And not the China we all know. Changsha, the Hunan Province.
This place MUST be on everyone's bucket list!
I genuinely felt like I had left planet Earth. From Zhangziazie National Park (where the film Avatar was made), through the winding roads up to Mount Tianmen, sailing down the scenic Lake Baofeng and walking across the longest glass bridge in the world at the Grand Canyon to downtown Changsha absolutely full of phenomenal smells, glowing vibrant colours and light displays that put others to shame, the Hunan Province is definitely the most sensational place I have had the pleasure of visiting.
On arrival we were greeted by the most wonderful staff at the Wyndam Changsha. The hotel was stunning, large, elegant and spotlessly clean! I was taken back when entering my room. It was huge! Stunning facilities such as a free-standing bath and digital frosted glass screen. Even the curtains opened on arrival displaying the fabulous lights of the city.
Breakfast was to die for. Everything you could think of was served. From fruits, cereals, pastries and breads to more local cuisine such as noodles, stir fries, meats and fish. The service was above a 5 star, they couldn't do enough for us. The lunch and dinners were definitely more traditional and held in such authentic venues. A 'light bite' was a banquet. Rotating tables of countless dishes. We were never hungry!
I had in my mind what China would be like, and the city side of it was pretty spot on to how I imagined. Busy, attractive, and even a little chaotic (in a good way). We visited Orange Island, where amongst the orange trees is a large sculpture of Chairman Mao Zedong. From there we visited Chairman Maos home in his childhood. This place was still as it was then. A very traditional farmer's home. And in the evening, we strolled through the electric streets, dining at the most picturesque restaurants.
But nothing prepared me for how beautiful the scenic areas were going to be. It was a fantastic transfer from the city to the National Park as we travelled on the infamous Bullet train. What would normally be a 6-hour bus journey, was just a 2-hour train ride. And before we knew it we were standing at the top of Mount Tianmen, above the clouds in the crisp clean air, hit like no other. It was breath-taking. I couldn't believe how high we were. 4900 feet to be precise. And it was so quiet. Looking down at the winding roads and the tops of the Zhangziazie National Park was an image I will never forget.
From being so high up, we travelled to the base of the Mountain and sailed through Baofeng Lake. The water was the brightest turquoise with stunning waterfalls everywhere. This man-made alpine lake was created in the 1970s and is such a calming attraction. We were lucky enough to walk on the glass walkway around the side of the mountain, and even to cross the world's longest glass bridge across the Grand Canyon. We even zip-wired across the canyon! The excitement was incredible.
When the sun went down, the lights came up for this spectacular show, Tianmen Fox Fairy, in the mountains. This was a musical love story set in the depths of the scenic spot with the lights bouncing off the mountains! It was just stunning. Wendy Wu provided the most exquisite tour, featuring our guides Winny and Rita, a fantastic local duo who really showed us the soul of China. And not forgetting Keith, our UK group leader who took care of everything from Visas to food and beverages throughout the trip! Having them with us made sure we had the ultimate experience!
The reception we received from not only Wendy Wu, but the locals themselves was beyond welcoming. They were all so passionate about their country, their culture and also their history and for that I have fallen in love with this unbelievable country. China now has a very special place in my heart and I will be forever grateful for the experience I have had.
