Part 2: Changsha, Shaoyang, Pepper Peak, Candle Peak, Camel Peak, Fuyi River, Tianyi Alley, Bajiaozhai Scenic Area and Langshan Mountain.

1. In Hunan, the Heat is On!
Stepping into Serendipity
A Talking Travel Destination Presentation
Part Two:
Natural
Wonders
Part One:
Shanghai
Part Three:
Ancient
Cities...and more

2. Flight from Shanghai to Changsha and then to Lang Shan, in Shaoyang County

3. The Hong Ji Hua Tian
Hotel

4. The hotel dining room was set up to greet the invitees, who came from all over the world

5. Sign near the entrance to
the Opening Ceremony
of the China-Hunan
International Tourism
Festival

6. It was drizzling rain so we enjoyed our blue (or pink) rain coats and red hats.
The hundreds of attendees included many locals and dignitaries

7. I had my eyes on these mascots but apparently they had eyes for me!

8. The opening talks and greetings from officials were translated on the big screens.

9. The performances with music, dance and drama relfected the culture of the many ethnic groups in Hunan

13. After the exciting performances, we had lunch at the hotel and then departed to explore
Pepper Peak Scenic Area

14. A photo stop to take in the landscape

16. Pepper Peak is said to resemble a red pepper, albeit one that is 180 meters high and 100 meters around. The
landforms are referred to as "Danxia" as they consist of red sandstone that resembles the limestone karst
landscapes of other areas of the country (eg Guilin)

17. Rebecca and Johnson, our tour guides

19. Candle Peak
is 199 meters high

20. The dramatic pathway between Candle Peak and Camel Peak

22. The Dragon Mouth is a 100
meter long fissure and
slants at a 60 degree
angle. Just duck down
and climb through!

25. Ninety Nine steps
lead to the top of
Camel Peak

27. Yang Kuifa was a Robin Hood-like character who helped the local people but in doing so, he offended the
authorities. He was forced to hide in the mountains and after his death, he was revered as a local deity.
This is the altar on top of Camel Peak.

30. The Danxia Linear Valley, created by water erosion, allows visitors to walk through the mountains

31. We began the next day by visiting the Fuyi River Scenic Area on the upper course of the Zijiang River.

33. The General Rock, resembling a General in battle robe, stands 75 meters tall.
It's one of the Six Wonders of Langshan Mountain.

34. After the raft ride, we were greeted by one of the villagers and his dog.

35. Local Village Scenery

38. The entrance to the Tianyi Alley area: more awesome vistas (and a few more stairs)

44. The crack in the rock leads to Tianyi Alley, one of several alleys in the area.
This one is .8 M wide at its widest point and .33 wide at its narrowest point.

48. One of the 'faulting fracture zones"

50. A quick snack along
the way from a local
vendor: Rice and Eggs

52. We do a full circle tour of the area, back to the Danxia Steep Cliff

54. After the 2 hour+ hot, humid walk, (with plenty of stairs), it was refreshing to find an ice cold beer.

55. The hotel manager heard that we wanted to try local cuisine (instead of the same buffet every day) so
he invited us to a lavish, feast for lunch. The food was amazing!

58. And right after lunch, we headed out again, this time to explore the Bajiaozhai Scenic Area

59. After a walk through stunning scenery, we came upon the Yuntai Temple, built in the
Northern Song Dynasty (960-1279)

61. At 818 Meters, you can view the 8 peaks of the Langshan Mountain area. Sometimes the peaks can be seen
rising through low clouds but it's quite a breathtaking site, even on an overcast day like this.

65. Please see Part Three:
Ancient Cities and more...

66. Steve Gillick
Travel Writer, Speaker, Photographer
steve@talkingtravel.ca
www.gillicksworld.ca