Vacation in China 2009: The Ancient town - Xitan

Xitan, a living ancient town of thousand years, is located in southern Zhejiang province, 180 miles away from Tunxi. Densely distributed with rivers and linked by many small artistic bridges, this water town has a very quiet natural environment and friendly local residents. Inside the town, there are many well-preserved architectures constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Strolling along the Misty Rain Long Corridor and tasting the delicious snacks sold by the local stores, what more can you ask for? (Click the pic to view larger)

A view from the restaurant where we had lunch:

Bridge view from the other side of the restaurant:

Strolling down the Misty-Rain Long Corridor:

Laid-back local residents:

Black loose boats and river：

Weeping willow, camellia and river:

Road along the river

Would you like a cup of tea?

How many bridges in the picture?

There are many small family-run inns along the rivers：

Vacation in China 2009: The Mount Sanqing

As a sister mountain of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the Mount Sanqing was regarded as a sacred place for Taoists in Tang Dynasty period (618-907). Sanqing's fame as a Taoist resort has faded, but its natural beauty remains. With beautiful clouds, mist and strange-shaped pine trees, Sanqing Mountain is a fairyland far from the hustle and bustle of city life. Stay on the mountain for a day, and you will understand why ancient Taoist master Ge Hong (284-364) made pills of immortality here more than 1,700 years ago.

Sanqing is only 90 miles away from Tunxi. In the morning when we arrived at the foot of Sanqing, we barely saw the mountains because the dense fog was revolving around the waist of the mountains. As the cable car emerged from the fog, all I could say was "Wow”! As we walking along the longest plank road in the world built on the steep cliff, I felt like I was wondering in the clouds and visiting the palace of Jade Emperor of Heaven. "A picture is worth a thousand words". Please see the pictures below. (Click the pic to view larger)

Walking on the plank road build on the steep cliff:












On the summit of Sanqing:





Pictures taken while walking along the sky stone path at West Sea:


















Double Penguin and Lady ShengNv:




Double Breats peak:




The Grand Python Emerging from the Mountain.



Look, what's that in the sky?

Vacation in China 2009: The Nine Dragon Waterfall

The total length of the Nine Dragon Waterfall is 600 meters. The waterfall is folded nine times, forming nine small waterfalls and nine deep pools. It's one of the wonder waterfalls in the world.
I was so lucky to visit the waterfall during a raining season. With morn than 20 days of rainfall, the waterfall had gained enough energy and eargerly rushed down from the mountain.
There is a old Chinese poem that can best describe this view here "飞流直下三千里，疑是银河落九天”. Let me try to translate it into English, but I'm pretty sure it will lose the original flavor. Here is the translation "flying stream goes down straight for 3000 miles, Like milky way falls from the sky". (Click the pic to view larger)

The Black Dragon waterfall. Looks like a black dragon is ambushing in the water, shutting his eyes and practicing his Kungfu:


The ninth waterfall:


The Dragon Heart Fall:


Nine Dragon Waterfall side view:


Nine Dragon Waterfall front view:

Vacation in China 2009: The Jadeite Valley

The Jadeite Valley, or Lover's Valley, is a newly developed scenic area in Mt. Huangshan. It's a canyon of 2.4 km long with 20 km in depth. The mountain stream in the valley stems from various peaks such as ShiXing, Godness and Stone Bamboo...In the canyon, the stream is dotted with hundreds of coloful pools with various shapes. The crystal clear water produces inverted images of the green hills in both banks, and reflects the multi-colored rocks at the bottom of the pool. Thanks to the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000), Jadeite Valley became famous overnight. Some major scenes of this movie were filmed here.

(Click the pic to view larger)

Vacation in China 2009: The Phoenix Source

The next day after I came down from Huangshan, I was ready to go to the hot spring which was my original plan to come to Hunagshan. The Hot Spring Spa would not open until noon, so I decided to take a half day tour to the east side of Huangshan.
The east side of Hunagshan is famous for its grand canyons formed between the peaks. I planned to visit three places: Phoenix Source, Jadeite Valley and Nine Dragon Fall. The first place I visited was Phoenix Source. According to the legend, it was the place where the beloved wife of Emperor Xuanyuan stocked Phoenix. I was immediately attracted by its tranquility and beauty. Surrounded by dense bamboo forest, the crystal mountain stream was happily flowing down the valley. The stream bed was formed by vigorous and lively rocks.
As we climb the stone stairs along the stream, my local tour guide pointed to different rocks and asked me what they look like, and told me the stories behind each unique scenic spot. It was truely an unforgettable trip. (Click the pic to view larger)

Mountain stream flowing down the canyon:



What do you think it look like? I think it looks like a crouching cow. My tour guide thought it looked like a cat fish head :)






How about this one? Various answers for this one. Hungary people think it looks like French bread. Sad people think it looks like a coffin, and some people could image there were four beautiful women sleeping side by side.







Aha! Pig Zhubajie is eating watermelon. Pig Zhubajie is a character in the legendary "Journey to the West". Zhubajie had a moderate personality, simple and honest, but he was lazy and greedy and loved food and woman. His weakness was frequently used by the enemy and caused too much trouble for the team during the Journey to the west.



Pig Zhubajie's girlfriend


This one (on the right) is more serious. It is the head of a historic character - Chairman Mao!


It's just me: