黄岡山 [Huang Gang Shan] 19-20 June 2008 Part of the Wuyi Shan UNESCO Heritage Site is Huanggang Shan (2158m), the highest peak in the range. Huanggang Shan has been kept as a nature preserve with foreigners needing permits to enter. Wuyi Shan has a high biodiversity with many China endemics. Sadly, I didn't spot Pope’s Spiny Toad (Vibrissaphora liui) or Pseudoxenodon karlschmidti while there. Being so high, the top of the mountain is cold and windswept. I loved the summit and wish I could spend a night there under the stars. On the way down, a majestic Aquila swept down past our vehicle. Now I want to visit the Himalayas to see the imperial eagles! Have loved the Aquilas ever since I read The Hobbit.

Anyway,we went there to try for a sighting of Cabot's Tragopan (Tragopan caboti). We succeeded. Although we didn't get to see the male, watching a female Cabot's and her chick was reward enough for waking up before the crack of dawn. Sorry, no photos. I did however, get shots of this mole who literally fell from the sky and landed at my feet! Think it was tunnelling away when it broke out the side of a cliff and fell. Poor dear! I vote it the sighting of the trip!

We did catch a glimpse of a primate:

At a lower elevation, the village was equally interesting. I've heard of bamboo forests but always imagined them to be in straight woody clumps. However, the bamboo here is definitely more willowy: I also got to taste good quality Lapsang Souchong (正山小种 [Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong]) - a smoked tea produced only here in Wuyi Shan. In the past, the villagers had to sell their tea direct to the government factory for the same price as normal tea leaves. These days, they get to sell direct to buyers from London!

Finally, here is the main hall of one of the tea-growing villagers: The plaque reads: 日 时 进 宝 郎 君 延 陵 郡 王旲 氏 农 代 宗 支 香 位 天 地 國 親 師 位 无 大 慈 大 悲 覌 音 老 母 神 位 年 月 招 财 童 子