Ain't no mountain high enough

So, we could have quite easily decided to do nothing with our last day in Chengdu - well apart from hang out at the hostel - eating, sleeping, reading - which would've been good but instead we decided not to waste?? the day. Depends on which you look at I suppose :)

Of the list of possible adventures to go on we decided to climb a mountain - of course, it makes sense, seeing as me and Gem are professionals at this sort of thing.

We refer to the Bible (I.e the lonely planet book) and yep, Qingsheng mountain is merely 60km away which requires us to navigate our way via three Chinese public buses. easy!!! Never quite sure if you're on the right one you kinda of just go with it. Although we did cheat a little at the second bus station and asked the nicest tourist information lady who was v. helpful.

And then we just get off, we dont know if this is the right stop, the mountain should've been a clue but we just judged it by - em, i think we've been on the bus long enough now!! it works!! 5 min walk up the hill - theres a mountain!! and a zillion chinese tourists.

Pay for our ticket to get in and oh yes the tickets for the cable car to take us to the top - you didnt actually think we were going to climb it did you? :) although its not directly at the bottom.

First off we need to get to a lake first and take a ferry - how many modes of transport??

So, sitting waiting for the ferry, amusing ourselves at the over and under statues, in this peace loving temple covered mountain and what happens, a fight breaks out??? calm down people!! of course we have no idea what the chinese are arguing about but a couple of guys are not happy with their tour guide (maybe it was the hat she made them wear :) but no seriously, all got a bit heated and a little scary to watch. Some poor Westerner dude (the only one on their tour and the only other one in the vicinity) steps in. The very loud screaing continues as our ferry takes off.

Off to fun scenario No.2 - amy on a cable car. I can get a bit funny with heights and 1600m up (thats 4 running tracks to me and you) is not so much fun. Turns out not to be all that bad.

First stop when we reach the top, the vending man selling potatoes on sticks of course :) and then to the Temple. Again it was nice but I'm dissapointed to say looks like every other temple we've seen in China so far - feeling pretty pleased we didnt walk all the way up now.

The view from the top = a breathtaking, showstopping view of grey mist - not one to be missed people :) and a current theme of China unfortunately.

I'm not being entirely fair though it was pretty amazing of what we could see and plenty to keep us occupied as we walked down the mountain - who knew walking down a mountain could hurt your muscles as much as walking up a mountain???

Along the way down you bump into couples of professional Chinese chair carriers (or something like that), who want to carry you down this mountain on a chair, balanced on their shoulders, for a fee of course. Absolutely, no way!!!! but they dont seem to understand this. I know they're only trying to make a living but when some Chinese person takes them up on their offer they just look in pain - much sweating and I cant believe this just won't ruin thier backs before they reach the age of 40.

All that was left to do was find the same 3 buses home again, hmmmmm!!! but works out ok and some Chinese couple on the bus get talking to us. I think they just wanted to test their english but they were v. sweet. Most of the conversation however did revolve around the fact that Chinese vegetables were better :)