字幕表 動画を再生する
If I told you the path that these people are
walking on is referred to as "the most dangerous trail
in the world," I don't think you'd be too surprised.
They all hugging a side a mountain,
about 5,000 feet in the air, hiking on a two-way path.
And believe it or not, some are doing this just
to go and get a cup of tea.
VIVIAN LEE: Hi, my name is Vivian Lee.
I'm a keen scuba diver and amateur photographer,
who works in the finance industry.
This photo was taken at Hua Shan,
in the Shaanxi province of China, in the autumn of 2012.
That's Mount Hua Shan, one of China's five
sacred mountains.
It's home to ancient legends and structures,
and of course many traditions, both new and old.
It is a place where people once came to worship and seek
immortality, and where others were taken
to be sacrificed to the gods.
But today, it is a place for tourists and locals
to enjoy a reflective hike, with some even leaving a prayer
in the form of a gold lock.
It is a place to express both your spiritual
and adventurous side, albeit a dangerous one.
VIVIAN LEE: The most unique part of this mountain hike
was the cliff side plank walk.
For 40 RMB, we were given a chest harness, two carabiners,
and with minimal instructions, off we went.
The most daunting part of the initial descent
was down a narrow ladder of iron rods.
With two-way traffic, there were times
when two people could be standing on the same rod,
at the same time.
At the bottom of this makeshift ladder is a two foot
wide plank, to traverse across.
And a metal chain, on the wall for you
to clip your carabiners in an alcove,
as you make your way across.
An estimated 100 people
die every year on Mount Hua Shan.
But for some, the risk is worth it.
And their award, one of the best cups of tea in China.
But for others, it's a satisfaction
of conquering the most dangerous path in the world.
VIVIAN LEE: I wanted to capture the emotions
of these daring hikers.
And at the same time, find out for myself, what compels
them to take such risks.
What was at the end of this plank walk?
When we reached the end, all we found
was a small Taoist shrine.
But I thought it was the sheer adrenaline of being
in the clouds , that attract people like myself here.
The tea houses dotted around the mountain
used to be Taoist temples, which has now been converted
to allow hikers to take tea breaks or camp
overnight during their visit.
We also enjoyed a pot of freshly brewed Chinese tea when we
finally reached the south peak.
This is not for the faint hearted, or those with vertigo,
but it's definitely worth a challenge.
Want to see even more amazing destinations in China,
watch this episode next to find out where
you can see views like this.
This image is about the rice fields
in Yuangyang, the biggest one in China.
I was very lucky, because the mood of the sky was perfect.
And as always, don't forget to subscribe.
Thanks for watching.