Travel in Anhui,China

Iron Paintings have a history of more than 300 years. But these aren't paintings at all, but rather pieces of iron that are heated and then bent and manipulated into lines and shapes.

On the phenomena of collective travel

"What could possibly compel them to do something so… wrong?" This was the question posed by a group of expats sitting around a youth hostel in scenic Huangshan Mountain, China's beloved mountain range in Anhui province, discussing the legions of tourists who had disrupted their 72-peak excursion.

The long and winding road

Going to Huangshan reminds me of the hit Beatles' song "The Long and Winding Road". What is so breath-taking about the experience are the out-of-this -world scenes!

Yellow Mountain (HuangShan Mountain)

Today, I want to talk about Yellow Mountain (Huangshan Mountain). I will simply introduce it first, but the main part of my presentation is about the luck I got for visiting the "Huangshan in cloud" and some of my feelings about it.

Yellow Mountain III: descending the Western Steps

At least I have a heater this evening, and the miniscule room I'm in somehow manages to accommodate three bunk beds, sleeping a total of six people. My Chinese roommates, I notice, have all opted for the same meal as I, and so we sit huddled around our tea eggs, pot noodles and heater.

Yellow Mountain II: from sunrise to sunset

It's before 5:00 am, New Year' Eve 2007 and I shouldn't be awake, but I am. It's been a night of snatched pieces of sleep in between long, cold wakeful hours. My small flask that has doubled as a life-saving hot-water bottle is now beginning to get a film of ice on it. Nothing else for it, I get up.

Yellow Mountain I: up the eastern steps to the North Sea

In an effort to spice up what would otherwise have been a largely forgettable New Year, I came up with a last minute plan to spend three days at Yellow Mountain. I have divided my journey into three, as follows:

Travel tips of Yellow Mountain

I have summed up three travel routes and some travel tips of the Yellow Mountain (Huangshan Mountain). I would like to share with you. Hope it do some favor to you.

Tour Huangshan Mountain in rainy and foggy days

I have appreciated China's most beautiful water in Jiuzhaigou Valley. This summer holiday, I planned to visit its most beautiful mountain. My friend recommended Huangshan Mountain and I indeed went there.

The Way to Hefei

On my trip from Dalian to Changsha to visit my old friend Lao Hei, I had decided to avoid crowds and overbooked trains by taking a side route through Shandong. Missing a direct train link from Qingdao, I had needed to resort to an overnight bus stopping halfway at Hefei city, capital of Anhui province.