest and of course, additional tourist dollars.

One such myth is the heavenly lock!

This is so cheesy, like the Merlion we have in Singapore.

Well, at least the tourists are really passionate about it!!

He-Long Park (贺龙公园) @ Zhangjiajie (张家界), Hunan

My mom introducing the park

He-Long Park must be the dull-est place in the whole of Zhangjiajie!!

All the way (40 minutes) just to see a  bronze statue of a man that was totally ALIEN to me!!

Okay, not really all the way... since the park was actually en route to the cable car station; a necessary mode to bring us down to the foot of the mountain!

Speaking of He-Long, he was a damn famous man. 

My parents in front of the statue.

Might as well take a picture although we knew nuts about him.

Borned as a member of the Tujia minority, he was made Vice Premier after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Big Shot leh....

More of him can be read from HERE.

Despite the boredom, it was with blessing that the weather was really cooling and the scenery was really beautiful with a touch of mystery surrounding the various peaks!

The most interesting thing for this park?

Kids borned in the early 1980s or late 1970s should remember the "Journey to the West" drama serial from China. Remember the scene where the White Bone Spirit was battling with Sun Wukong?

Looks familiar?

Baofeng Lake (宝峰湖) @ Zhangjiajie (张家界), Hunan, China

Hi-yo!

Located in the middle of the jagged rock formation hundred of feet above, the lake was unsurprisingly boring.

But it all made up with an interesting boat ride by the enthusiatic boat commentor who shared the minority tujia customs and also narrated the diferent rock formations using our imagination (again).

A Toad with an Open Mouth.

The Laughing Buddha.

A Sleeping Tortoise.

A Lady with the Traditional Tujia Headdress.

Within this peaceful arena, the silence was at times broken by the pitchy yet melodic singing of the tujia lady on a traditional, oriental boat.

Most of the 'other' times, the silence was broken by the crowd we were with, who were really loud and rowdy (okay, maybe seven out of the forty tourists but with the decibels of a hundred persons)!!

The only picture that showed most of them.

From it, can aga aga gauge their attitude right??

They were so noisy, they drowned the voice of the poor tujia commentor. And they jostled for pictures, disregarding basic safety.

At that point, i would really love to give them a hand; by pushing them into the water. Being nice Mr Cavin Teo (and they had a group with tall, big sized guys), i threw out that thought!

I was praying that God will help.

Yes, the commentor was indeed using a loud hailer.

She lost to the seven bitches.

Charming Xiangxi Show @ Zhangjiajie (张家界), Hunan, China

One of the optional itineraries available for any China tour package, i was almost 100% sure my payment for 900 RMB (roughly S$180 for three of us) was a goner when i stepped into the cheesy-red theatre and saw an auction for Chinese paintings as the first event.

It felt just like the pasar malam (night market) bidding we have.

*shakes head*

Beautiful and huge paintings though.

 Disregarding the auction, the three hours show consisted of the following:

(1)

Interesting tribal songs from the Miao (this girl in the picture above was so pretty) and Tujia minorities,

 (2)

Cultural dances (on magic and customs like the legendary corpses jumping),

(3)

An oriental suprano from the minority tribe, who was fantastic (apparently better than the country-famous ah bao). I cannot imagine how can a guy sing with such high pitch? Gosh!

(4)

Twin sisters from the Bai tribe who were amazingly captivating with their sparkling attire and their dexterity in performing those bones breaking stunts!

(5)

Balancing act by this young chap. Similar to what we saw on television but i was really worried for the performer!!

(6)

Sword swallowing stunt! A freaky dangerous stunt and i know i will never ever try it! I need to eat!! It's my life remember? Haha.

This guy brought this skill to a higher level by using a curved sword and allowing a spectator to pull it out for him. Euwwwwwww!

(7)

Dress like the local, which left most of us in stitches!

Judging from the activites above, it was similar to what we watched on television for the numerous charity shows we have in Singapore.

No doubt, my heart continued feeling pained!
(my HARD EARNED money!)

Now the great outdoors!  

Yes, one indoor, one outdoor.

At least something more unique!  
*more segments = more worth the money*

Unfortunately, we have to move from the comfy seats to the hard cement steps outside the warm theatre, in a temperature of at most 12 degrees celcius.

(1)

First is a qigong event. Yawns........ how different can THAT be? One piece of flat stone on a guy and a hammer will be used to smash the stone. Boring!!!

This group of three men stacked themselves on top of each other [the first man rest on a carpet of broken glass pieces, the second man rest on top of the first man (separated by a plank of wood), the third man laid of the second man (separated by a wooden bed of standing needles)] and topped with a heavy looking boulder! 

That was incredible!

*the boulder was smashed with a hammer, as usual*

Thought it's over?

Not yet!! Another guy was put to rest (he is alive then) beneath three long high density cement strips (said to be 4000 Jin, 2,000 kilograms, heavy). 

Not challenging enough? 

The emcee invited five men and a lady from the audience to stand on the cement strips, with a specific condition; they must at least weigh 180 Jin, around 90 kilograms.

The guy was still alive after being subject to such excruciating torture for a few minutes!

(2)

Last event was a fire stepping ritual, similar to the type we had for thaipusam in Singapore. The one in Singapore wins....... hands-down.

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300 RMB per pax for a mostly acrobatic performance.

Was it worth it??

You decide.

Ten Miles Painting Gallery (十里画廊) @ Zhangjiajie (张家界), Hunan, China

As the name suggests, strolling along the stretch of boardwalk is equivalent to walking in a very lengthy exhibition hall with real life landscape paintings right beside you.

The misty rock formations changes every hundred meters, offering individualistic angles for camera beholders. Like me. Whaahhaaha.

Alongside my loved ones (mom and dad) in such cool weather (around 15 degrees celcius), my mind had never felt so relaxed. If not for the tight itinerary and the persistent tour guide, i would have taken my own sweet time. =_=

Sighz...

That's the bane of signing up with tour groups.