Adventure in Wuyishan Scenic Area

In China, hiking is a main activity especially in the national park.

There are many places to hike and trek in Wuyishan in Fujian county. I took a high speed train from Xiamen to Wuyishan North train station in around 3 hours. There is a free bus from the station to different towns and villages in the surrounding area. As I stayed at Sangu Old Street, I took a free no 9 bus.

In the afternoon, I set off by walking around 30 mins to the base of Dawang Peak for a continuously uphill hike on stairs to the peak. Dawang Peak is located outside the main entrance of the national park, hence there is no need for a transit fee with transit bus. It took about 1 hour 15 mins to hike to the peak.

Up and up

Halfway

Climbing the narrow stairs to the top

Let the adventure begins

Narrow stairs

Amazing view

Dawang Peak

Walking on the cliff

The main attractions are in the the designated park which requires a transit bus that is charged as an entrance fee. To get the ticket, I took a free no 7 bus from Sangu Old Street to the South Entrance Gate to get 2 day pass for 85 yuan for the transit bus ride in the park.

The 1st stop is the must visit Tianyu Peak. It was a steep climb on the rock cliff to the peak which took about 1 hour hike. The view is definitely rewarding, I took a detour route down to go to a secluded park called Taoyuan Cave with a hidden temple and Laozi Statute. This is a secluded quiet place before joining back the main entrance.

View from half way

Steep climb

View from the peak

Amazing rocks

Laozi

Taoyuan Cave temple

Tranquality

In the afternoon, I took the transit bus to nearby Yi Xian Tian (One line sky) to hike for 15 mins on a narrow dark cliff where a ray of light can be seen, hence, the name one line sky. From there , I walked for about 1 hour to Huxiao Yan (Roaring Tiger Rock), where I did pass by some tea plantations in the valley. It was too exhausted to climb up the rock cliff.

One line sky

Hidden tea plantation

Then I ended the day with a short bus ride to nearby Yunu Peak (Jade Maiden Peak), a relaxing spot next to the river, where one could enjoy the towering view of rock formations and bamboo rafts drifting down the Juiqu Stream (Nine Bend River).

Does the rock look like an owl?

Bamboo rafting

The next day, I went back to Huxiao Yan (Roaring Tiger Rock), climbing up the steep cliff again. The route down on the back is equally challenging, with steep stairs down passing a temple. 

Climbing on the cliff

View from the peak

A steep climb down

Then, I visited the popular Da Hong Pao, the birthplace of the oolong tea from the area. It took about 30 mns from the entrance with up and down the stairs to the valley. I continued my trek to Water Curtain Cave which took total of about 2.5 hours. 

The long walk from Da Hong Pao to Wind Curtain Cave

Hidden tea plantation

An ancient temple in the valley

Truly a scenic walk in the hidden valley

Nearing Water Curtain Cave

Does the wall look like curtain?

One does not only enjoy the hike, but a foodie would love to walk in the daily night market located in Sangu Old Street. There are many local treats to enjoy, especially a local cake and barbeque duck leg.

A local specialty

Lighting at waterfront area near Sangu Old Street

Reflection

Negros Occidental and beyond

Bacolod is a seaside city that is less visited by tourists. But it is a place where an authentic local life can be seen and experienced. It is also the birthplace of the popular inasal or grilled chicken. Walking along the back alleys and seeing kids playing in the open air and local arcade reminded me of those sweet memories in the village where I grew up. 

Cloudy sunset at the esplanade

Local community praying on the street

Kids are creative in their games

A local back alley

Adults and kids enjoying a game

A local  furniture factory shop

San Sebastian Cathedral

Chicken Inasal

  

One of the key attractions in Bacolod in The Ruins, also known as "The Taj Mahal of Negros", an ancestral European architectural mansion built by a sugar baron in the 1900s for his beloved wife who passed away but it was burnt down during Japanese invasion in World War 2, hence the name The Ruins. Instead of taking a tuk tuk out, I walked for nearly 1 hour to the main bus terminal for next destination. But I discovered a local restaurant that serves authentic Bacolod dishes that I enjoyed the most. That is the reward of exploring by walking. 

The Ruins

Yummy local yam dish

Pumpkin

Green bean

Bamboo shoot

After The Ruins, I took a jeepney the popular Silay city, around 30 mins. Silay is famous for its colonial buildings where some are preserved as heritage. One of the heritage buildings to visit is Bernardino Jalandoni Museum, a living memory of the house of a sugar baron Jalandoni. What I enjoyed the most was having 2 rounds of fresh coconut amid the scorching heat in the market and chatting with the local vendor. 

Balay Negrense

Hofilena  Ancestral House

A local life

Maria Ledesma Gomez Heritage Building

This was an ancestral way of ironing by worker

Traditional way of removing coconut husk in the local market

I also had the opportunity to experience a local festival called Bablayan festival in Bago town about 40 mins away. It is held only once a year on 19 Feb in this tiny town to commemorate the pre-colonial shamans who served as custodians of herbal medicine, oral traditions and spiritual ritual. As I arrived in the morning before 9am, the parade by school bands and government officials from different departments was about to begin. It was lively with colorful musical troupes. 

Secondary school band

Primary school band

In the afternoon, the street was filled again with live street dance performances that ended in the coliseum theater with a competition. Unfortunately, I did not manage to watch the competition as I had to rush for a ferry ride to Iloilo to visit a friend.

A traditional charcoal cooked bingka