China Zhangjiajie ( 張家界) Avatar Hallelujah Mountains 6 days Tour - April 11 to 16, 2013

Our 30 years+ old classmates small union began on April 11, 2013 in China Zhangjiajie . The city is situated in the west of Hunan Province, covering an area of 4536 square kilometers with the total population of 1.54 million, and here live some nationalities of Han, Tujia, Miao and Bai.

Zhangjiajie  (張家界) in Hunan ( 湖南)Province China

Zhangjiajie got known to the world in 1980, and has become a famous tourist spot for its uniqueness of natural features and primitive charm.

張家界市為中國湖南省的省轄地級市，位於湖南西北部，澧水中上游，屬武陵山脈腹地。為中國最重要的旅遊城市之一。

1982年9月，張家界成為中國第一個國家森林園公林，1988年8月，武陵源被列入國家第二批40處重點風景名勝區之內；1992年，由張家界國家森林公園、索溪峪風景區、天子山風景區三大景區構成的武陵源自然風景區被聯合國教科文組織列入《世界自然遺產名錄》。

Day 1  Cloudy
Our tour began from Hong Kong. We gathered at the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui at 7:30am. The ferry departed at 8:30am and arrived Guangzhou Shunde at 10:30am. After checked through custom, we had lunch right at the Shunde Ferry Terminal.  restaurant. After lunch, we went to the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway station to took a high speed train to Cheung Sa South Station. The journey took another two and half hours.

High Speed Train to Cheung Sa

High Speed Train Platform

City View of Cheung Sha

Our first sightseeing spot was Tianxin Pavillion (天心閣). 

天心閣 (Tianxin Pavillion)

為長沙重要名勝，也是長沙僅存的古城標志。位于長沙市中心東南角、城南路與天心路交會之處的古城牆內。樓閣三層，建築面積846平方米，碧瓦飛簷，朱梁畫棟，閣與古城牆及天心公園其它建築巧妙融為一體。基址佔著城區最高地勢，加之坐落在30多米高的城垣之上，近有妙高峰為伴，遠望岳麓山為屏，更顯挺峭、峻美。天心閣為全城最高處。登上天心閣，長沙城全景一覽無餘，遠望湘江，真有“極目楚天舒”的心曠神怡之感。

樓閣建于明代，重修于清乾隆時期，1938年毀于“文夕大火”，1983年再修。再修後的樓閣既保持了主閣的原貌，又參照古岳陽樓，增建了兩座二層的輔閣，象鵬鳥的主體和兩翼。三閣以通廊相連接，渾為一體，使矗立于32米高的錐垛之上的古閣，更加壯觀。閣樓高17.5米，用60根木柱支撐，主輔閣飾以用花崗石和其他高級石料雕鑿的獅子、葫蘆頭、梅、竹、芙蓉、車、馬、龍等。簷上32個高啄鰲頭，32只鳳馬銅鈴和10條吻龍，也都古色古香，造型別致。

今日天心閣，已成為城南的一座新型公園。內有攝影、飲食、茶點、副食和工藝品等旅遊服務設施。園內堆砌有假山、涼亭、魚池，園內樹木繁茂，花草眾多。每天有很多人到此練功、讀書、遊覽、品茗。

 Tianxin Pavillion 天心閣

After Tianxin Pavillion, we went to the river side to view the Chairman Mao's statues when he was young.

Chairman Mao Statue 毛澤東雕像

毛澤東雕像

                     

湘江風光帶

                           

Day 2 (常德詩牆), Phoenix City  (鳳凰古城) Sunny

常德詩牆全長3公里，臨沅江而立，樓臺點綴，氣勢恢宏.

常德詩牆

常德詩牆入口

After the Poem Wall, we headed to the Phoenix City where we would stay a night there.

鳳凰古城又稱沱江古鎮，地處湘西丘陵地區，沱江的中下游位置，全縣多山地。沱江從西至東橫貫鳳凰縣境中部地區，流經臘爾山、麻沖、落潮井、都里、南華山、沱江鎮、官莊、橋溪口、木江坪等9個鄉鎮。至瀘溪縣河溪會武水，在武溪鎮匯入沅江。幹流全長131公里。在鳳凰縣境長96.9公里，流域面積為732.42平方公里。多年平均流量11.9立方米/秒，自然高差533米。

鳳凰縣位於湖南西部的湘西土家族苗族自治州，地處武陵山脈南部，雲貴高原東側。

鳳凰古城

Phoenix City

                         

Day 3  Tianmen Mountain (天門山國家森林公園)

天門山位於張家界市南，距城區僅8公哩，是張家界地區最早載入史冊的名山，也是張家界地區海拔最高的山。天門山因天門洞而得名，三國時期，公元263年，天門洞訇然而開，被吳帝孫休視為吉兆，天門山由此而得名。天門山主峰海拔1518.6米，平均海拔在1400米以上。1992年7月被批准為國家森林公園，是張家界是第二個國家森林公園，面積達190多平方公裡，同時也是國家地質公園和湖南旅游風景名勝區。天門山隆起開始於燕山運動，再經喜馬拉雅山造山運動，再經風雨剝蝕，造就成為凌空獨尊、舉世罕見的喀斯特台型地貌。天門山山勢高絕，陡險峻拔，景色雄奇壯麗，一年四季景象變幻萬千。山頂保存著完整的原始次生林，植物資源豐富，有著很多國家保護的珍貴植物品種，更有珍稀罕見的原始高山珙桐群落。天門山山頂面積近2平方公裡，森林覆蓋率逾90%，其間古樹參天，藤蔓纏繞，青苔遍布，石筍、石芽舉步皆是，處處如天成的盆景，宛如仙境，被人譽為絕美的空中花園。

Far view of  Tianmen Mountain (遠望天門山)

Tianmen Mountain is a mountain located within Tianmen Mountain National Park, Zhangjiajie, in northwestern Hunan Province, China.

A cablecar was constructed by the French company Poma from nearby Zhangjiajie railway statiTon to the top of the mountain. Tianmen Mountain Cableway is claimed in tourist publications as the "longest passenger cableway of high mountains in the world", with 98 cars and a total length of 7,455 metres and ascent of 1,279 metres. The highest gradient is an unusual 37 degrees. Tourists can walk on kilometres of paths built onto the cliff face at the top of the mountain, including sections with glass floors. An 11 km road with 99 bends also reaches the top of the mountain and takes visitors to Tianmen cave, a natural hole in the mountain of a height of 131.5 metres.

Tianmen Mountain is a "must see" location - unbelievably beautiful. The ride in the cable car provides stunning views of the long and winding road up the mountain and that hole in the mountain aptly described as the gateway to heaven. 

Cable Car to Tianmen Mountain

View from Cable Car

                             

Shuttle Bus to Top of Tianmen Mountain

                                  

Trail Around Tianmen Mountain

When you walked around the trail, you would reach a Glass Trail where you could see clearly what's under your feet. Of course you must not afraid of height in order to enter this trail. The Glass Trail is about 60 meters.

The Glass Trail at Tianmen Mountain

After venturing through the Glass Trail, we had another challenge of walking 999 staircase to the cave of the Tianmen Mountain

Cave at Tianmen Mountain

   
                                         

When we walked down from the cave , it was late in the evening and we had to watch a Chinese Musical Opera at Tianmen Mountain. We skipped the dinner and went to the Opera theater. The stage was at the Grand Valley of Tianmen Mountain and was an open air atmosphere. You could see the real mountains in front of you. The show was known as the world’s first real-scene musical drama with the high mountains and deep valleys as the stage background. Originated from a traditional Chinese myth and folk tale- "Love between Man and Fox", the drama integrates the elements of folk music and modern art. As the story progresses, you would find settings everywhere from the foot of the hill to the peak, be it spotlight, stage for the chorus and background houses. and mountains. The visual presentation was spectacular and amazing, the music was impressive, and those dancers and singers were also charming. 

 

Musical Opera Tianmen Fairy Fox

The main stage integrated with wonderful mountains, valleys, forests, streams and waterfalls to form the only large stage against the background of towering mountains and valley in the world, measuring all over 1 kilometer in depth, width and height respectively. A must see when you are in Zhangjiajie.

 Day 4 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (張家界大峽谷)

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon not only has the beauty of water, but also possesses the charming of mountain. Located in the Cili county( a county in Zhangjiajie), Zhangjiajie grand canyon, about 60 square km, is close to the world natural heritage, world geological park wulingyuan scenic spot. It is a new development place.zhangjiajie Grand Canyon attracts tourists with its magnificence, rareness, magnificence and beauty. It has become a sparkling pearl in the border area of Zhangjiajie.

張家界大峽谷植被茂密，野生動植物眾多，峽谷內冬暖夏涼，舒適宜人。一線天遊道垂直而下，有驚險刺激的景區滑道代步，不僅讓遊客零距離地體驗到張家界奇峰異石的峽谷地貌，還能讓遊客在有驚無險的遊覽途中高潮迭起；目不暇接的飛泉流瀑數不勝數，輕巧絕妙的掛在峽谷之中和絕壁之上；七色彩虹在瀑布上方架起人世間的姻緣鵲橋，美輪美奐，疑似仙境；神泉溪流，神泉峽谷，神泉湖泊，山水和諧，天人合一。

to be continued (待續) . . . . . .

Sydney, Melbourne 10 Days Trip Feb 22 to Mar 3, 2013

Day 1 Sunny and warm

Fly to Sydney from Hong Kong took about 9 hours. The plane is a huge A380 plane. The seats are wider and the legroom is wider too. It's more comfortable compare with Air Bus 330. The purpose of the trip is to visit my daughter in Sydney.

                             

My daughter picked me up at the airport in the early morning. I must say the immigration and custom in Sydney are very efficient and fast. It was a sunndy day. After settle all the baggage at my daughter's house, we began our tour. As my daughter had a medical check near China Town, our first tour was the China Town. 

Way to Central Station

Day 2 Rainy

Sydney is 3 hours ahead of Hong Kong. At 10 am Sydney time is 7am in Hong Kong, so I had to adjust the time. It's a rainy day. We went to the Sydney Fish Market where we had lunch in a Chinese restaurant. There were lots of seafood there and you could request the cook to cook the seafood the way you like.

Seafood  Shop

My favorite Crab Leg

Sydney Fish Market

After Sydney Fish Market, we were heading for the Bondi Beach. A very windy day at Bondi Beach, one could hardly stand still. The umbrella was useless as the wind was so strong. The waves at the beach were high and rough in the rain.

Bondi Beach

Day 3 Sunny

We had a big breakfast at the beautiful seaside restaurant ripples at Chowder Bay. The food was good and the service was good too. 

After the big breakfast, we walked around and enjoyed the scenic view of the seaside. We walked along Balmoral beach. The beach was big and the waves were mild compare to the Bondi beach yesterday.

After the big breakfast, we drove to the famous Sydney Opera House - The landmark of Sydney. How I wish I can see one opera or concert there.

The Sydney Opera House 

The Sydney Harbour Bridge

Not far from the Sydney Opera House is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can go up to the top of the bridge for an eye-bird view of Sydney harbour. Next of the Opera House is the Royal Botanic Garden. We walked through the beautiful garden and to the Art Gallery near by.

Royal Botanic Garden

The Art Gallery

We toured around the Art Gallery and enjoyed the oil paintings, the modern and the ancient ones, the sculptures and the Australian arts.

Day 4  4 days Bus Tour from Sydney to Melbourne, Sunny

Getting up early in the morning as I had to go to the pick up point in China Town at 7 am. There were 37 persons joining this bus tour. Most were Chinese from Mainland China. On the way to Melbourne, there were green fields, farms and faraway hills. The scenery was beautiful, like a panorama picture. 

On the Way to Melbourne

After almost 12 hours, we arrived Melbourne city center at about 7:30 pm and had dinner in Melbourne China Town.

Melbourne China Town

After dinner, we checked in a 4 stars hotel The Sebel & Citigate near Albert Park. 

Day 5  Rainy

Buffet breakfast in the early morning, we were heading to the Yarra river cruise. Its about an hour cruise along the Yarra River. The cruise would pass through some bridges which had a very low head room. One had to seat down when passed through these bridges. The rain was not heavy so we could enjoy the scenery on the open deck.

Yarra River Cruise

Bridge with Low Headroom

Melbourne City View

Central Station

After the cruise, we went to Eureka Tower Skydeck 88 (about 300 meters tall) where we could see the whole Melbourne city. We took the elevator (the speed is 9 meter per second, total journey from ground to 88 floor is 40 seconds) to floor 88 where the Skydeck situated.. We could see the whole area of Melbourne city.

View of Melbourne City in the rain

Another View

Our next itinerary was the Melbourne Aquarium. The most spectacular one was the Penguin Rookery where you could see the lovely penguins on the ice and how they swam in the water.

Melbourne Aquarium

Penguins

After lunch, we were going to the Philip Island to see the little penguins return home from the ocean. On the way to Philip Island we stopped by a Chocolate Factory where we could make our own chocolate.

Chocolate Factory Philip Island

Chocolate Making Machine for Visitors

At dawn, we arrived at the Philip Island seashore. We could see some little penguins already landed under the walkway or their wooden homes at the hillside.

Sunset at Philip Island

Shy Little Penguins Hiding Under the Deck

After walking around the deck, we would see a lot of penguins coming back. Our main show was not at the deck but the stadium on the other side of the beach. We had to keep silent, no flash, no photos, otherwise we would scare the penguins away. At around 9 pm, groups of little penguins (in 4 or 6) paddled through the beach and to their homes on the hillside, Its almost 11 pm when we returned to our hotel. A long day but  lots of exciting and beautiful things to see.

Day 6   Sunny with Occasional Shower
Morning call at 5:30 am and breakfast at 6 am. We had to get up early because we would go to the greatest scenery in Melbourne - the Great Ocean Road , the 12 Apostles. After breakfast, we went to the Soverign Hill and the Gold Museum. We went to the Gold Museum first to see the history of the great Australian gold rushes in 1850. There were impressive and valuable collection of gold nuggets, alluvial deposits, priceless gold artifacts and gold coins.

After the Gold Museum we entered the exciting Sovereign Hill. First we joined the gold mine tour. We boarded on a gold mine train to the underground mine to discover the dark, dangerous world of deep lead mining and witness the discovery of the famous welcome nugget.

Inside Sovereign Hill Street

Gold Mine Tour

Inside the Gold Mine

                  

Gold inside the Mine

Gold Panning

After the Gold Mine adventure tour, we went to the gold panning area. If you were lucky, you could find real gold and it's yours to keep. Some of our tour members found golds during panning.

We were all happy to get some gold from the Sovereign Hill. The next great tour would be The Great Ocean Road. 

Twelve Apostles View from the Deck

If you want to see all 12 Apostles, you have to get on a helicopter.

Day 7
12 hours bus back to Sydney. Arrived Sydney at 7:30 pm. My daughter picked me up at China Town. Its heavy rain in Sydney.

Day 8  Rainy and Thunderstorm
My daughter took a day off (Friday) and we were going to Sydney Fish Market to have our lunch.

At the Sydney Fish Market, you could ask the cook to cook the seafood the way you want, in Chinese style fry, steam, oven or sashimi. There were a lot of ready made cooked seafood.

As the rainy was heavy, we decided to take a rest at home and had dinner at Billy Kwong's Restaurant. The crispy-skinned duck with blood orange sauce and the vegetable dumplings are highly recommended. As this

place was small, we had to share with other couples.

After a delicious dinner, we had our ice cream at the Messina- the most popular ice cream in Australia.

Messina Ice Cream

Day 9 Cloudy

We went to Eveleigh Market. The market only opened on Saturday mornings. From the market you could test product from local farms such fresh vegetables, fruits, bread and cakes. Besides the market, there was a Chinese artist exhibitions-Song Dong Waste Not. He used the used materials like water bottles, dishes and bowls for his exhibitions.

Billy Kwong  food at the morning market

After appreciation of the arts, we drove to the Manly Beach. Manly received its name from Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788 who was so impressed bt the "confident and manly behaviour" of the local Aborigines(kay-ye-my people) that he called this town 'Manly Cove'.

Manly Beach

Surfers at Manly Beach

Dinner at home with home made dishes.

Home made dish

Day 10  Sunny

As my plane scheduled depart in the late afternoon, we had breakfast in Zetland area and then drove to Paddington for a walk. There were unique boutique stores along the street.

Paddington

Boutique

Boutique

Boutique at Paddington

All my bags were packed and ready to go. My daughter's friend drove me to the airport. Its sad to leave my daughter. My 10 days in Australia brought me quality time with my daughter and her friends. I enjoyed my stay very much.

Goodbye Sydney