Dancing into the Sunset on a Closed Trail

Or at least I think the trail was closed. But all the signs were in Chinese…

Last week, I embarked on my last solo trip of the semester. I brainstormed long and hard for a place to go…somewhere that embodies what I love to do while traveling and somewhere epic enough to partially end the semester in style. So, I picked this place.

This is Huang Shan, otherwise known as the Yellow Mountain. It’s not religious like many of the other Chinese mountains, but it’s probably the most famous of them all and is known by many Chinese for its dramatic peaks and spectacular sunrises.

Obscure mountains? Sunrises? Need I say more?

They really weren't joking around about the sunsets. — They really weren’t joking around about the sunrises…

After navigating my way on two buses, up a trail, and to a hotel (all with the help of many friendly Chinese), I found myself set to spend a night on the top of Huangshan! I set down my things and used what I had left in my day to go explore.

Wensie, one of my hiking buds during day 1

Chinese mountains are catered to tourists, meaning that nearly all of the sites are easily accessible for tourists of all walks of life–babies, the elderly, people with knee injuries…you get the idea. It’s a great idea in theory, and I can’t blame people for wanting to make as much money as possible off of 1.3 billion people. But this means that the “mountain” is basically a bunch of steps connected to various view points where you can take pretty pictures. Taking pictures among hordes of Chinese tourists isn’t really my thing, so I had to find a loophole in the system. And there was only one way to do that: to wander.

I walked out of my hotel and saw some steps that led downward and away from the voices. “THAT WAY!” I said.

I walked downward for what felt like a very long time. I realized that I hadn’t seen another person in about twenty minutes or so. Perrrrrrfect. Thankfully, another hiker then walked by in the opposite direction, exchanging a friendly “Ni hao” and ensuring that I wasn’t headed for my eminent death. Soon enough, I stumbled upon a viewing platform. I looked to my right and saw one of the coolest views I’ve ever seen in my life. I looked upon a massive canyon with tall, thin mountains jutting out from the ground smacked against a gorgeous mountain backdrop.

I continued moving forward. I stumbled upon some more cool views. I gawked.

At last, a stumbled upon a locked gate that appeared to lead to the bottom of a canyon (which was the only way forward). The Chinese actually impose security precautions? Since when????

Regardless, I stepped out onto the last possible viewing platform for some more great views and was kept company by two Chinese policemen. Maybe they were there to protect the gate, or maybe they were just hiding from their work. Both are plausible. I envied their job a little bit.

I headed back up to where I’d started, turning away from the dead end. I passed by my favorite viewing spot before, ready to turn around and head up to my hotel. But, instead, I turned around and saw this. So I plugged in the headphones, turned on some Earth Wind & Fire, and danced. It was pure bliss.

I stayed and danced until my hands were sweaty and my face was numb from the cold.

After spending the night in a dorm room on top of the mountain, I woke up around 5am to go watch one of these famous sunrises that everyone keeps talking about, I found a spot with a good view and camped out, watching as crowds of Chinese people started forming. Me and the crowds alike…we weren’t disappointed.