The last couple of days in China are the first days with have had off in a couple of weeks, and we are being treated to visits in and around Zhangjiajie. The day started with a trip to the Zhangjiajie National Forest and another cable ride to the top of the mountain though of much shorter duration. We had not been in the park more than five minutes when the first request for a picture was made. So in the interest of international goodwill we will take our place once again in a framed picture in another Chinese home. The morning was spent on top of the mountain, and afternoon we took a 7.4-kilometer walk along the river at the base of mountain peaks. It was very serene and peaceful much of the way with perhaps the exception of the large and loud tour groups and the occasional wild monkey.

Later in the afternoon we checked into a new hotel nearer to the Zhangjiajie National Park. Dinner was in a local Chinese restaurant and then a leisurely stroll in a light rain back to the hotel, not counting a little shopping along the way. The blogs are getting shorter because we are all getting more tired and definitely looking forward to our return home in a couple of days. 

We check out of this hotel tomorrow and will catch a late flight back to Beijing. We will be staying at a hotel close to the airport and not sure of an Internet connection there. Lunch with Hope and Scott before we leave on a late afternoon flight on Saturday. This may be the last post before we get home.

Gary