Day 1 Hangzhou → Tonglu → Tonglu Longji → Hangzhou
All day
From 6:00-6:30 AM, we met at the Huanglong Seafood Food Stall (Exit F of Huanglong Sports Center Subway Station) for check-in. The tour leader chatted with everyone and played games, creating a lively atmosphere along the way.
Around 8:30 AM, we arrived at Qinglongwu, Tonglu, and the group set off into the canyon, continuing along the mountain road.
Starting point - Chaoming Mountain: The route runs from west to east, climbing up and down the mountain ridge. While there are no signposts, the path is well-marked, making it less likely to get lost. Near Chaoming Mountain, there's a very exposed section called "Qimaling Ridge." Its south side features a steep cliff with a slope slightly over 90 degrees, creating a visually stimulating experience. Alternatively, you can traverse the "Qimaling Ridge" from the north. Before reaching the summit, there's a steep climb of approximately 30 meters, with a gradient estimated at between 60 and 70 degrees. The route is treeless and overgrown, making it quite exposed, with only rocks and grass as support points.
The first half of the route from Chaoming Mountain to Tiantanggang is along the ridgeline, offering wide views and perfect for a photo stop. The second half, however, is entirely through dense forest, with limited views. Near Tiantanggang, there are almost no trails, and the forest is dense, making it easy to get lost. There are three steep slopes about three meters high on the west side of Tiantanggang, which can be descended slowly by holding onto tree roots or weeds.
We returned to the foot of the mountain around 18:00 and arrived back to Hangzhou Huanglong around 20:00. Everyone was still reluctant to leave and kissed goodbye with tears in their eyes!
