Day 13 - And we thought yesterday’s mountains were amazing

Today was our last day in Zhangjiajie so we needed to be up early to pack our cases, have breakfast, checkout, and meet Kaia (yes I spelt it incorrectly yesterday) at 7.30 in the lobby. We were there early ... (well come on you aren't really surprised by that are you?). So we hopped straight into the minivan when our driver arrived.

Our first stop today was to visit the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge. This was about a 20 minute drive from our hotel so we sat back to enjoy the view.

The bridge was opened in 2016 and is 430 metres long and 6 metres wide. It has massive suspension cables holding it up ... and Kaia told us it had been earthquake tested and buses had driven over it.

The bridge is 300 metres above the ground ... a deep ravine between two mountain cliffs in the National Forest Park.

We arrived at the bridge, popped our protective booties on and then began the walk over (and back). Ian is terrified of heights so he focussed on just crossing the bridge ... sticking to the middle and not going near the edge.

Kaia and I meandered our way across ... stopping for me to take photos, to watch the people on the zip line and to laugh at all of the tourists posing. We reached the end to find Ian who had made it across. We then repeated the process ... with Ian walking steadily ahead whilst I stopped to lie on the bridge with Roo and Echi! Kaia spied a butterfly on the bridge and pointed it out to me … she had remembered our conversation from yesterday about rainbows and butterflies. [note … I am incredibly proud of Ian … that bridge would have been tough].

Leaving the bridge we drove to the city of Zhangjiajie ... a small city with a population of about mere 1.53 million! The drive took us just under an hour and despite the early time (it was about 10.40) Kaia said we needed to stop for lunch as there was nowhere to eat once we went to our next stop (where we would be for at least 5 hours).

So we stopped for lunch at a local restaurant ... Hey Jul Valley Fresh Fungus/Hotpot. Here we were once again treated to a full spread ... chicken and mushroom soup (cooked in front of us ... with cabbage and soba noodles thrown in when it reached boiling), beef with onions and peppers, steamed cauliflower in soy, shredded chicken and chips and a massive bowl of rice. The food was incredible. The broth of the soup which you drank separately was warm and soothing (especially for Ian who has been battling a cold). We ate like little piggies!!

(Ian here). Our afternoon was all about Tianmen Mountain just minutes from Zhangjiajie. Kaia had said we would spend 4-5 hours on the mountain so we were set for a big adventure.

First stop was 3 minutes from our restaurant! Yes - you buy your (almost) all inclusive ticket and the journey starts in the middle of town, where (after fast-laning through the queue) you board a small cable car for the ... wait for it ... 7.5km 28 minute ride to the top of the mountain, rusing 1,300m with a steepest gradient of 37 degrees Over the city, over a village ("where naked children frolic in the stream" - unusual commentary that), over some forest, and then steeply up to the top. There are actually 2 separate cables running and you seamlessly move off one to the other about 16 minutes in. But what a trip!

Now today was overcast, and a bit rainy, so we donned our black ponchos, which at least were easy to spot in the mass of pink, blue, yellow and white ones. The views from the top platform were ... well ... we were in the clouds which kept swirling in out up down. So at first, not much to see.

We walked through a tunnel and the end of the path opened out into a beautiful open area - the Davidia Involucrata (dove-tree) Garden. Highly unusual flowers, like a silk handkerchief, that are only out for a few weeks each year.

We walked a little way to the Coiling Dragon Glass Bottom Walkway, which edges around a knobby rocky cliff face. With a slippery glass surface we inched our way around the path amidst hundreds of other tourists (mostly local).

Jacqui took photos as dark moody peaks peeked through the wishing cloud. I stayed hard against the wall and quickly made my way to the end. I fear heights, well some types of heights, for reasons I don't need to explain. So this was a case of focusing away from the edge and just being brave. Yay me. [second note from J … he did so well! The bridge was quite narrow, there were a lot of people on it and it was slippery].

From there it was on to another cliff face walkway, this time without the glass, but still some fears.

And then, if my memory is correct, the Sky Bridge. This is a 400m elevated walkway above forest and air with uninterrupted views of the mountains below on our left. Here is where the mountain began to turn it on for us. At first clouds, then a glimpse of mountain, then the cloud clears leaving trails snaking through the exposed peaks. And then the cloud closes in again. And opens. And closes. A beautiful ever-changing mountain panorama that could have been a work of classical art in any famous gallery. With countless stops this path probably took us 20-30 minutes. Worth every moment.

At this point Kaia revealed that despite the many photos we were trackkng ahead of time, the benefit of a small fit compliant tour group. So we were offered two options that were extra to our tour. The 2-hour return walk to a large temple, or a 1-hour return to the platform on Yu Hu peak high above Heaven Gate (more on that later).

Apart from views looking down on much of the mountain, this peak is one of two used as a jumping off point for the World Winged Suit League. All I am going to say is Google Tianmen Mountain Extreme Sports and you will find a smorgasbord of thrillseeking activities, some of which defy rational explanation.

We choose Yu Hu peak, which also had a small temple on the way. Very pretty. All told, 386 steps up and 386 down, so it was hard work. But remember the stunning artwork earlier - more of the same. We could have stayed for an hour.

From here you begin the descent of the mountain and its highlight - Heaven Gate. Again, you could Google this for pictures on a clear sunny day, but we had cloudy and moody. It is basically a hole through the mountain a mere 137m high, 57m wide and 60m deep. There is a long stairway on one side which you can ascend with this massive window to heaven opening up before you.

A bathroom stop before headed down proved significant as I slipped on a wet floor and fell heavily. Two men got me to my feet, a little shocked and bruised in multiple places, but nothing broken. [third note from J … he is ok … a little bruised with a sore hand which took the bulk of the fall].

The descent starts with an escalator ride down the inside of the mountain. One person wide but fully loaded for its steep 60m length. Finish that and straight on to another downward escalator. Same deal. Until you have been down 7 escalators. Yes ... 7!

Which pops you out ... in the base of Heaven Gate. At which point you turn your head upwards to Marvel at the sheer size and grandeur of this hole. At least I did. Jacqui was busy getting photographed with Chinese tourists who are fascinated by her looks - tall, beautiful, pale skin, fair hair. She's very patient but really needs an agent to manage the attention.

From there it was another 5 escalators down to the base of the Heaven Gate stairway. We had considered stairs but they are small and slippery and Kaia didn't need me plummeting down a mountain.

So when we walked out of our mountain tunnel to look back up at the Gate we saw nothing. Completely shrouded by cloud. Until a few minutes passed and the huge light window gradually appeared, and disappeared, and ... you know how this goes. Once again, beautifully stunning.

With time to kill we spent about 45 minutes here sipping ginger tea before we took the last few steps home. An 8 minute trip on the 26-person 'bus' cable car, which gave us great views of 99 Road (a true marvel of engineering, 99 turns that wrap over and under one another). A walk past the outdoor theatre for the nightly romantic Fairy Fox show. And a shuttle bus back to the cable car station where our adventure had begun.

So now we are at the airport, checked in to a late flight to Shanghai. We will reach our hotel around 1am. Thank you Kaia for 2 unforgettable days.