We decided to take a tour to Zhang Jia Jie national park, supposedly the inspiration for the floating mountains of the movie Avatar. We joined a tour because its a difficult place to find if you don't speak Chinese plus its located in a remote part of Hunan province. We jointed the CTS tour company out of Jiangmen, it cost us about $250 each for a 4 day tour. It included transport, hotels, some meals and entrance to the park we ended up spending another $100 each for shows, cable car, elevators and other stuff.
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| thats our tour group easily recognized with the same red hats and bags |
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| congee at KFC you won't find this anywhere else but China, plus its not even chicken |
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| china's speed train, modern fast and cheap and safe I hope |
Day 1 we left early from Jiangmen, we were the only 2 on the bus not counting the driver and the tour guide the rest of the group was picked up at the next town a total of 26. We than proceeded to the Guangzhou east station to take the high speed train to the southern tip of Hunan province. There we took a 6 hour bus ride to the ancient town of Fenghuang meaning phoenix. We arrived at night and everyone was too tired from the long journey to go out but Jieun and I ventured into town to see the night life and it was well worth the effort. The views are breath taking will all the lights, a river running through, narrow winding stone paths and young kids playing music and singing on the streets as we continue the music turns to dance and hip hop, with dance clubs and karaoke bars.
Day 2 tour guides took us into Phoenix city gates and told us to walk around ourselves with out explaining anything about the ancient city. It gave us a chance to compare the day and night views and it was a lot more charming at night in our opinion. After a short walk around town we got to know a couple on the tour that was around our age the Chao's, a restaurant own near Jiangmen, that closed for 4 days and took all there 15 employees on the tour. What nice bosses, after talking some more I found out they do this every year with their co-works. Again we are all back on the bus for another 6 hours to Zhang jia jie city after dinner everyones tired and sleep early because we will visit the famous national park tomorrow.
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| ancient city of fenghuang, at day light |
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| the Chao's and all 15 staff members |
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| chinese girl dress before marriage |
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| after marriage the colors change and the head dressing is tone down |
Day 3 dark, wet and really early everyone heads to the park entrance a 10 minute walk from the hotel and all everyone was taking about was the fog and how thick it was. We all had to pay extra for a high speed lift up, again "I heard was what can you see?" a man replied "a lot of white" everyone got a laugh, except Jieun, she was really disappointed with the tour guides lack of effort plus to top it off the bad weather. We did get to visit a traditional folk village in the park and it was extra again but interesting to see.
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| main entrance to the park |
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| Jieun's face says it all |
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| best view of the Zhang Jia Jie for me was watching the movie Avatar |
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| love and wish locks on the heaven on earth bridge |
Day 4 final day early and poor viability again we went to another part of the park but this time we didn't pay the extra fee to join the ride up to the top because would have been a waste money. We stayed at the bottom and hiked around. At about the 10:00 am the group meets up and we start the long trip back to Jiangmen.
We visited the famous mountains of Zhang Jia Jie, but we couldn't see anything it was pretty much a waste of money if not for meeting the Chao's, over the last 4 days we got to know them and how much people could learn from them, from how to treat their employees to how they go about their daily lives. Everyone on the tour had nothing but kind words of them and I only wish someday everyone could be a generous as they are including myself. Our hats are off to you both and hope we cross paths again.
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| next day after the tour Mr Chao, invited us to his restaurant |
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| great tasty Cantonese snacks that would put most HK places out of business |
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| I still dreaming of this chewy salty pancake |
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| having tea with Mr Chao at his home |
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| having a huge pan of chicken at another restaurant in town |
