While there are no mountains to climb in the city of Shanghai, you can have a heightened experience climbing Lupu Bridge. Choose a clear, sunny day and hop in a taxi to the bridge that straddles the Huangpu River. This is longest arch bridge in the world with its 550-meter-long arch span is 32 meters longer. The length of on-site welding totals more than 40,000 meters—comparable to the total length of the inner-city elevated freeway of Shanghai.

In order to complete the climb, you need to be healthy and capable to climb unaided, because the experience includes climbing 367 steps at high altitude and exposing under the weather. All cardiopulmonary diseases (including hypertension), dizziness, and equilibrium disorder may affect your climbing safety.

Hand-carried bags and other stuff are not allowed on the bridge. Climbers will be asked to remove them and leave them at the depost, They also must pass through a metal-detector.

Once you reach the top, take in the vast panoramic view, which now includes a good shot of the future site of the Shanghai World Expo 2010. Remember to bring your camera along and take advantage of the great many snapshot opportunities.

If you’ve been to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) there is no need to see any other mountain. Situated in eastern China’s Anhui Province and popular with its breathtaking sweeping landscapes and misty peaks, the Yellow Mountain offers extraordinary scenes and views from what can look like the edge of the world.

Whether you look there are oddly-shaped pine trees and rock formations. Huangshan is actually an entire range of mountains and valleys, jutting rocks, shimmering pools, gurgling water falls and the ephemeral clouds. As an international ecotourism point of interest, UNESCO listed the mountain as an official World Cultural Heritage Site in 1990.

The trees of Mount Huangshan occupy an especially important place in China’s botanical research. Here you will find century-old pines, firs, ginkgoes, actinidia, Chinese torreyas and camphor woods– remnants of the glacial era. The Huangshan Mountain Range also provides a natural habitat for a wide variety of creatures. Among the mountain-dwellers are monkeys, goats, deer, pangolin and squirrels, in addition to an active bird population. The climate there is mild and humid, and the temperature is agreeable during all four seasons.

Getting there: Huangshan is accessible from Shanghai by overnight train, a five-hour bus ride or one hour by air. Expect expensive accommodation and food in the mountains everything is transported up the mountain by man-power: witness tough workers carrying live chickens or flats of coke cans in buckets hanging from wooden beams over their shoulders, and still making it up the mountain faster than you.

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One  mountain landscape, which spans the contemporary national borders of France and Spain, centered around the peak of Mount Perdu, a calcareous massif that rises to 3 352 metres. Mont Perdu(meaning lost mountain) is the third highest mountain in the Pyrenees. The mountain is approached by two of Europe’s deepest canyons on the Spanish side. The landscape is a stunning mix of bleak mountains, pastoral countryside, lakes and forests. Mont Perdu site is registered on the Worldwide Heritage list since 1997.

The site is also a pastoral landscape reflecting an agricultural way of life that was once widespread in the upland regions of Europe.But the site is also a pastoral landscape, reflecting an agricultural way of life that was once widespread in the upland regions of Europe. The heritage value of the natural domain of Mont-Perdu cirques and canyons stems from a favorable conjunction of exceptional elements that fall within the province of geology, climatology and biology.

There are more than 1500 species of flowers, 171 birds, 32 different mammals and 8 types of reptile in the Ordesa.

In summertime, it’s impossible to get bored: you can canoe and kayak, parasail, raft, ride bikes, and go for trail rides.

Evolver is a spectacular artifact, interrelated with the panorama environment in Zermatt. The structure sits next to the lake Stelli, at an attitude of 2,536 m. It was created by a team of 2nd year students from the university in Switzerland. 

Evolver has 24 rotating frames, which support an enclosed space, where visitors are encouraged to enter. When you processes through the structure, a 720 degrees movement is unraveling along a transformed panorama. The transformation is obvious, only while inside a person is moving along, a selective string of openings only to be caught peeling off a sequence of unexpected views from the original landscape.

Move unsteadily from side to side, a distant horizon ground and sky have been mixed into an orbiting panorama by a journey that has already culminated to where it started. A loophole on the skyline.

During the Zermatt Festival in September ‘09, Evolver hosted the sound project Deviation: Alpaufzug. Creating a new electronic device inspired by the legendary Swiss Alphorn, the Deviation collective from Lausanne installed 6 sound sources. Deviation plays improvised music on devices every time different, created for the occasion, on the basis of sound equipment in close connection with the place or context of the performance.

Iran is one of the most mountainous countries in the world. Mount Damavand at 5,671 m is not only the highest peak in Iran but also the highest volcano in the Middle East. In a clear weather the mountain is visible far from over 250 km away. Mt Damavand is difficulty almost the same as Mt Kilimanjaro (5892 m) in Tanzania and Mt Everest Base Camp (5380 m) in the Himalayan Mountain Range. The mountain and its surrounding areas are popular hiking, climbing, and in recent years are rapidly gaining popularity as skiing destinations. It has mild skiable slopes for descents up to 3000m downhill skiing – it is surly one of the world’s finest ski mountaineering places.

Source: http://damavandmt.blogspot.com/
and http://www.damawand.de

The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is a National Park and a set of highlands within the Cordillera Oriental mountain range in the Andes Mountains of Colombia.  The Sierra Nevada Del Cocuy, about 8 hours from Bogota, has over 20 snow capped peaks and some forty lagoons. Temperatures oscillate in the lower part at around 23º C and go down to 3º C in the snow covered peaks.

The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is a 306,000 km² protected area from which rise 23 snow peaks surrounded by waterfalls, lakes, parama vegetation. Also and tapirs, spectacled bears, Andean condors, eagles, and paramo deer.

The Park area contains several high peaks covered with snow: Pan de Azucar (5120m), Diamante (4800 m), el Pulpito del Diablo (5100 m), Toti (4800 m), Portales (4800 m), Concavo (5200 m), Concavito (5100 m) and others. Some peaks are inaccessible to man; for example, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta , on the Caribbean Coast.

Alpamayo is one of the most conspicuous peaks in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range of the Peruvian Andes in the Ancash region, Peru, South America. Elevation 19,511 ft (5,947 meters). Has a 60 degree almost symmetrical pyramid shape.It is the most beautiful and conspicuous peak ever and has two sharp summits South and North.

Alpamayo mountain peak was climbed for the first time by a German expedition through the N ridge. It was voted “the most beautiful mountain in the world” in a worldwide survey of scenic beauty at Munich in 1966.

The most common climbing route, known as the Ferrari route, is situated on the southwest face of the mountain. It is considered a difficult climb, demanding good crampon and ice-climbing technique. ( Best months are the May to September dry season).

Alpamayo should not be underestimated!

It is a trail full of turquoise lagoons, mountains of more than 6000 masl, beautiful valleys and many high passes with magnificent views. The campsites are expansive and tranquill.

]]> http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/10/15/alpamayo-peru/feed/ 2 http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/10/13/sport-and-leisure-center-in-saint-cloud/ http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/10/13/sport-and-leisure-center-in-saint-cloud/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:37:20 +0000 misha http://www.wayfaring.info/?p=13797

This  is an eye-catching, sustainably designed building created for festive celebrations, entertainment and leisure. The Sport & Leisure Center’s facade is a burst of pixilated color. I reckon this use of color more as a physical manifestation of color-block video games such as Tetris… which works nicely if you consider the space as intended to draw kids away from electronic devices, allowing them to play inside one instead.

In a most spectacular fashion, the color scheme runs from floor to ceiling creating an interior rainbow spectrum of candy-colored bands or ethereal blocks. The color scheme here on the outside of the building correlates to the interior spaces as a means for developing spatial awareness for young children.

There was one color that proved important in conceptualizing this project — green. Throughout the building there are various exciting ecological concepts that make it sustainable in construction and maintenance, featuring roof openings that illuminate the building with natural light (reducing the need for filament or fluorescent bulbs), prefab concrete slabs that reduce waste, pigment infused concrete to reduce paint use, and the installation of a solar heated hot water system. The centre is located in n Saint-Cloud, France.

Green canyons, red cliffs, blue skies: Zion’s colors can stop in your tracks. Water enables greens rare amidst otherwise desert landscape. Visible or not, water forcefully shapes these stalwart walls. Trickling falls summon emerald growth in nooks and crannies. Sculpted evidence testifies to the carving of red slot canyons. Winter’s icy-blue snow-melt feeds anew the rushing, scouring river torrents of spring.  Almost 12,000 years ago Zion’s first peoples, who are now almost invisible, tracked mammoths, giant sloth, and camel across southern Utah. Due the climate change and overhunting these animals died out about 8,000 years ago. In 1860s, just after settlement by Mormon pioneers, John Wesley Powell visited Zion of the first scientific exploration of southern Utah.

Everything in Zion takes life from the Virgin River’s scarce desert waters. Water flows, and solid rock melts into cliffs and towers. The Vermilion, White, and pink cliffs are part of the Grand Staircase, the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau.  Landscape changes as canyon deepen to create forested highlands and lowland deserts. A ribbon of green marks the river’s course as diverse plants and animals take shelter and thrive in this canyon oasis. From the beginning people sought this place, this sanctuary in the desert’s dry reaches. The very name Zion, a Hebrew word for refuge, evokes its significance.

Zion’s nature multiplies with each slope, aspect, and soil type, with each minute change in precipitation or temperature. Add to these influences species from nearby ecosystems, Zion becomes an assemblage of plants, and thus of animals, found nowhere else exactly like this. This unlikely desert harbors a mosaic of environments, each fine-tuned to place. Zion is alive with movement, a river of life always here and always changing.

Park elevations range from 3,600 to 8,700 feet and provide vastly different environments. Fir pine and aspen prefer snowy high-country winters, while pinon, cliffrose, and mesquite flourish in the desert’s heat. This national park is beautiful but not pristine. Research shows that 150 years of farming, grazing, and recreation changed Zion’s environment. Exotic species like tamarisk and cheat grass replace native willow and native grasses. It is the mission of the National Park Service to provide sanctuary for and reinvigorate Zion’s remaining diversity. Although most park species are not unusual and much has changed, these unique assemblages create and sustain the relevance and sanctity of this wondrous place called Zion.

Be prepared and plan well
• Plan your trip. Choose trails that are without your ability.
• Falls cause most injuries and deaths at Zion.
• Carry and drink 2l of water per person per day.
• Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Know the weather before you go. Distant storms can cause flash floods. When in doubt, stay out!
• Cell phones don’t work in most areas and don’t make you invincible.
• Your safety is your responsibility.

The Chicamocha Canyon, a 1,524-meter-high vertical wall, is one of the most breathtaking sites of Colombia! It is located just 54 kilometers from Bucaramanga by car.

The canyon, which covers over 108,000 hectares, was formed 4.6 billion years ago. The experts will choose the finalists based on: natural beauty, diversity, ecological importance, historical legacy and geographic location.

There is a hiking trail that starts in los Santos town 1500 meters above sea level, and goes down to the canyon and up to the Chicamocha Canyon National Park.

The temperature in the canyon fluctuates from 11°C to 32°C from day to night .The climate is perfect for coffee and very pleasant for pilots,too.

The Chicamocha Canyon is nominated in the contest “New Seven Wonders of the World”.

Just a few minutes walk from Ebor are the Ebor falls. Situated in the Guy Fawkes River National Park some 40km east of Dorrigo. 45 minutes east of Armidale on the Waterfall Way and 1.5 hours west from the coast high on the New England, Australia.

Ebor Falls is where the Guy Fawkes River takes a spectacular plunge over basalt rock.

The Ebor falls are falling 115 metres over columned basalt rock in two falls, the upper and lower Ebor falls, into a steep forested gorge below.

Although not very high, the two part fall presents the visitor with some great views and some interesting walks. Walking tracks lead through Antartic Beech forests below the escarpment of this ancient, extinct volcano.

The crookedest street in the world is Lombard Street in San Francisco, California. It is famous for having a steep, one-block section that consists of tight hairpin turns. The steep, hilly street was created with sharp curves to switchback down the one-way hill past beautiful Victorian mansions. The street is paved with bricks and lined with a spectacular arrangement of shrubs and flowers make this one of the most photogenic stops on your trip.

The “crookest street”, it is one of the most popular attraction and challenge for tourists who visit San Francisco. The main attraction of Lombard Street is watching people drive down the crooked, one-block section, or driving down it yourself. On a busy day, a seemingly-endless stream of automobiles and scooters buzz down, their passengers squealing in mock fear at every turn. If you’re on foot, you can walk down (or up) the sidewalks and watch the show.

Located in Hunan Province in China,  Zhangjiajie Forest Geo-park covers a total area of 9,600 sq. k?, 1.1000 of China’s territory. This scenic area which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. In the area many scenic spots such as Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Baofeng Lake, Suoxiyu Valley, Tianzi Mountain, Yangjiajie Nature Reserve – together with Huanglong Cave (Asia’s largest cave), and many beautiful bridges, brooks and waterfalls. The area is a rare natural museum and famous tourist scenic spot.

The most attractive scene that Zhangjiajie features is the mysterious mountain covered with dense, primeval forests. It is said that 23 species of tare animals and more than 3,000 species of plants are living in the misty world. Many rocks are shaped like animals and fairies, and each is given its own legend.

The Semmering Railroad – located in Austria this line connects the cities of Gloggnitz and Muerzzuschlag, it’s a section of the southern line called -Suedbahn. It is still fully functional as a part of the former Austrian Southhern Railway which is now part of the Austrian Federal Railways.

The Semmering Railway, built over 41 km of high mountains between 1848 and 1854, is one of the greatest feats of civil engineering. Difference of 460 m; on 60% of its length the steepness is 20-25‰. And 16% exhibit a curvature radius of only 190 m.

The main tunnel, 1,430 meters long, at the time considered the most famous construction of its kind and 15 other tunnels.

The Semmering railway and its surrounding region offer a multitude of recreational activities for virtual.Today, the Semmering Railway is not only a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, but also a popular tourist destination with lots of references to its “fin de siecle” heritage. The first criteria was- it represents an outstanding technological solution to a major physical problem in the construction of early railway.

There are also many hiking tours, mountain climbing areas and ski pistes which all invite one for a mountainous adventure – in both winter and summer season.

Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming an undoubted symbol of Cape Town, South Africa. Table Mountain is an important tourist attraction offers great hiking trails and stunning views over the city and its surroundings. The highest point of Table Mountain is Maclear’s Beacon at 1,086 m above sea level. It is a great destination for both young and old. There’s a cafeteria where you can enjoy a mile-high meal.

The Table Mountain Park is recognized globally for its extraordinarily rich, diverse and unique fauna and flora – with rugged cliffs, steep slopes and sandy flats – is a truly remarkable natural, scenic, historical, cultural and recreational asset both locally and internationally. Botanists estimate that more than 1,000 plant species are found here, ranging from Regal Protea to ground-hugging ferns.

There are numerous trails for the hiker to walk up the mountain. However, most visitors take the aerial cable car to the top. The car is quite different than most, as it has a floor that rotates 360° as it ascends the mountain. With a strong desire to gain easy access to the top of Table Mountain, the Cape Town City Council commissioned an engineer to investigate the various options of transport to the top.

In 1926 the Norwegian engineer – Trygve Stromsoe, presented plans for a cableway to the top of Table Mountain. The idea that an easy route up would finally become a reality drew them together, forming the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company to finance the construction. Since it’s opening in 1929, over 16 million people have taken the trip to the top of Table Mountain.