Xiao Zhangjiajie Northern Line Crossing

Little Zhangjiajie is located at the junction of Yueqing and Yongjia. It is called Little Zhangjiajie because of its numerous peaks and unique rocks. It is like a fairyland on earth when exposed to mist. The beautiful scenery looks like Zhangjiajie. Because the unique scenery can only be seen clearly on the ridge, the Xiao Zhangjiajie crossing route is very popular among travel enthusiasts. It attracts outdoor teams and travel companions from all over the country to travel through it every year. There are two main routes through Zhangjiajie: one is the southern route and the other is the northern route.

Our crossing this time is the Xiao Zhangjiajie North Line. The crossing route is Xiao Zhangjiajie North - Xianrenjing - Kongyan Mountain. The entire crossing route is 11.1 kilometers and takes about 9 hours.

      

The weather for our crossing on January 20th was not very good. It was still raining heavily in Wenzhou in the early morning. At around 8:20, we arrived at the foot of Xiao Zhangjiajie North Mountain. Although it didn’t rain, the fog was thick and the road was wet. Rocks a hundred meters away loomed faintly, and the distant mountains were completely covered by heavy fog. At this time, I couldn't help but worry about this mountain climbing, because the foggy weather was very slippery, which increased the difficulty of climbing a lot. In addition, I hadn't climbed for a while, and I was worried that my physical fitness could not keep up. However, seeing that no one gave up, I followed everyone’s wishes and went up.

We followed the red ribbon crossing route and soon reached a hillside. This hillside is very steep, with an inclination of about 70 degrees. There are obvious traces of trampling by travellers, and the branches beside the footprints also have obvious signs of being pulled and broken. Judging from this sign, this hillside has the potential to intimidate those who come! We didn't want to be frightened by it. We stepped on the footsteps carefully and pulled the branches forward slowly. After all, the hillside is steep. We were out of breath after not climbing for long. The higher we got to the top, the steeper and more difficult it became to climb. There was a place on the top where there was a steep rock wall, which was very slippery, and there were no branches on both sides to pull on, so everyone stopped here. At this time, Captain Duxiu and team member Yu Xiaoxiao, who were leading the charge, warned the team members below not to easily climb on the spot and wait, while relying on their thin body advantages, as well as their extraordinary courage and arm strength to climb up. The captain and Yu Xiaoxiao climbed to a safer position above, tied up the rope, and took safety measures before asking their teammates below to pull the rope up.

 

 

Although this rock slope is only five or six meters long, it is steep, slippery, and has no grip points. It is still very difficult to rely on a rope alone. The first person went up very hard, and when it was my turn, I felt a little flustered for no reason. I was deeply afraid that I would pull the rope and accidentally lose my hand and fall, so I was very careful when pulling the rope. Every time I took a step forward, I would wrap my arms around the rope several times to hold it firmly. Since the rock wall is almost vertical, it is difficult to step on the slippery rock wall under your feet, so you have to rely on your hands to pull the rope to get up. I am quite heavy and my arm strength is not very good. So every step up is very difficult for me. During the process of pulling the rope, because my arms were frozen for too long, I obviously felt that my arms had no strength, and there was a possibility of falling off at any time. At this time, I was particularly scared. However, I gritted my teeth and persisted. The burden of worry and fear I had just now could finally be put down, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

 

When we reached the ridge, it was still foggy. I took a selfie with my phone and couldn't see the scenery behind at all. The team members who came up from behind quickly took pictures with their mobile phones when they saw a bit of the fog dissipating and the mountain peaks were exposed. At this moment, I don’t care about how beautiful the scenery is, but about recording the joy of the moment. What’s important is to express the joy of victory.

Team members came up one after another, and the ridge crossing had just begun. I took a deep breath and continued walking forward. Fog shrouded the ridge, the visibility range was reduced, and there were blind spots everywhere, which undoubtedly increased the risk of crossing. Because there is a cliff below the ridge, if you accidentally step on the air and fall, you will be shattered to pieces. However, when the thick fog dissipated, it was still very beautiful to see the scenery of Zhangjiajie that had not been seen for a long time. You see, the mist shuttles among the strange peaks, and the strange peaks float with the mist, like a fairyland on earth, so beautiful!

Continuing to walk north of Xiao Zhangjiajie, not long after walking, a rock peak appeared in front of us. This peak stands tall in the sky, like people giving a thumbs up, as if they are praising the beautiful scenery of Xiao Zhangjiajie. This peak is also a difficult point in our crossing, and we need to use ropes to pull it up. The captains Duxiu and Yu Xiaoxiao who were walking in front had already climbed up with bare hands. As for how they climbed up, I can't imagine. I can only use the word "admiration" to describe their rock climbing abilities. When I came from behind, the team members in front had already lined up at the foot of the peak. We went up from the edge of the rock wall. Because it is tall and the space is small, it is time-consuming to pull the rope to climb. For safety reasons, the captain shouted instructions from above, while teammates occasionally stayed below for protection. After waiting below for a long time, the beautiful team member Xia Ye, who was unwilling to be left alone, put up a POS and took photos, ha! I looked up and saw one team member following the other, like mutton skewers strung up next to each other. Looking at the climb from below, it makes your feet tremble a bit. Since I am heavy and don’t have the upper hand in arm strength, I started to worry down there. Fortunately, my teammate Ah Qing comforted me and encouraged me, telling me not to worry and that I would definitely be able to go up. With the encouragement of my teammates, I had the courage to accept the challenge. For safety reasons, my teammates occasionally tied a rope around my waist for protection. Here, I am very grateful to our lovely occasional teammates. When I was climbing, the captain commanding from above shouted loudly: "Don't grab the rope! Grab the other braid rope. When pulling the braid rope, step on your feet to climb up straight, and pull the rope up with both hands!" I pressed the captain's button. I did the essentials and it worked. In fact, it was fine when I came up, not as scary as down below. I have also been outdoors for ten years. Logically speaking, I shouldn’t have such fear. The main reason is that I don’t go outdoors often, I’m a bit overweight, and I had an accident during my last abseil, so I feel a little bit shadowy. I don't have much confidence in climbing difficult areas. I also have to sigh: Time is not forgiving, and I am no longer the one who bravely moved forward from zero distance!

 

 

 

Looking at the scenery from the top of this rock peak, it is a different scenery: clouds and mist are lingering, the fog quickly disperses, and then gathers quickly; the surrounding peaks and rocky roads are looming in the fog; people seem to be in the sky and the world, soaring in the clouds and mist, as if Drifting in the fog feels so interesting. At this time, the thumb rock peak turned into a mighty tiger: sometimes jumping and roaring, sometimes lurking in the bushes to ambush, sometimes watching the prey eagerly and preparing to attack. Viewing this rock peak from different angles gives people a different visual enjoyment and is breathtaking.

Moving forward, the next step is the second difficulty of this crossing, which requires two descending points. One of the descending points requires the help of two artificially constructed wooden stick bridges. These two wooden sticks are only as thick as a fist, and each one is only as thick as a fist. If you can stand on one foot, when crossing the bridge, you need to hold the rope with both hands, and pull the rope with both feet to slowly move backwards and forward. It is quite thrilling from a distance. (These two wooden sticks were also left over from the outdoor team’s journey not long ago. It’s all thanks to these two wooden sticks. Otherwise, you have to descend below to get up. I’m very grateful to the unknown outdoor team.) Captain Duxiu and Yu Xiaoxiao And occasionally the three of them have already prepared rope protection measures in front: Captain Duxiu is directing from above on the other side of the bridge, Yu Xiaoxiao is below on the opposite side of the bridge using ropes to protect the team members crossing the bridge, and occasionally they stay at this end of the bridge to watch the team members lower the ropes. Cross the bridge. These three masters cooperated tacitly, took protective measures in place, and escorted each team member across the bridge safely to the other side. Under the protection of three masters, the team members rappelled calmly. When crossing the bridge, everyone was smiling and relaxed.

 

 

Everyone walks to the opposite side safely. Looking back at the thrilling place just now, you will find that the place looks like two huge beasts exchanging feelings. The captain and Occasionally the three of them were finishing up, while the team members in front had already climbed far to the peak above. I saw someone climbing the rock wall from a distance, and then I followed them. I don't know when, a panicked shout came from behind: "Wait a minute! Don't go up there, you may be in the wrong place!" The shouts came from far away, and it turned out that the shouts came from all the way. The team members above heard the shouts and stopped moving forward. However, some team members were unable to come down when they went up the rock climbing wall, so the team members above began to shout nervously: "The team members above have gone up and can't come down! What should I do?!" "Don't be confused! Come down slowly. Everyone stays where you are. Wait until you find a suitable route!" The person shouting from behind continued to shout. My teammate Ah Qing and I were behind the players above. After hearing the shouts, we stayed put and did not go up. The shouting from behind was getting closer and closer, and soon the person calling could be clearly seen. It turned out that the person shouting was Yu Xiaoxiao. He ran up to us panting and said, "Have you found the road signs for other forks?" "Yes, they are just road signs for the road down the mountain." A Qing and I said in unison. "Then I'll go up and take a look." After Yu Xiaoxiao finished speaking, the horse continued to rush upward without stopping. Later, Captain Duxiu and Occasionally also came up. The captain determined that the road sign below was the path down the mountain, so the correct route was still above. We followed the captain up. Everyone was waiting under the steep cliff just now for the results of the exploration. Finally, Yu Xiaoxiao and the team leader discussed to determine whether the correct route would be to go up this rock wall. The team member who climbed up just now also came down without any danger. Everyone gave friendly criticism to this rash climber, and the team member accepted it sincerely. Here, I also warmly remind everyone: Everyone is responsible for safe outdoor activities. All actions must follow the arrangements and instructions of the organizers. Do not act rashly, otherwise your own life will be endangered and everyone else will be affected. Captain Duxiu and Yu Xiaoxiao went up first for everyone's safety, then tied up the rope and put it down, and asked everyone to pull the rope up. Occasionally, they still took on the task of protection below. This rock wall is quite steep when you walk in, it is 20 to 30 meters high, and the slope is close to 70 degrees. Although there are many raised gripping points from below, these gripping points are sloping when viewed from above. So it's not that easy to catch. However, this rock wall is much easier to climb than the first rock wall. It is not so slippery and has more stepping points under your feet. Everyone pulled the rope and came up.

 

Seeing that everyone had gone up safely, Captain Duxiu asked everyone to find a suitable place to eat above. After passing the two most difficult points in this trip, everyone seemed to feel more relaxed and the climb became much easier. It's also a ridge going up, so we couldn't find a suitable flat place to eat, so we found a place that could accommodate two or three people and share their meals. The team members who came up one after another had no place to sit, so they had to squeeze into a small place to eat together. The place where we eat is surrounded by cliffs. If we are not careful, we will fall to the cliff. So, it can be said that we are eating on the tip of a knife.

After eating and drinking, everyone packed up and moved on. Everyone opened their hands on the protruding rock tip, like an eagle flying, not worried at all that they would fall. Everyone was smiling and walking happily. Soon we came to a very wide place, from where we could see the scenery of small Zhangjiajie in the distance. Everyone grabs the vantage point and takes photos as much as they want: Some look back and smile, some stand calmly, some sit upright and are intoxicated, some stare ahead, or some open their arms and give a thumbs up to cheer for victory.

Moving forward, moving forward, another huge rock wall blocked the way ahead, so we had to go around the rock wall. On the way around the rock wall, you will find a black boulder appearing in front of us. If you don't look carefully, you will think it is a tall black bear, which will scare you. After bypassing the Black Bear Stone and continuing to walk up, there is a bamboo forest. This bamboo forest has been deeply trampled by outdoor enthusiasts. There are two red ribbon marked roads from this road, one continues to the right and the other goes around to the left. I heard the sound and the team members were nearby. The left wing was clean and easy to walk on, so I passed by it and quickly found my teammates. They were muttering something, and when I got closer, I heard that they were going the wrong way. We went back through the bamboo forest on the right. Coming out of the bamboo forest is a small forest of intertwined trees. There are many thorny tree vines in the intersecting forest, which will hinder your progress. It gets harder and harder to walk down, and it gets steeper and steeper. If I hadn't pulled on the branches beside me to go down, I would have felt like I was falling. When we reached a lower rock wall, there was no road ahead, so everyone had to use ropes to descend. Although this rock wall is dry and not slippery, it is about thirty meters high. Such a high rock wall, and the slope is almost vertical, is still quite difficult for players who are afraid of heights, lack arm strength, and are heavy. When the beautiful team member Xia Ye went down, she pulled the rope, her feet were trembling, and she kept saying in a panic: "Why haven't you arrived yet?! Why haven't you arrived yet!" Captain Duxiu saw this scene, and was below He kept shouting to her: "Pay attention to the essentials of the movements: stand with your feet straight and lean back; don't kneel down on your feet, keep your balance!" The team members above and below also continued to encourage her to come down. With everyone's encouragement, Xia Ye finally came down without any danger. Team member Chen is afraid of heights. When he went down, he was asked to tie a rope to his chest for protection. During the descent, Mr. Chen felt panicked and his center of gravity was unstable. He crawled on his knees several times. But he still made the entire descent. For someone of age and fear of heights, having the courage to go on is already very impressive and worthy of respect. After the previous abseil experiences, I seemed to be much calmer this time and not as panicked as before. However, for the sake of safety, I still looked left and right to find a good stepping point, grasped the rope and slowly descended until I reached the bottom safely.

We continued to move forward, and within a short time we arrived at the second destination of our journey - the Immortal Mirror. This mirror is a hole in the rock wall, about one meter long and one meter wide, in an irregular round shape. Looking from bottom to top, you can see the sky from the hole, hence the name Immortal Mirror. The effect of the fairy mirror cannot be seen at the bottom of the mountain. It can only be seen at a close distance when going up the mountain. We visited the beautiful scenery in heaven and earth - Xiao Zhangjiajie, and then took a look in the fairy mirror. It was really a worthwhile trip to heaven.

From the fairy mirror to the foot of the mountain, the time was around 2:24 in the afternoon. The speed was relatively fast, only taking a quarter of an hour. Seeing the Yamada farmhouse, our trip came to an end. Then it depends on everyone's wishes. Captain Duxiu discussed with everyone: "Originally we planned to complete the journey before five o'clock. Since it took most of the time, we are still a little tight on time to go to the next destination - Kongyan Mountain. Now it depends on everyone's wishes and we will continue walking. If so, speed up. If you don’t want to continue walking, take the ancient road from Doumen Village to Panyang Village. Our minibus will stop at Panyang Village.” Most people still agree to continue walking the entire distance. Due to personal reasons, I chose to take the ancient path. From Yamada, we saw that the Kongyan Mountain opposite was still very far away, and it would take at least three hours to climb. It has been 6 hours of continuous walking from about 8:30 in the morning to 2:30 now. Everyone's physical fitness has declined a bit. If we continue to climb the mountain for another three hours, it will still be quite a challenge. I silently said to myself: "Now that I'm here, I have to finish it."

 

It takes about half an hour from Yamatianxia to Doumen Village. Those who don’t want to walk the whole distance can leave here. Now in winter, it gets dark faster. If you don't go down the mountain before five o'clock, it will be difficult to walk when it gets dark, so everyone speeds up and moves forward. The next road is basically an ancient road, which is relatively easy to walk. Passing through the mountain fields on the way, from time to time I saw field fish swimming in the stream and waterfalls hanging down curtains; listening to the gurgling sound of the stream, the sweet chirping of birds sounded in my ears from time to time; on the way, the green reservoir, the reeds on the shore, and the distant scenery The green mountains and green peaks echoed in the distance, which made us very happy while walking on the ancient road. However, the road up the mountain is long and it feels a bit strenuous to climb from the bottom of the mountain all the way up. Especially when we got to the back, the ancient road disappeared and the road over the mountains was really difficult. As we approached Kongyan Mountain, everyone was almost exhausted. My legs were obviously sore, especially my toes.

When we walked to Kongyan Mountain and saw the beautiful scenery, the hard and tiring climb was worth it. Kongyan Mountain is said to be hollow inside, with only a few natural stone pillars supporting it, hence the name Kongyan Mountain. Someone once climbed to the top of Kongyan Mountain with bare hands. We don’t know where exactly they climbed. However, the few stones next to the empty rock are quite beautiful. There is a stone on the north side called Gondola Rock. It is named because it is shaped like a stone pillar of a gondola on the pier. It is said that Kongyan Mountain was once a vast ocean. When the tide rose, the water would only reach the Gondola Rock, so fishing could only be done at the Gondola Rock. From a distance, the gondola rock looks like a fishing rod. When combined with the empty rocks, it looks like a flying phoenix. There are several stones in the southeast of Kongyan Mountain, shaped like the Gassho Peak of Yandang Mountain. The stone pillar closest to it to the south is like a thumb. Some people call it Thumb Rock. It is lifelike and very beautiful.

We came down from the stone wall on the south side of Kongyan Mountain. Although the road down the mountain was still so steep, we were still a little happy when we saw the houses at the bottom of the mountain. When we approached the bottom of the mountain, everyone raised their hands and cheered for victory again!

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We went down to the bottom of the mountain at about 5:30, which ended this crossing activity. This was a thrilling, difficult and joyful crossing.