The wonders of nature and the sunrise sea of clouds

Wuyi Mountain is perfect for retirement! Great mountains, great water, great tea! Took the train from Quanzhou Station to Nanping City Station, arranged for hotel pickup to avoid the driver pushing their own tea, but they drove much more steadily than the drivers in Quanzhou, first impression was excellent. After checking into the hotel, I quickly washed up and went to sleep because at 4 a.m. the next day we were going to Baiyun Zen Temple to watch the sunrise sea of clouds. Totally worth it! Climbing at night under the stars and moon, I thought I was early, but many people were already waiting on the mountain. There was a section where you had to hold onto ropes, very steep, and going down was even more thrilling, but as long as you watch your feet and don’t look down the mountain, it’s much easier! After the climb, I felt like a total boss 🐮. At the bottom, there were unlicensed taxis waiting, two people for 20 yuan to the bamboo raft dock. We caught the 8:30 a.m. trip, which required queuing and gathering enough people, the experience wasn’t great and management was chaotic. We each paid 20 yuan and got a guided explanation, which was worth it. The boatmen have a tough job, only making two trips a day at most. I originally thought in peak season they’d run four or five trips a day and make a fortune… anyways, Wuyi Mountain really is a scenic spot at every step, marveling at nature’s craftsmanship and human imagination giving these stones new life and stories. Then there was no plan for the rest of the day. After slurping Lao Chen Zixi noodles, went back to the hotel for a nap, slept until 4 p.m. when the hotel cleaning staff woke me up. Groggily told them to come back after 4, but my friend checked the phone and it wasn’t much later 🤣. Got ready and went to Sangu Old Street to find some food. On Sunday morning, climbed Tianyou Peak, conquered the 900 steps, saw different views than from the bamboo raft, so it was worth the trip! In the afternoon, went to the Tea Expo. This trip really went perfectly, caught the Tea Expo and bought some tea: 12-year-old white tea, 70-year-old old bush tea, and the Lapsang Souchong I drink myself 🤓. The Tea Expo is friendlier than the Coffee Festival because you can taste many good teas! Just ask “Can I try some?” and the tea sellers will invite you to sit down and brew a fresh pot. The quality varies, we tasted some that were hyped but very astringent, and some that we doubted at first but had a rich aftertaste and ended up buying! Also, I recommend choosing shops that sell loose tea to avoid excessive packaging costs and get exactly what you see! Wuyi Mountain has mountains and water, great food and fun, will come again next time! 🎬: pocket3 & Black Card 7 & 🍎