Sydney-Tianjin-Bangkok-Turkey-Greek Islands-Norway by cruiseship, flights and ferries.

[VPS]

that toilet looks like it is in the shower and would get wet

 

[RooFlyer]

Just catching up after some time away from the TR, and still enjoying it very much. Your pics from Flam, Voss, railway, Bergen etc look like duplicates of mine .

 

[woodyren]

that toilet looks like it is in the shower and would get wet

Yes it does. Not unusual in hostels and older homes in China.

 

[woodyren]

Just catching up after some time away from the TR, and still enjoying it very much. Your pics from Flam, Voss, railway, Bergen etc look like duplicates of mine .

Thanks. The whole region was such a pleasure for the eyes.

 

[woodyren]

Next morning after breakfast we boarded the bus to visit the main area of Zhangjiajie park. The mountains there were apparently the inspiration for the floating mountains in Avatar.

Following photos show the park entrance and scenery from the bus that takes you from the entrance to the main scenic area.


Entrance was very crowded but crowds were sufficiently spread out once we reached the scenic area to make things tolerable. China has such a huge growing domestic tourist market that most of the best places are being stretched to and at times beyond their capacity at times.

 

[woodyren]

A bus was required to travel to the top of the mountains by way of a long winding road prior to the construction of the Bailong Elevator that opened in 2002. It is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the worlds tallest outdoor elevator at 326mts in height. Spectacular vistas open up as the elevator rockets out of the lower enclosed shaft.






Entering the elevator.




View from inside.









Once at the top there are clifftop paths to follow the view the whole area.

 

[woodyren]

More photos from around the mountain top.


There is a small community that has farmed one of the nearby ridges for hundreds of years.

 

[woodyren]

Last photos from the Zhangjiajie Park area.

These of the natural bridge area.












Not exactly sure about how one can "be careful of Thunderbolts"



We descended by way of the Bailong elevator and had around an hour and a half free time at the bus waiting area. Others spent the time shopping in the tourist stalls there while I went for a walk along the small river that wound through the valley.

This was the rest area at the base of the mountains and the start of the walk.



Some much needed tranquillity along the way. Walked slowly for around 50 minutes taking photos and then briskly walked back arriving just before our departure time.

 

[woodyren]

After our day in the mountains and our groups dinner we attended a local cultural show.

My camera battery was exhausted by that time so only a few photos from Mrs woodyren's phone were taken before her phone met a similar fate.

The show was top class with dancing, acrobatics, comedy and illusionists.

The theatre was across the road from out lodge.






Quite exhausted after a long day but a wonderful experience all round.

 

[woodyren]

Day 3 of the tour and a wasted morning taken up by the inevitable shopping trip to a huge supermarket size two story tourist trap. First we were ushered into a room and given a sales pitch about local products that could cure most ailments known to modern man.

Amazingly to me the locals lap it all up and the bus shelves were packed with multiple packages by the time we left.

After lunch we visited a river cave area close by. Quite an extensive cave area with a river boat ride inside. Spectacular but the overuse of coloured lighting in most caves in China spoils thing a little in my opinion.

An intricate water wheel display on the path to the cave entrance.










This photo gives some perspective of the height of some of the chambers.

 

[woodyren]

Early morning. coughpy Chinese breakfast, then another wasted few hours of shopping for rubbish and finally back on the bus for the ride to Tianmen Mountain. (although I had no idea where we were heading at the time)

Until we arrived at the site I honestly thought we were just doing a cable car ride to another area of Zhangjiajie. Once we pulled up at the cable car allowing a glimpse of the scenery I realised that we were at the mountain featured in many videos for wing suit flyers. As a person who is not comfortable at all with heights I was always captivated by the bravery of these flyers and the amazing back drop of this area but had never put two and two together and realised where the mountain was situated.








Now the excitement levels were being challenged by the trepidation of riding one of the worlds longest cable cars. A triple dose of sedatives (I do not lie) prepared my for the ride although I will admit that I may well have had trouble complying with point 11 on the instructions.

Wow what a ride it was starting out relatively level for the early part of the trip over the town and railway station and then rising steeply as it hit the mountain rea. 8 klms in total.





The views of the mountain (and the drugs) almost washed over my stress on the way up and it was an amazing experience. Mrs woodyren, who is normally fine with these things was a little overcome with the later steep high section while I was in a state of not really caring as you can see by my eyes.







​

 

[woodyren]

Alighted the cable car and had a few hours to walk the cliff paths and mountain top area. Another WOW moment in what has been a fantastic trip.

I walked most of the cliff face paths.













As usual things got a little crowded at times. Most tour groups like to stick together so my strategy was to wait till a wave passed by and then move to the next vantage point.









Further along was a glass bottom section of path. It was a no for me.

 

[woodyren]

After the mountain top sights it was time to head off to the next spot in the area, Tianmen Cave or Heaven's Gate. Previously this required a walk along a path and climbing down some steep ladder like steps I believe. While this is still possible this is China after all and the long and difficult walk has been replaced by eight or so huge escalators tunnelled inside the mountain.





Inside the cave before taking the lower escalators to the viewing area.

 

[OZDUCK]

Wow - fabulous views. And, I agree with you about glass bottomed pathways - I have enough trouble with them in two story shopping centres let alone on cliffs.

 

[woodyren]

Time to head down the mountain from Heavens Gate. Rode to the top by cable car. Descended to Heavens Gate by the crazy inside the mountain escalators and now for the mini bus ride down to the bus car park.

The road is an amazing piece of construction and the drivers use every inch of it to transport you down in the shortest possible time. The locals on our tour were kind enough to offer me the front row seat for the descent.

The road down.




View from the bus.









Heavens Gate from the bus.


Bus car park views.

 

[tgh]

more ….more…. I want more

 

[woodyren]

Departed Tianmen mountain area late in the day after another memorable day during this trip. Ahead was a 4-5 hour bus trip to Fenghuang Town. As I mentioned earlier I had no idea where we were heading on this short tour apart from visiting Zhangjiajie. Mrs woodyren booked it and the itinerary was in Mandarin.

Fenghuang turned into another nice surprise.

We arrived late in the evening around 11pm. Others of our group decided to visit the old town that evening. I was very tired from all the walking and travel in the last few days so we just stayed at our hotel.

The next morning we were guided on a tour of the town. The main riverside area was quite crowded with tour groups but it is a very picturesque place that appears to maintain a lot of it's old charm.







This turned out to be one of my favourite photos of the whole trip.


The river is lined with restored houses that have been converted into lodges, bars and eateries.

 

[woodyren]

After the visit to the riverside area our group was escorted to a shopping area. The region is noted for it's silverware and we were instructed to meat our guide at the shopping area in two hours. I went off solo to explore all the old streets in the area behind the riverfront.

The area away from the path followed by the tour groups was far less crowded. Looked to me like there was a no go area for groups reserved mainly for those staying in the lodgings. I would really like to return and stay for a few days. The restaurants and bars looked interesting and the prices very reasonable. Regretted now that I didn't go out later the previous evening and sample the areas nightlife.

First two photos are on the tourist trail as I walked to the quitter area of town.

Cured pork belly is a famous local treat.









Many small bars in the narrow streets.
















Yet another good day but too little time spent in this fantastic town.

 

[woodyren]

Time to bring this TR to a close.

Bullet train from Shenyang to Beijing.




Airport express metro to the airport.




Great little $50 AUD local hotel close by the airport.










Flights home on points Singapore J. Beijing - Singapore - Sydney.

















The trip took quite a while to plan and in all honesty there was very little I would change.

We were blessed by the weather almost every day. Almost every hotel exceeded our expectations. Our budget more than covered our costs and as usual our Chinese friends treated us to some wonderful local hospitality.



We have been home now for around 8 weeks. I have worked almost every day.

I fly out again next week for 10 days in China and then a cruise back to Sydney on our favourite ship. Ovation of the Seas.

Hope you enjoyed my first TR.

Cheers.

Woodyren

 

[tgh]

A super ta with great pics, much enjoyed, well done.