Hello Friends! This post is a combo of still and video clips, but all are from the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the Wulingyuan Scenic Area.

The stills are from day three in the Grand Canyon, which features the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, as well as zip lines, walk ways, slides, a boat cruise, and an amazing long walk along the river. The videos are just some from all three days in the glorious place.

This intro batch starts with breakfast, pix of pix, the glass bridge, and ends with the one bungee jumper…

In addition to the glass bridge, there’s a much smaller glass walkway that leads to the zip lines. Didn’t want to drop my phone, so things pick up with the slides (not that well designed) that get one down to the water where the boat rides start…

I hope you’re reading all the signs, they are worth it! Note the glass bridge from below! The boat rides were short, but the walk along the river was quite long…!

Some beautiful nature, some up close…

The last stretch of river walking, including a cave!

Reading material – do!

Sadly, did not make it to Tianmen Mountain, mostly because it was booked for May Day (Labor Day), but also ’cause I got sick. 🙁

As mentioned, this post includes most of the videos from the Wulingyuan Scenic Area.

A bridge on day one (but not the glass bridge – ya gotta wait for it)…

Wild macaques, but not so wild…

Live and timelapse…

The cable car rides were absolutely amazing. Did all three and the middle – longest one – twice. Do all of these more than once…!

Some event at the end of the day near the entrance…

The Glass Bridge…

The Zip Lines from afar…

The Glass Bridge again, and a bungee jump…!

The Zip Lines up close…

Two clips of the river walk (after & before two boat rides)…

Wow, you did it again.

Next, ya gotta come check Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area out for yourself!!!

This trip to China started in Yunnan with that last part of an Intrepid tour, and continued there in Dali.

Then, from Guiyang, the capital and center of Guizhou there were two separate trips to Huanggoashu and Xijiang.

Next, Hunan and the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

This first batch is the high speed train, canned milk, first class, and a rainy arrival in the main town. In a walk around I met some performers in a nearby tourist show, etc. Thus began a three-day exploration of the area…

This pagoda marks the entrance to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park where the “floating mountains” now often referred to as the “Avatar mountains” can be seen. (Please note some pix are pix of pix.) And, please note, less is not necessarily more here as I often go for more than one angle of particular views, and they are gorgeous…!

In a way, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is somewhat like a theme park and the support for tourist needs is prevalent. In addition to the amazing nature, there are shows, displays, lots of food options, plenty of souvenir and gift shops, lotsa potties, and more…

The sticks above and below, tucked between rock shelves, seeming to help as supports, are supposed to provide good luck (a happenstance much revered in Chinese culture). The red prayer strips are not unlike Tibetan prayer flags, perhaps a Buddhist thing? In addition to more of the extraordinary landscape, there’s a calligrapher, a drone, and perhaps more…

Pink flowers, are they azaleas?

Too much to see. Signs in the scenery.

And this batch ends with more wild monkeys…

Back in town. (Note the urination encouragements.)

Next day, headed out to another part of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, this day featuring three cable car (gondola) rides, and more of the same – yet always different – beauty of nature…

More of the scene & scenery.

A couple shops, more signage, and near the end a photographer and his work, some fish and some tadpoles…

Perhaps the best souvenir shop I’ve found in China (next to the cool antique shop somewheres else). Lots o’ rocks, carvings, sculptures, and craftwork…

More from the lingering end of another great day…

Thought about adding day three to this post, but will save it for another, which will include the videos from this amazing place.

谢谢

Xiè xiè

Here’s my next batch of video clips, offered to you separately from my still photography, and representing some of places I’ve already posted about. Enjoy!

Toy demonstrations in Kunming…

How about some dancing in the streets? More common than you’d think in China…!

Some dudes jamming in the street in Dali…

Chongsheng Temple and one of the Three Pagodas…

Gondola ride up Cangshan Mountain near Dali, then a walk along the contour trail, then the gondola ride down…

Scooter driving in Dali – and a quick bike ride down near Lake Erhai…

One of the great dinners of all time, a meat extravaganza from the restaurant “Carnivores” in Dali. Then a study of the intersection in front. And some entertainment down the street filled with BBQ restaurants (where one BBQs right there on the table)…

Guiyang intersection above hotel room, day and night…

The Huanggoashu Waterfall scenic area which involved several hiking trails and a spectacular tunnel trail behind the “water curtain” that went behind the falls. There were two other scenic areas adjacent, requiring another bus ride, one a fascinating labyrinth of rock formations, and the other, another waterfall, more of a cascade. Made for a long, interesting day…

In the Miao Village (Xijiang), an old town in the mountains featuring great views of old wooden houses, lots of charm and tourism. The timelapse is the trip from the hotel down to the main street (going up takes a lot longer!). The timelapse of the gondola – as you will see in subsequent posts – has become a theme for this trip…

A conclusion for Xijiang (the Miao Village), especially since the best part was exploring the steep and narrow side streets – no motor anything – only people and the occasional mule. Lots of knocks and crannies…

Oooops, I said everything above was from previous posts, but below is yet to come: a trip to Zhangjiajie and an exploration of the “floating mountains” of Hunan. The first clip is of a group of musicians who perform in a local tourist show. The second is going up the famous Bailong Elevator. Let it be a preview for what is to come…!

So grateful for your attention! No retention required!

Until we do this again…?