Xiao Shi Men [小石门]

Last weekend we went to Xiao Shi Men [小石门], not too far from HangZhou [杭州]. We left Shanghai on the Friday night in a mini bus kindly organised by Jack and Doreen (who also sorted out where we were to stay over night). The hotel we stayed in put 2 of us each in a room designed for 5 on the first night and then we move for the Sat night into rooms with 3 single beds each but with a much-needed en-suite shower room (with glorious hot water). Anyway for 2 nights accom including breakfast and dinner we paid 110RMB each, shocking.

Saturday the weather was beautiful and sunny, and since we had already noticed another few bus loads of climbers heading up to Xiao Shi Men [小石门] last night, we thought an early start would be good. The climbing routes were about 10mins walk from the road, across a river with some huge boulders in it and skirting around fields.

Xiao Shi Men [小石门] - small stone gate

Short walk to Xiao Shi Men [小石门]

[Left] in the small stone gate on the new platform built to prevent drowning from high water levels [Centre] Another face with more climbs [Right] The main wall on Xiao Shi Men

About an hour after we arrived we were swamped with a big group of climbers (mainly newbies) who proceeded to do some very interesting versions of top roping, and later, abseiling. Most of the routes were bolted but there was plently of opportunity for some trad too. All the walks to the climbs had had stairs installed and areas concreted which allowed access to the climbs which started higher up the cliff. There were guys constructing some small reservoir while we were there, who were lugging big rocks and cemet bags up the hill whilst other people were taking lots of wood down off the hill.

A little stream runs in between the small stone gate itself, and recently a concrete platform was built in between the two main faces of the gate. This was apparently because not too long ago there was a very impromptu storm which ended up in the stream level reaching waist height and making a good attempt at drowning the people who were belaying at the time.

Joe showing us how crack climbing is done

A bit of a rest on the stairs...