Fellow Virtual Travelers,
Well, just when we think we've had and seen the best of the trip, it gets even better! We are writing this on Monday afternoon, April 28th China time, so it is about 2:30 am Monday morning for those in the U.S!
We are recuperating today from an adventure yesterday that will be hard to describe in either words or pictures! Off the beaten path and down the mountain from where we're staying is the oldest remaining temple in Wudangshan which was built early in the Tang Dynasty. It's called The Five Dragon Palace or Temple. We might add that it is a LONG way down the mountain as it ended up being a 7 hour hike, instead of the advertised 4 hours there and 4 hours back! The trek coursed along a breathtaking river and ending with an hour's climb up stairways zigzagging up to the top of another mountain! And that was for our fastest climber, Master Karl! Good thing we'd packed our own water (two 1.5 liter bottles each) and snacks from granola to dried local fruit!
Here are historical details of these ruins:
http://www.china-tourism.net/natural-landscape/mountain--mtwudangshan-25.html
The Five Dragon Palace was first built in Zhengguan reign of the Tang Dynasty (627-649 AD) at the foot of Lingying Mountain Peak. In 1412 the complex was extended and many constructions were added, such as the Imperial Hall, the Gate of the Palace, the Veranda Wings, the Jade Statue Hall, The Parents Hall, the hall of Revelation of holy Spirit, the Hall of the Founder of Taoism and Sacristy. Until the reign of Jiajing In Ming Dynasty, there were 850 bays of construction. In 1930 the palace was destroyed in a fire, however, many remains and relics can be seen there.
Our story continues from here! Because it had taken us so long to get to the Five Dragon Palace (there was lots of photography to do along the river hike), it was after 5 pm by the time we finished photographing the Five Dragon complex. While we had flashlights with us, another 7 hour hike down the mountain up the stream and then up another mountain to our hotel, seemed daunting. Not to say anything of knees that were sore and hurting. About that time (we'd already been invited by monks living at this site to spend the night), a small tour group showed up. Dennis got out his handy translator and found out that the tour bus was too full to drive us to Shiyan City at the base of the mountain. Instead the bus driver called a private car for us which arrived some 30 minutes later! The road up to this complex is nice, but not yet open to the public. There is a heavy metal gate at the base that is only opened for select purposes. Someone had some pull to get a car up the mountain for us! We're sure we looked like a rag-tag bunch!
After a 45 minute drive down a different mountain, we arrived in Shiyan City to find out that buses on the tourist route on Wudang only run until 6 pm! So we were stuck in town! Found lodging at the Holiday Inn of Wudang (VERY nice accommodations with soap, shampoo, towels, a European toilet and nice big beds). So we crashed there for the night, letting Victor know where we were (the hotel was only set up to take Chinese credit cards so we had to pay in Chinese cash. Victor stopped by later, as he was also in town, to check on us and all ended well. Albeit very tired!
In the morning after a Chinese breakfast of corn porridge, Victor helped us re-enter the Wudang area for a reduced fee. Dennis and Anita had their Wudang tickets with them but Master Karl had left his up the mountain in his room, so we had to show the attendant a picture of the three of us to prove that we were traveling together. Fortunately we'd asked someone to take a picture of the three of us at the Hanging Cliff Palace with its three meter long Dragon-Head Incense Burner.
Got through the ticket office and on the bus up the mountain, to be delivered a short ways down the hill from our hotel. So, yes, even though the weather is perfect for photography, we are recuperating today! Handling some needed research and communications with friends back home, as well as downloading some photos!
Blessings,
Dennis&Anita
Five Dragon Temple - the main building at the end of the courtyard.
First view of the temple complex after climbing the mountain for almost an hour.
Exotic flora.
Master Karl and Dennis at work in the ravine that leads to the Five Dragon Palace.