Mountain climbing on YunTaiShan

I got up early as I had to get a bus the next day and knew this was my last day here in YunTaiShan but when I looked out the window everywhere was foggy, and so hardly ideal for taking pictures, or in fact seeing anything at all! I got on the bus and since I was the only one on the bus they asked me where I wanted to go, I didn't know so I asked them, and they said that the place I went yesterday was the only real thing worth seeing on a day like today, as the mountain top would be covered in cloud. It also so happens it was the closest stop and so they would be back in the warm break room chatting with the other drivers again. I agreed but then half way changed my mind and said I wanted to go the top of the mountain, a 40min bus ride away! The driver complained but then radioed to say he would be doing the long trip. He then stopped at the first stop for half an hour for a '20 minutes stop to see if anyone else wants to come'. Since I was basically alone in the park surprisingly nobody did so he just read his book for half an hour and we waited. After half an hour I grumbled some more and he eventually left for the mountain top, and lucky he did, as we climbed higher and higher through tunnels and cliff roads cut from the mountain I realised it was actually quite a big mountain, and as I neared the top we broke out of the clouds into beautiful blue skies!

They drove me to the highest stop, about 75% of the way up the mountain, and dropped me off as the only person at a huge bus stop and I set off up the mountain! 

It was a lovely walk with some caves to explore (and since the no photos signs were in Chinese and the man was extra annoying i took a couple of pictures anyway) and I made it to a lovely small temple on the top, I took lots of pictures and looked down across the 'cloud sea' as the valleys were filled with clouds ebbing and flowing like the tide with a lovely blue sky above. 

I stayed at the top for a while (in a t-shirt! as the sun was that strong!) and there were some monks who shared some oranges and water without even asking for a donation! I saw around 3 other people in my time on the top.

I made my way down to find that the bus was waiting for me, I was last off the mountain and they put all of us 4 on the same bus back down to the hotel area. I again ate in the hotel and had a lukewarm shower and after some speaking with the guy at reception manager to sort out a lift down to the town nearby (an hours drive away) and from there I could get the bus back to TaiYuan for my flight the day after tomorrow.