Hiking Huangshan

Of the 60,000 ancient steps that make up many of the trails up and around the Yellow Mountain, we climbed 4,000 plus. This was plenty. Here is the start.  We were determined to walk at least from the Park gate up to one of the summits despite the sight of heavy rain as we woke up. We could see why so many people were wearing day-glo plastic macs and bought a couple as soon as we started out. The bus to the main gate was just 10 mins walk. We caught one and swooped up a series of hairpin bends with the mist getting thicker and thicker. A nice surprise was that at the ticket barrier they were allowing old people with white hair a huge discount. There are some perks!
Then we started off, the steps followed a mountain stream for the first part and it was very pretty with waterfalls, rocks and ferns. Then the rain turned to drizzle and the mist swirled and suddenly we saw what had inspired so many painters to rush to their ink jars and brushes. Soaring peaks floated amongst clouds. Gnarled and artistically twisted pines clung to sheer cliffs. Bamboo swayed alluringly below us and the grey flights of steps traversed back and forth pointing the way ever onwards and upwards. Despite aching calves and thumping heart the urge to find the next fantastically shaped rock or view or water feature around each bend was addictive. I was glad my son was there to insist on a stop at a wayside refreshment booth to buy, prosaically, Coke and Snickers bars. 
It took us two and a half hours to get to the base of the peaks where we could wander in between and through the narrow passes between each one. A magic day. And we saved our knees by taking the cable car back down.