Jiu Hua Shan pics

This was the next stop on our road trip. This place is basically totally off the foreign tourist map, but it was a very cool place. Its one of the more famous Buddhist stops in China - monasteries carved into the side of high misty mountains, chanting saffron robed monks, lots of incense and gongs. Very atmospheric stuff. Anyway, this was another cable car place since our little band wasn't hearty enough for the 5 hour hike up. This place could have actually been crazier than Huangshan in terms of steep stairs and long fall possibilities, but the kids liked the incense stores and the hiking around. They also couldn't stay away from the souvenier stands. Ethan wanted a wooden sword like you wouldn't believe, but it would have been a disaster walking around the paths, let alone during the car ride home.

The people, as usual, were fascinated by the blondness and smallness of our crew. We were with one other family which upped the numbers of small blond people. Once you get out of Shanghai, Beijing and maybe Shenzhen and Guangzhou, your chances of seeing a foreign kid in real life are pretty slim so you get used to your kids being followed by a cellphone camera paparazzi.