Lijiang Wow I think its my first WOW factor I've had in China. Lijiang was recomended by a friend. Its a beautiful old City Kept as original as possible. Obviously there are new buildings reaching the skies around it but the actual city is kept. We have a lovely stay in Youth Hostel Basic but clean. We are here to source some trekking in Tiger Leaping Gorge. Mountain Pass.  Mark is adamant we should have a guide for this expo and not just leave it to chance.. Yeah I guess he right someone has to be sensible on this trip. Guide sourced we hit the mountains. We intend to walk to halfway house which is 12km not far I hear you say WELL it's not the distance its the terrain up one side and down the other.. As we start to climb it takes us 2hrs to reach the top pathway. regular stops to calm down the heart rate and of course take in these spectacular views. (phot's Later) This Gorge knocks spots of anything else we have done in NZ or AUS They are just stunning. Unable to see the sky because they are so high into the clouds and cant see the river because of the steepness.. The Magnitude of the beauty is just awesome.. Anyway we make Halfway house Lodge by 17:00hrs very tired no sore feet though.. There are lots of people here from all over the globe which gives for an entertaining evening..Some are doing the trek in a week some are doing it in 2 days Yeah you're right we are doing it in 2 wished we had booked longer now but you never know until it's happening then its too late to change the Itinery..

Day 2 we are up at 06:00hrs meeting our guide at 07:00hrs Mark is a little hung over after too much socialising (good fun though) We set off for the second set of rapids and the second middle stone which the tiger used to leap across.. After 2 hrs walking we start to descend very sheer walkways there are grab rails to help you down and of course up.. This is not for the faint hearted the rocks are continously slipping away from under your feet.. We finally make it to the bottom and its worth every effort, The rapids are roaring past you would not want to swim here!! We climb over the rocks fro the perfect photo shot. The noise of the river thundering through the rapids is so loud you cant talk to each other.. Rest time over we make our ascent.. again stopping regularly for the old ticker to settle. We climb for 2hrs before reaching the track and collapse quietly in a heap...!!!

We give in enough is enough we have to walk back up to the road to get collected by the broom wagon .. 2 days out of the city noise pollution. Oh the fresh air is a wonderful thing when you have been starved from it!!

The next 2 days in Lijiang was just quietly doing the touristy stuff!!  

Next Stop Chongqing to join the Yantze River