Friday, 17 October 2025
I woke up to the sound of water which turned out to be rain. It rained on and on and finally I summoned enough energy to venture out and find the bus stop for the bus to the railway station. I walked all the way to Regent Hotel and then back again to finish packing. After checking out, I walked back to Regent Hotel and caught bus number 8 to the railway station.
I met a few Chinese Malaysians on the train to Kunming. In Kunming, I took the subway to the airport for my evening flight out to Changsha. I’d made my research and found that it was actually more economical to fly to Changsha instead of taking the high-speed train.
I had some spicy fried potato wedges and tofu for dinner at the airport. Then I performed prayers in a baby care room before walking to my gate.
The plane landed at 21:50 but we had to take buses to the terminal. I rode the metro from the airport to Changsha Railway Station (had to change lines). I had read that the Changsha subway operated only until 22:30 so was happy when the trains were still running until 23:30. I wasn’t keen on spending the night at the train station but I was even less keen to find a hotel and return to the station after five hours.
Saturday, 18 October 2025
Of course sleep was elusive. I got up at 05:00 and went to perform ablutions. Alhamdulillah, I managed to find a quiet spot for me to perform morning prayers. After prayers, I walked to another waiting room which had just opened for the day for my 06:55 train to Zhangjiajiexi (Zhangjiajie West). I managed to charge my devices in the train although I did change seats (and was enquired by the train staff. I gestured that the woman sitting next to me was coughing and coughing and couldn’t be bothered to cover her mouth).
We reached Zhangjiajiexi and I followed signs to the bus station. I rode a local bus to Tianmen Mountain cable car station. The fare was 2 yuan but I had problems paying with Alipay. A white woman helped pay my fare and I had difficulty trying to pay her back by asking other passengers if they had change. Finally I managed to change my note with another passenger.
I got down and walked to Tianmen Mountain cable car then had to turn back to store my bag. I then joined the long queue for Line A (I’d bought ticket on Klook) to board the cable car. We had to queue outside first, then joined a sitting queue. Then we walked up the stairs and the queue began again. The ride took almost thirty minutes. At the top, I followed the West Line route first until completion before going on the East Line. The weather was dismal. It was raining and we could hardly see anything. Everything was shrouded in fog and mist and everyone was either wearing raincoat or holding umbrellas. Some had shoe covers on and I wondered if they were slippery.
After 90 minutes, I walked to the cross-mountain escalator and rode the escalators down. Then I walked down 999 steps but the dreary weather meant we didn’t have a view of Tianmen Cave at all.
I then took the cable car down, this is a different cable car altogether and could fit 26 pax compared to the earlier cable car up which could only carry eight pax. From the base, I rode another shuttle bus to the Tianmen Mountain cable car entrance to retrieve my bag. Then I asked for directions where to wait for the bus to Wulingyuan. A kind woman helped me and even hailed the bus (mini van) for me. The fare was 13 yuan and the journey took about 50 minutes.
I got down and walked to my hotel on Wuling Road. The rooms are themed and I was thankful my room was only one flight up and the kind host helped carry my bag up. To my delight, there was a halal restaurant only two doors away from the hotel. After checking in and performing prayers, I ventured out. Dinner was had at another halal restaurant before I walked back to my room.
Sunday, 19 October 2025
I left the hotel after 07:40 this morning and walked to the East Gate of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park about 12 minutes away from the hotel. I then followed signs for Line A and boarded the shuttle bus to Tianzi Mountain cable car. I’d bought ticket via Klook as it was priced slightly better than on Trip.com. I then joined other visitors to queue for the cable car. Once up there, I took another shuttle bus. Well, I actually took the shuttle bus back and then out again. After a frustrating morning (the rain didn’t help improve my mood), I finally trekked the Golden Whip Crag route and then took a shuttle out to East Gate.
I walked back to my hotel and performed prayers before going to the halal restaurant two doors away for dinner. After dinner, I sat down with the host to consult him about Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Yes, I should’ve done it before I left this morning but I didn’t expect to find myself confused. He tried to help me with the Bailong Elevator but because my ticket was purchased on Klook, he advised me to go there early the following morning.
To be continued
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