Zhu Que Shan

In the latest installment of "Geoff's Embarassingly Late Updates" is a mainly photographic summary of the hiking party to Zhu Que Shan (Zhu Que Mountain) that I joined a few weeks ago (relatively speaking).

Maggie planned a trip for a group of her students to one of the area's most well-known mountain hikes, and was generous enough to ask Tim and I if we wanted to join the sweat-breaking outing. I was more than happy to hop aboard, for "Climbing Zhu Que Shan" had long been one of the things that had been sitting on my to-do list for so long that it had started to collect dust.

So after we hopped a #33 bus to the outskirts of the city, paid the entrance fee to the part and assembled at the foot of the well-traveled little peak, we began our march up into the heavens.

I must have been more excited than I recall, for otherwise I can't explain how I didn't catch the fact that many of my photos were coming out just a tad bit too blurry here and there (well that, or you could also point out the simple truth how I'm definitely no professional, to say the least).

In pretty stark contrast to the hikes that I would take with the Boy Scouts, the paths all consisted of various stairways that wound up and down the length of the mountain.

The staircases were dotted with various resting spots and bathrooms, and the occasionally poorly translated warning sign here and there.

It might not have been the clearest day, but we still managed to snag some beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

Pictured below is a somewhat blurry snapshot of the Songhua River Dam, mother of the 雾凇 (Jilin's famous hoar frost), and Songhua Lake, which sits directly behind it.

Yes, you are reading that translation correctly; one of Zhu Que Shan's most well-known sights is indeed a stone that looks like a gigantic pig.

Upwards we continued to climb, as our view grewevery  grander with every few more feet that we successfully scaled.

We could even see a glimpse or so of the southernmost reaches of Jilin City, despite the fact that much of the land around us was partially obscured by the cloudy weather. 

And further we scaled, up stairways and paths whose quality seemed to decrease a bit the higher in elevation we climbed.

Judging from what we could make out from above, it would seem that there are some wealthy folks who are making rather interesting abodes for themselves, like the one photographed below that we named "Versailles Jr."

Eventually, we reached yet another wooden platform high above where we started, and once there I could not feel more relieved. Finished, finally!

I no longer had to fret about stirring up my minor fear of dangerous heights. I had reached the top, and I could now lay back, enjoy the view, and...

......Oh. There's the peak.

Rats.

I actually ended up doing much better than I estimated. Not only did I suck it up and continue on with the rest (in spite of my ever-growing worry that I'd tumble over the side of the mountain), but I even gave this curious platform a try.

I dashed out, snapped a picture of my own reflection, and dashed back to the more stable wooden platforms hugging the side of the mountain. 

Did I irrationally fear that the sturdy see-through panels below me would give out the instant that I stepped foot on them? Oh, you bet I did, and in spades. Thank you, mild phobia!

Eventually, I did make it to the true top of Zhu Que Shan, where along with everyone else I could feast our eyes on the fruits of our labor.

Of course, we had to start on our way back, and so we did, all feeling tired, a bit thirsty, a little sore in the feet, but more than satisfied with our outing.

Of course, it wouldn't be China at all if everything didn't end on not just any note, but a perplexing one. Thus, I give you this....this.....um....building that we passed by during our walk to the nearest bus stop.

Native American-esque totem pole-like structures placed alongside plaster statues done up in a classical Greco-Roman style; were you to lay eyes on those anywhere else, I'm sure your confusion would no bounds.

However, only in China can that mean something as simple as, "Huh, I guess the hike's finally over."

 

Comments

[Chris]

I do not understand why you took off all your clothes to pose for that last picture.

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