Huangshan, on cloud nine

Covered in ice and snow, Huangshan in winter is like a crystal wonderland. The Chinese will have you believe there is no mountain worth visiting after you have seen Huangshan. Ou Shuyi discovers why.

Every peak is clothed in white and every rime-covered tree looks like a white coral reef. (China Daily)

The temperature hovered near zero and a thick mist hung in the air. My husband and I were alone, making our way up the twisting trail to the Summit of Brightness, one of the highest peaks of Huangshan Mountain.

My face - and brain - were frozen from the biting cold wind, and as I looked at the endless steps in front of me, I felt a growing desperation.

We decided to visit this World Heritage site during the Spring Festival, hoping for a quiet hideaway far from the ear-splitting fireworks of Beijing, to usher in the Year of the Tiger by scaling the country's most recognizable peak.

But this climb was far more challenging than what we had expected.

The temperature hovered near zero and a thick mist hung in the air.

We had already trekked for three hours from the cable car station to the summit, which was supposed to take about one and a half hours. Yet, we felt like we were in the middle of nowhere.

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