Should I go to Huangshan?

[Kurochan]

So my school organized a trip to Huangshan. I'm not sure whether to go or not. I've been vascillating. On one hand, I'd like to go for a change of scene, because we're probably staying in a nice hotel, and because it's a famous place. On the other hand, I am really risk-adverse. I don't like to do ANYTHING dangerous, and I've heard Huangshan is dangerous. When my neighbor went (although this was like ten years ago) someone on his tour group died in a fall. I'm also not that really into nature, although nice scenery is okay by me. I just don't want to suffer or fear for my life to see it. Is there such a thing as a safe and easy trip to Huangshan? If you were offered a school trip to Huangshan, would you go or not? Do you guys think I should go?

[Raoul Duke]

By all means, go.
It's a top destination for the homeys here in Suzhou and gets rave reviews. It looks great. I think you should be safe enough although it may not always be easy. If you find yourself approaching a point where you don't feel comfortable, climb back down and explore other places.

It should also be pointed out that you (ahem) haven't yet even made it as far as Suzhou, where quite a number of your friends live. You should come over. Turns out that this "beer" thing gives one tremendous mental powers!

[nolefan]

go for it!

I went there in the summer of 2004 and it is still one of my most memorable mountain visits in China. I'm not sure that going on an organized school trip is the best way to experience it but nevertheless, you can always go back on your own and spend more than one day there.
It's huge and there are so many ways to get around the mountain.

[Pashley]

Go!

Three people I've talked to went and descriptions were all very positive xcept for a complaint about crowding at Spring Festival.

One guide is: wikitravel.org/en/Mount_Huangshan

[hankuh]

Yeah go; I mean, go one time, and that's that; one thing, like Nolefan noted, going with a school means you always have to follow some dingy dip with a flag and a stupid ball cap, and you and the other "brigade" will have to march with them; that can be a bummer, so like, flee them, and then your good times can only get better, but it's in a great and wonderful province --the south end of the province is near my wife's stomping grounds. The north end of the province, uh, er, hmmmm, well.....just never mind.

[Mr Nobody]

Go. But if you feel unsafe, stop there, go back to the last safe point and wait for them to come back. Don't listen to anyone who tries to get you to go further. Often things like railings are perfectly safe height for locals but are below knee height for me, so I can't hold on and if I am shoved (as happens) it would make me fall over. So I stop where I feel uncomfortable.

[Lotus Eater]

The FAO is under strict instructions NOT to get any laowai killed. Can you imagine the hassles they would have if they let something happen to you?

The FAO trips I have been on have actually been fun - no flags and matching hats, really good food and reasonable hotels, and we got to go to places that were a bit more difficult for us to go easily to by train or public bus.

You flew all the way here - now go out and have some adventures!! From this trip you may deecide to start doing a lot more adventurous (and dangerous) things - like mix with the Saloonies in Suzhou. Now that is what I call a really a scary experience!!!

[Noodles]

Definitely go.
It's funny you should mention this as i was just talking to a friend of mine about this place just the other day.
My friend is from the area and was showing me some pictures of the place. WOW. It has moved up a lot higher on my list of places to visit.

That's the damn problem with this country, everytime i think i have my list of places to visit organized somewhere else pops up on the radar. It's gonna take me at least another 10 years to get round them all.

[Lotus Eater]

Too true noodles. I have many great journeys planned for many holidays to come - but now I also have great Chinese and Tibetan friends in one special, very beautiful place and really really want to go back there frequently as well.

Decisions are killers!!

But - FAO/school planned excursions are a good easy way of getting to see things. Safely, in comfort, no waiting in line to see if you can get the last seat on a sleeper bus, no walking around town carrying a heavy backpack at 3:00am looking for a hotel, no trying to catch local 'chicken' buses (ie buses which are used by the locals to carry chickens, pigs, dogs, crying children etc) which arrive at odd hours and deposit you well away from the part of town you really want to be in, no local who has no access to hot showers asleep against your shoulder and snoring.

Someone else has done all the hard work, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the experience, chatting to colleagues, knowing that there is someone to rush after you if you even look as if you are going to get lost, and that if you get sick, tired etc - then the people who know you are right there on the spot and you will be at a doctors, in a hospital or back in the bus/hotel faster than you can say FAO.

[Escaped Lunatic]

And if anything goes horribly wrong, at least you'll die in an interesting place. Far better than being killed crossing the street (which is a LOT more dangerous anyway).



“My young son asked me what happens after we die. I told him we get buried under a bunch of dirt and worms eat our bodies. I guess I should have told him the truth - that most of us go to Hell and burn eternally - but I didn't want to upset him.”
- Jack Handy

[con's fly is open]

My roommate brought back amazing photos of the place. Go!

But then, he took sick on the hill, and had a hell of a time getting back down.

Take a bunch warm socks and a toque along. Go! Getting away from concrete, car horns and street hucksters will return sanity you never knew you lost.

[Kurochan]

Thanks for your help, everyone!

Now, however, the decision has become moot! The days of the trip were changed, and then I was told I couldn't go because they coincided with a period in which some officials were going to visit the grad school, and might pop in on some classes.

[Eagle's Nest]

Don't you love it when decisions are made for you? It pays to procrastinate! If that doesn't do the trick, being married to someone who likes making decisions is also a good way out of making the tough choices as well. But as Garth Brooks would say, the best way is to "choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide."

eagle

[kcanuck]

Eagle, thanks for quoting Garth this morning. My first profession was that of radio broadcasting in such metropolitan Canadian cities as Timmins and Thunder Bay and I always worked at country music stations. Garth and I go way back and I still enjoy most of his music. It's really too bad that country music has become so bland or so red white and blueish...thank goodness for the Dixie Chicks.

[solongtinik]

wow! kcanuck! the reason why i took up mass communication was because i wanted to got to nashville and work as a dj but i think it's quite difficult! i landed on a media job though but it tired me...

if i get tired of teaching ill probably go back to my old job!

[Newbs]

kcanuck said:

thank goodness for the Dixie Chicks.

Copy on that kcanuck.

[AMonk]

Go. You'll kick yourself later on, if you don't. Even if you have to opt out of some things (I'll got "issues' with heights and closed in spaces), you'll be glad you did go and see what everyone else is on about.