Monkey attack

I nearly got mauled by Monkeys in Zhangjiajie mountain, CHINA

On day 2 of exploring Zhangjiajie Mountain in Hunan province in China, I got ready for a proper trek, got peanuts, water with electrolytes and my AllTrails map ready. There were not a lot of people but there were a lot of monkeys on the way that just watched me. I was wondering if I’m being paranoid. Then about 30 minutes in, I felt tingling in the back of my neck like something is very wrong. I turned around quickly! LO and BEHOLD, there were about 30 monkeys of different ages right behind me creeping towards me. I shit you not. The fear that ran down my spine! But as quickly as I turned around, these monkeys acted like people, they all stopped dead in their tracks and looked around in different directions like someone pretending to not follow you. It was terrifying and hilarious and I felt so out of my element. I grew up a city girl my entire life. Everything I know about nature has been lessons I picked up by pushing myself out of my comfort zone. This was wild AF and I had no clue what to do. But going back through that gang of money didn’t feel like an option. So I pushed forward talking loudly to myself and turning around often. Eventually the monkey gang wasn’t behind me. BUT I kept feeling like I’m being watched. On my way up I met one big family going down. And then one couple going down. I kept going up. Eventually at the halfway point I felt like there were different monkeys just clocking me and there was no sign of any other human anywhere in my screaming distance and I felt my gut punch me saying FUCK OUT OF HERE. I said to myself, SAY LESS. I started going down. And I swear I felt monkeys following me down in the trees! Near the end I felt then saw two big monkey dart towards me and I turned around and screamed. Tried to also block my face as both of them started taking SWIPES AT ME!! At the same time the Chinese couple I saw earlier go down, came out of nowhere, suddenly I felt the woman pull me between her and the guy with her while using his walking stick to scare them back. They walked down with me keeping me between them 😭 I unlocked a whole new fear on my hikes. On the positive side, That couple could’ve been long gone and even not within helping distance. BUT there they were at the exact moment that I needed them. If that is not magic, I don’t knwo what is.