Zhang Jia Jie, China 張家界 (Mar/Apr 2002)

[chin]

View from the cable car station in Tien Tsz Shan.

[chin]

One of the supporting tower at the Tien Tsz Shan Cable Car. We were told that this is the most difficult tower to build.

The towers are mostly build on sheet cliffs.

[chin]

The cable car pass between rock formations. The cable car management allow us to use the maintenance car. The maintenance car has no glass enclosure and a flat platform - idea for photography.

Second picture is looking downhill from the cable car. The building in the middle is the cable car station.

[chin]

Our driver during our stay in Zhang Jia Jie. With a son still in elementary school, he is a happy man. He told me that quality of life here has steadily improved in the last few years.

I think this is true in Zhang Jia Jie in general. Hunan used to be one of the poorest province in China. But during this trip, I saw more than once families in the villages keep Pekinese dogs as pets, instead of the regular local-mixed-breed guard dogs. I think this is a sign of wealth and disposable income.

[chin]

After a night of heavy rain, the mountain was covered in mist in the morning.

[chin]

Stairways to heaven?

[chin]

We saw many buckets places on rocks and cliffs. We were told they were placed by honey gatherers. Many of these buckets can only be reached by considerable climbing.

I took this picture in a moving cable car.

[chin]

At the time of our visit, workers was chipping off old paints in the area around Tien Tsz Shan, before applying new paint. This worker is risking his life to work on the tip section of the railing.

[chin]

Now you know where the Chinese painters got their inspiration.

[chin]

Yet another cheer cliff in Tien Tsz Shan. I can't stop wondering and admire the trees that thrive on rock gaps.