Cows stroll across the broken pathway near the peak of Lingshan Mountain.[Photo/CRIENGLISH.com]

The peak is marked by a tall pile of stones and a large tablet that somewhat unnecessarily informs visitors that they have indeed reached the summit of Lingshan. The air is crisp and clear. A view of the town behind the mountain has finally come into view, as well as the winding road snaking towards it. Blue-tinted mountains fade in the distance while jagged rock formations fill in the foreground. It is, in a word, breathtaking.

At the peak, hiker Ma Jun was preparing a pot of noodle soup on a camp stove, having just scaled the rugged backside of the mountain. It was his second time completing the hike, both times doing so solo. "Taking the stairs is more strenuous!" he laughed, emphasizing his preference to plant his hiking boots into the earth itself. "[Today] was really good… I like hiking by myself: it's more free."