This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by Country Holiday.
I’m in a Chinese painting, not quite but that was the feeling I had when I was standing on top of Huangshan – Yellow Mountain, UNESCO Heritage Site. Referred to as the “loveliest mountain of China”, Huangshan draws visitors, artists and photographers to its high peaks that emerge out of a “sea of clouds”.
Huangshan
The great joy of hiking Huangshan was the fairytale setting that immediately struck me. The landscape is dominated by stone peaks, bamboo forests and pine trees, all surrounded by a shroud of mist. The sun occasionally broke through to unveil breathtaking mountain views when a minute prior, all I could see was eerie mist.
Huangshan has thousands of peaks, with some reaching 1,000 meters high. The hiking paths are easy to follow but tough to climb. It has been a tourist destination for thousands of years, so unlike the dirt paths found on mountain trails, the passageways here are a series of man-made stone steps. The steps are divided into eastern steps, measuring 4.5 miles, which are shorter and easier, and the western steps, at 9 miles, are steeper but more visually rewarding. For those who do not wish or are unable to hike, there are cable cars that take you up the mountain. You can then still take short hikes at the top to take in the scenery and unique rock formations which are said to resemble images of humans, monkeys and other animals. The highlight of Huangshan is the sunset views.
Hongcun and Xidi
Apart from Huangshan, there are quaint ancient villages, also UNESCO sites, sitting at the foot of the mountain. Old houses in traditional rural settings, centuries-old merchant dwellings and historical streets all added Huangshan’s charm.
Hongcun evokes a sense of China’s bygone past. Narrow lanes wind along white-washed buildings with black tiled roofs, locals wash their clothes in the village lake and preserved foods hang out to dry. The village is an artist’s dream with many around sketching the rural scenes with their charcoal and easels.
Xidi is surrounded by mountains and green pastures, with a waterway crisscrossed by stone-paved lanes. The village features a stone memorial arch, buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, ancestral temples, small gardens, folk art and antiques. The small town has a serene quality with villagers going about their daily chores and children playing in the alleyways.
I spent time exploring both villages, admiring the interiors of homes and interacting with the locals. What truly captured my attention was the simplicity of life, the friendly and warm smiles on the faces of the locals and their sincerity.
Would I visit Huangshan and the surrounding villages again? Yes! Besides being able to escape the city-life of Beijing, one can get back to nature and enjoy the basic things in life.
Written By: Bonnie Chao
Trip organized by Country Holidays.
To learn more about tours and packages, please email beijing@countryholidays.com.cn or call (010) 8587-9263 and log onto: www.countryholidays.com.cn.
This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by Country Holiday.
Photos courtesy of Country Holiday
