Trip Overview
When: November 2020 (autumn, best weather for mountain views)
Duration: 6 days
Travelers: With friends
Budget: ~3,000 RMB (~$440 USD)
Destination: Mulan Yunwu Mountain (木兰云雾山), Wuhan Huangpi District
Introduction: Wuhan's Best-Kept Secret
Did you know Wuhan has a highest point? Neither did I until I visited Wuhan Huangpi (武汉黄陂) and explored Mulan Yunwu Mountain (木兰云雾山). It turns out Wuhan's peak is right here in the Huangpi District—probably where the mountain gets its name, literally meaning "Mulan Cloud and Fog Mountain."
This year, COVID-19 made me miss the legendary spring rhododendron sea at Mulan Yunwu Mountain. But with autumn's crisp air and all Hubei Province attractions offering free entry to visitors nationwide, I returned for another adventure.
Mulan Yunwu Mountain (木兰云雾山) is a major part of the Mulan Cultural Eco-Tourism Area, a national 5A tourist attraction. Located 29 km from Huangpi city center and 60 km from central Wuhan, in the northwestern part of Wuhan's Huangpi District in Lijiaji Town, it's long been known as "Western Ling's Famous Region, Northern Hubei's Renowned Area, Western Border of陂西, and the Ancestral Mountain of Han Land."
The Challenge: Glass Observation Deck
This time, my main goal was to challenge the famous glass observation deck.
The Mulan Yunwu Mountain Glass Observation Deck (木兰云雾山玻璃观景台) is 81.9 meters long, with an A-shaped structure at an altitude of 709 meters. Suspended above Wuhan's highest point, built atop mountains and cliffs, it's the Guinness World Record holder for the "longest cantilevered glass observation platform."
Since its completion, the observation deck has quickly gone viral in the influencer community, setting Wuhan's new top photo spot.
Walking on Air
Walking onto the observation deck, the further out I went, the stronger the wind became—and the more my heart raced. A gust of wind swept up my clothes and blew off my hat. Fortunately, I wasn't blown into the abyss below!
Suddenly, I felt the deck swaying. Honestly, I couldn't tell if I was trembling or if the deck itself was shaking. With my heart pounding and not daring to even breathe, I held onto the railing and inched my way step by step to the tip of the "A."
Looking out, the stunning autumn scenery unfolded before my eyes. The terrain and landforms of dozens of kilometers were laid bare. The winding mountain road up the hill twisted like a dragon, its curves beautifully elegant.
It turns out beautiful scenery has healing powers too—it swept away my fear. Looks like as long as I don't look down, I'm quite brave, hahaha!
I heard pigs can fly in the wind. I think I was about to become airborne too!
Autumn Rhododendrons: A Second Bloom
A gust of autumn wind blew by. A thin cloud drifted from beneath my feet, slowly spreading apart. Where it dissipated, I spotted a rhododendron blooming beautifully on the cliff.
It's already deep autumn, yet the rhododendron is blooming for a second time. This must be a rhododendron that refuses to give up. The rhododendrons on Yunwu Mountain seem to share the same unconquerable spirit as heroic Wuhan this year.
All the rhododendrons on Yunwu Mountain's ten-mile flower sea surrendered to summer, but this single bloom conquered autumn. Isn't this compensation for my inability to come see the flowers in spring?
If rhododendrons can do this, what do I have to fear? So I released my tight grip on the railing, took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and slowly walked back—gradually quickening my pace. From slow walking to fast walking, from fast walking to running—I actually ran across the high-altitude glass bridge, like the wind!
Thinking about it now, I still feel excited. Can hardly believe it.
Other Attractions: Heart-Stopping Experiences
However, the Heart-Stopping Suspension Bridge (步步惊心吊桥) and Cliff Swing (悬崖秋千) next to the glass observation deck—I'm not brave enough to try those. I'll leave them as something to look forward to and come back to challenge next time.
The Heart-Stopping Suspension Bridge is built between two mountain peaks—one step, one set of open grids. Walking on it feels like passing through cliffs. It looks pretty terrifying.
Are you brave enough to take on the challenge?