7am, -4 degrees wake up to find yummy street food for breakfast. We met Mary at 8.30am and started our 2 hour drive to Mount Huashan (one of the 5 sacred mountains in China).

Upon arrival we parked then got a shuttle bus to the North Gate Cable Car. The cable car ride up was very scenic. Then began a 2hour walk up and up very steep stairs at times to the East Peak. We had intended to get to the South Peak and walk the ‘most dangerous walk in the world- plank walk’, but it was not to be as they had closed it a week ago due to the changing weather. In fact it had snowed recently. Mary said she was here 3 days ago and there was no snow.

The walk to the East Peak was arduous and tested our endurance but it was really pretty and scenic. The kids enjoyed snow fights enroute and we even saw feral cats living in the snow. We had BYO lunch midway.

The walk down was just as tricky with us all trying not to slip on the black ice. We were exhausted once we got back to the car.

Mary dropped us off at a metro station so we could get a train to the famous Goose Pagoda. It was closed but many people walking around the newly built surrounding entertainment area and Joy City on Christmas Eve. Lots of police presence too. Rhys got his newly purchased ‘double knife’ confiscated at the metro x-ray check.