Woke up early again and checked out of that hotel. Today, the trip would bring us to Huang Long (黄龙). We first had to go to Chuan Zhu Si (川主寺) and then take the other path towards Huang Long. On the way to Huang Long, we made 3 stops. 1st was at a Crystal Wholesale Factory – where none of us were interested in purchasing anything. 2nd was a Mao Niu (牦牛) factory – where we could try all sorts of mao niu food products and it was GOOD. But once again, we did not buy anything as the stuff were really a little too expensive.

After that stop, Ah Qing probably almost died of a heart attack. He could not figure out why we were not spending and that his commission was flying away before his very eyes. He once again “appealed” to us to spend and that we were making him “欲哭无泪” … so sad that no tears are coming out. Seriously, its not our fault that you have a screwed up system in Si Chuan for Tours. According to him, he had to pay the tour agency RMB 40 for each person he brought out on a tour and that he only got 15% commission of the amount that we spend. Therefore, for him to cover cost, we had to spend about RMB 500 per person. Seriously, who in his right mind would do this kind of business where they start off with negative money and hope to make it back during a tour.

The 3rd stop for that day was a Chinese Medicine Factory. We were given a briefing on Tibetan Medicine and there was one which treated diabetics particularly. Something which wasn’t right was the fact that if the medicine was so good, why didn’t anyone else tried it? Then there were 3 doctors in their factory who would give free diagnosis. Yixin, huixian and I all tried. That guy doctor (who was quite unprofessional) told me that I had stomach problems or more precisely gastric problems (胃溃疡). I told him that I never had gastric problems, after all, I feed myself too well to have such problems. Then he kept scolding me … “still laugh!” … I simply could not help laughing … hahaha! He looked so comical trying to be serious! (“,)

Reached Huang Long by lunch time and we had our lunch at the Visitor Centre.

Huang Long was just a trek up the mountain to about 4000 + metres above sea level to see various forms of water bodies. These water bodies were formed out of calcification of some rocks. The actual process is still a mystery to me. One day will go and research more on that.

The trek up the mountain was 4.1 km and the return trip was the same. While climbing up, the rain was so irritating. Once in a while the rain will come, then it stops and I get really hot and I take off my water proof coat then it rains again. Then I put it on. After a while, the rain stops the sun shines for a bit then I take it off again. Then It starts to rain. It was as though the heavens was playing with us. Rain then stop then rain again.

Anyhow, the scenery was very nice too especially with the backdrop of the snow – capped mountain. We tried to get photos of it, but most of the pictures did not turn out as great as we thought it would be. The top of the mountain was the 5 coloured pool (五彩池). Travelled up the mountain with mc and intermittently Huixian. Everyone was travelling up at their own pace so as not to slow each other down. Climbing up the mountain at such a high altitude was indeed not an easy feat. The air was thin and it definitely made breathing much tougher. However, the climb was definitely worth it!

Reached the bottom of the mountain quite early with mc and hx. The rest were still late as they had lingered too long on the mountain top. They messaged me at 3.30pm that they were only about coming down and that was the time that we were suppose to be at or near the bottom of the mountain. They did hurry down the mountain and to all our surprises they made it down in about 40 mins only. That was really fast!!! climbing down 4.1 km of the mountain! Impressed!!!

After Huang Long, we made our wa to Mao Xian (茂县). That was where we stayed the night before heading back to Chengdu the next night. The trip there was extremely exciting. Our driver drove on mountain roads at like speeds ranging between 70 km/h to 90km/h. It was like a scene from Initial D, where he was overtaking all the cars on the roads. It was dark early and the roads were all very dark. Wanted to sleep, but with the way the driver was driving, it was not possible. We were just too ‘excited’ or ‘scared’ of the way he was driving! We reached Mao Xian really early!

Our hotel at Mao Xian

Shops outside the Hotel where there we went to chop for small items. Met Singaporeans there. They were on holiday from Singapore and they were also touring Si Chuan, but not JZG or HL. What a small world. Everywhere we tour, we meet Singaporeans.