Just days before climbing Huangshan Mountains, I happened to glimpse them at a photo exhibition. The only impression left with me was "misty". How can mountains be that misty?
With this doubt in mind and an unspoken awe in heart, I embarked on my journey to Huangshan Mountains together with a group which consisted mainly of guests from various overseas travel agencies and tourism communities.
Huangshan Mountains, located in the south of Anhui province, was originally known as Mt Yishan. It was renamed to Huangshan Mountains in AD 747 by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang dynasty in recognition of the legendary Huang Di, who was the reputed ancestor of the Chinese people and who made magic pills for immortality here.
On the ride of the Yungu cable car to White Goose Ridge Station, Huangshan Mountains’ stunning pine trees and magnificent rocks came into sight. Eight of us in the cable car played a game – each thought out a word to describe their feelings. Words like “Green, cloudy, foggy, misty, gorgeous, fantastic, amazing, intriguing” were said.
After a twenty minute climb from the cable car station, I found myself on Bright Summit Peak, which is the mountain’s second highest peak. Legend has it that a monk saw a light ray from the heaven after practicing Taoism on the mountain for 15 years, after which the peak was named. Even today, Bright Summit Peak is still the best place to see the sunrise and its sea of clouds.
Compared to the loftiness, steepness and grandeur of Bright Summit Peak, Shixin Peak shooting out from the deep valley impressed us with its slenderness, quietness and delicacy. The harmony of strength and grace, the two qualities of beauty, make a superb picture of Huangshan Mountains.
The famous Guest-greeting Pine on Huangshan Mountains
Standing on the top of the Shixin Peak, we couldn’t see the foot of the mountains. If it weren’t for the fact that there were other tourists around me, I would have forgotten that I was still on earth. Because of the fog, the mountain’s scenery is ever changing. One moment you could glimpse a far-away peak and the next moment it’s gone.
