Into the Mouths of Wolves at Mount Langya
- by William Wang
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E-mail CRI, June 28, 2012
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The jagged peaks of Hebei's Mount Langya. [CRIENGLISH.com/ William Wang] |
![The jagged peaks of Hebei's Mount Langya. [CRIENGLISH.com/ William Wang]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20120628/001422373e19115601cf17.jpg "The jagged peaks of Hebei's Mount Langya. [CRIENGLISH.com/ William Wang]")
Beijing itself is flat as a pancake, with just a hint of mountains to the west. Travelers in search of some verticality need not go all the way to Guilin to take in some steep rocky slopes. Hebei province's Mount Langya is one of China's national forest conservation areas, and its peaks somehow pass under the radar of most travelers.
Although few foreigners are acquainted with Mount Langya, virtually every Chinese knows about it: not for its scenery, but for its history. Mount Langya is the site where five brave soldiers held back the Japanese while the Chinese civilians evacuated. Eventually the five men ran out of ammunition, destroyed their rifles, and then leaped off the mountain to their deaths. This beloved story has been the subject of a number of paintings and also a movie. A museum at the base of the mountain provides more insight into the details of the five men's fight, though English signage is limited.
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Monkeys make an appearance at Hebei's Mount Langya. [CRIENGLISH.com/ William Wang] |
![Monkeys make an appearance at Hebei's Mount Langya. [CRIENGLISH.com/ William Wang]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20120628/001422373e19115601fa1d.jpg "Monkeys make an appearance at Hebei's Mount Langya. [CRIENGLISH.com/ William Wang]")
Just a few hours outside of Beijing, the mountain itself is provides a stark contrast to the plains of Beijing. The trek to the top one is a long one, not only because it's arduous but because hikers keep stopping to reach for their cameras. Taking this into consideration, hikers should allow themselves at least two hours to get to the top.
The first few kilometers of the hike are along a man-made river. It's attractively done, though completely unnecessary for those who actually want to experience a more authentic version of nature. Artificial deer and monkeys punctuate the hike, just in case the region's wild animals are feeling shy.
An impressive cave is located about half an hour up the mountain, which is included in the ticket price. Stalactites, stalagmites and other strange rock formations drip with water beneath multi-colored lights. Visitors couldn't ask for a better excuse to stop and catch their breath.
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