China day 4: The Fairy Walking Bridge

Day 4, part 2 continued: The hike to the Fairy Walking Bridge.

Once we reached the bottom we took the Northern rail car back up to the top which spit us out near the Baiyun hotel. (where I would personally recommend staying for location and reviews) We debated going to check in at our hotel but the day was still young (it was only 11) and we were right at the top of the SOUTH trail around the Western Sea. This was the trail I originally planned on taking all the way down but was told it was closed half way. 

Map of the trail to the Fairy Walking Bidge, then to Bright top peak to Flying-over Rock, and then onto our hotel. I circled Purple Cloud Peak even though we didn't trek up there, as it would have made for an excellent sunset/ or sunrise spot. 

The top of the rail car was nice and serene. We stopped for a rest before continuing on along this beautiful tree lined path. 

The Southern path was still open to the Fairy Walking Bridge (even though it was closed just after) so we debated looking for lunch/ checking into our hotel or heading down. Since we were RIGHT at the start of the trail, we decided it would be our best bet to just do the trail first. The hotel advisor said it would take 2 hours RT to visit the Fairy Walking Bridge but there were signs at the start that said 2 hours TO it. Rest assured, it was a leisurely 40 minutes down to it for us. 

Looking across the way to the Northern Route you can actually see the path in several places if you look hard enough. 

The trail was WONDERFULLY devoid of people. We only passed 2-3 other small groups of 1-2 people each going down. No groups or loud speakers here. And while the trail wasn't overhanging sheer cliffs, it did beat an amazing path through stone which I found equally beautiful. 

Trails Stats from the Rail Car to the Fairy Walking Bridge AND Hotel :

Distance: 7 miles

Elevation Gain:1,400 feet

Elevation loss: 1,400 feet

Estimated time: 3-5 hours

*These figures are based on maps I saw with distances and elevations of the points of interest called out and are rough estimations. 

Points of Interest: Turtle Peak (looking up at it), the Fairy Walking Bridge, The Western Sea Grand Canyon overlook, Bright Top Peak, Flying- over- rock. 

The Western Sea overlook

There were so many lovely views and sections of trail here, as well as lovely stone picnic table spots to take a short rest at. If I were to visit this mountain again, I would still prioritize this trail. 

Getting close. When you see the incredible pine tree cliff and look down to see the terrace, you are just about there. 

YES! Made it. We actually passed through the tunnels and crossed the bridge already to get to this spot on the terrace. 

The view looking from the bridge toward the terrace. It was amazing being surrounded by such tall, sheer cliffs. 

The South- West of Huangshan mountain, mountains everywhere! 

Looking up the sheer cliffs that somehow a trail weaved its way down 

a cute "little" fairy bridge 

Crossing the main bridge

balanced rocks easily seen from the terrace 

How is this place even real?! 

favoite
I wish I could tell you this epic bridge was constructed centuries ago by gravity defying monks fleeing religious persecution or something cool like that, but alas this was just built in the 80s to connect another one of the valley trails to the top of the mountain. (Amazingly we actually saw a few backpackers hike up from the valley this way) 

Looking down the crevice from ON the bridge... a long way down! 

Crossing back across the bridge to return.

Unfortunately the lighting, was terrible for the time of day we were at the bridge, with half the bridge in shadow making photos hard to get right. We waited around an hour or so to see if once the bridge was completely in shadow it would help. It didn’t really since the other wall was still so bright. So hungry and running low on water, we decided to call it and head back. It only took us 45 minutes hiking back but we were pretty tired and thirsty by the end.

Trail signs! 

Hiking back along this stunning trail

Lookig at the "flying rock" from the summit. You can see our hotel off on the right a little ways further

When we reached the Baiyun hotel, we bought the first bottle of water we found and realized we still had more up to do… We had to go up and over the Bright Summit to get to our hotel. (and this is why I recommend staying at the Baiyun hotel… hahaha)

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Looking back up towards the bright top summit.

We made it to the summit in only about 15 minutes (of straight stairs) and picked the path my hotel receptionist told us to go on day 1 to our hotel. I imagined it as only 30 minutes walk but man… it was a tough walk of 3 km and almost an hour! We had a few more ups and a LOT more downs to do before reaching our hotel. It was still so hot. Thankfully I'd bought a souvenir fan down in town because I used that thing constantly. (Probably looked ridiculous, hopefully not offensive... but a necessary tool)

As exhausted and frazzled as we were, we couldn't just walk on by without capturing this incredible "flying" rock. 

A sea of clouds... and mountains

We finally made it to our hotel around 3:30 and checked in. Unfortunately we were on the top floor of a 6 story hotel that lacked an elevator which meant.. more stairs. It was pretty run down inside and the layout was pretty bizarre… and don’t get me started on the room. Definitely our worst hotel of the trip (and 5 times as expensive as our hotel the night before) The 2 twin beds in our room were basically box springs with yellowing comforters. We found a few small beetle like bugs around the room, which left me on high alert for bed bugs. No A/C either which after sweating all day, made the room an un-welcome relief. Needless to say, we were pretty appalled. Did I expect luxury on top of the mountain? No but at least a little better than what we ended up with.

Dinner....

Anyway the show must go on, no matter how thoroughly exhausted we were, we still had hours in the day. We showered and rested a bit before going out in search of food. The hotel just before ours, Xihai seemed like an easy enough walk and a little more fancy so we thought we’d check their restaurant out… WELL It was closed for some reason. (5:30 PM…) so we’d walked that way for nothing. We headed back to our hotel which appeared to have a restaurant and a street food type vendor. Apparently they are one in the same. What was advertised as pick 3 entrees , rice, and soup was really, you get what you get: which in this case was 3 questionable entrees, rice, and hot seaweed water. It was pretty terrible. The thing on the left was more seaweed? With some other texture, probably tofu, that I couldn’t quite accept. The middle dish was just eggs and tomatoes so a little better, if at least edible. The last entree was sweet potatoes and the safest of them all. The hot sea weed water was as bad as it sounds, and rice was rice. 

Anyways, if you come here, just do yourself a favor and haul some ramen noodles up in your back pack. And if you don’t want to carry them, buy those at the little stores up top instead of trying to eat any of the street sidewalk food. 

We ate what we could and headed back down to the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion which was thankfully an actual easy walk (with few stairs) from our hotel for sunset. 

Crazy sun beam peaking over the mountains. The lighting and colors were just crazy beautiful

After hanging around for a while, we decided to continue along the Northern route again (the first hike we did) at least until we started to descend a lot of stairs. It was just so peaceful without all the people and with the magic lighting on the mountains. We probably went about 3/4s of a mile or so to the start of the descent where the tunnels start and what I’d consider the “opening” of the Northern route

No this is NOT a scene from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. What you're seeing is the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion everyone. 

We caught some pretty sunset light at the Purple Cloud cable car station (and spotted the peak where most people apparently go to watch the sunset- Purple Cloud Peak)

Another view from further away of the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion with our hotel Paiyunlou behind it. 

The start of the tunnels and major descent down on the Northern Grand Canyon route. 

(This spot is maybe a 30 minute walk from the Cloud Dispelling Pavilion)

Exploring the narrow passage with the dying light

Straight drops from this viewing platform- you can see why these mountains are the 

"Yellow Mountains"

More views from along the trail at sunset 

Almost dark- so headed back to the hotel 

Sea of Mountains

We stopped at the little convenience shop on the way to pick up a coke and oreos to follow up our terrible dinner and spent the rest of the evening in our room. Thankfully at night it cools off SIGNIFICANTLY and with the window open, the room was just right. The room also had a nice small but deep tub that I soaped down and soaked in which was extra nice. Though we slept terribly due to fear of bed bugs (we had yet to spot any) it wasn’t as bad as we thought it might be. (because neither of us actually got bitten by anything)

So solid day! So glad we made it down to the Fairy Bridge and caught such a glorious sunset. Day 4 part 2- SUCCESS. 

Day 4 Costs:
Breakfast from store: $10.20
Shuttle to scenic area $4.08
Entrance to park $33.50/adult $16.75/student
Yungu Cable car ride $23.32
2nd tram ride/ Western Sea Rail car  $29.15
Large bottle of water $3.64
Dinner $20.11
Oreos and a coke to end the day $5.10

Hotel: Huangshan Paiyunlou Hotel $144

Day 4 Total: $289.50 for 2 people