Wulingshan

Today the group planned to climb Wulingshan (Wuling Mountain) itself. "Wu" means foggy or misty, and the mountain lived up to its name!

The hike turned out to be a walk up about 1500ft through a pretty wooded valley with a stream at the bottom and, today, damp and mist.


Misty Forest
Chinese hiking trails tend to be very well constructed, with stone steps at the steep bits. Every pool and prominent rock is inscribed with characters either giving a poetic message or telling some history.


Inscribed Rock
After climbing 1500ft we came to a small cabin/restaurant, and it turned out we were to take a bus from there to the summit (which was still 3000ft higher). The summit, which is the highest point in Beijing, was shrouded in cloud, so we didn't get to see any view.


Halfway House

On the way down the brakes of the minibus started smoking, so we all jumped out and walked the last few hundred yards back through the village. This gave me the chance to photograph a mother dog with cute puppies and a little boy playing with them (as well as see a woman strangle a chicken and cut its throat to drain the blood onto at the side of the street - which I didn't photograph!).


Mother and Pups


Little Boy and Puppy