We ate breakfast accompanied by the sound of fireworks. We asked Xiao Jin, who worked at the hotel, why and she said that people let them off when they are happy, even at 0930. I expressed surprise as it’s not dark but I suppose people can express joy with fireworks whenever they like. I told the her that, in the UK, pet owners get upset by fireworks being let off. She shrugged and typed into her Chinese to English app "it doesn't matter here".
We borrowed the hotel’s bikes and cycled to Qinghuazhen. Our route followed the Qinghuai river, about half on a dirt track. In one part we had to push through elephant grass.
At another juncture, the track was closed and debris piled to deter travellers. As the alternative was a busy highway, we pushed our bikes over the rubble and hopped back on the other side.
Our goal was the rainbow bridge, the oldest bridge in the region. It is named after the Tang poem "the mirror between two waters, two bridges fall the rainbow". It's 140 m long and built in the Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
It was in another scenic village so we paid our dues and wandered around taking photos. The water mill was interesting. It was fascinating to see how the rice threshing machine worked - the pounders rose and fell as the wheel turned.
I spotted a bamboo raft with beach chairs strapped onto it for punting tourists around. There were also more conventional and stable looking vessels
Got to love a stepping stone. The pose is a joke with my girls. I did this in Kazakhstan and it reminded them of the Mario Party bubble bumper game. So this is now my go-to Mario-pose.
There were signs telling us how to behave - Convention on Civilized Behaviours of Chinese Citizens' Domestic Travel. These included not sneezing at others, dressing neatly and decently (no shirtless please) and not walking on the grass. To cross the stepping stones another set of rules listed that "old, weak, children, alcoholics, insanity patients should not walk" across. And if you didn't obey "all consequences (including drowning) will be caused". Don't say you weren't warned.
We cycled back through the old town - always cautiously to avoid on coming scooters, children, carts and dogs.
We detoured on our return journey and cycled through Longtengcun which is being remodelled into a bird watching centre, ie, the brass statues are appearing (we saw these a lot in Kazakhstan at tourist attractions). There are a lot of tea bushes everywhere which was hardly surprising - tea in China, who'd have thought?
Then down the highway we pedalled. We weren't being as stupid as it sounds - cycling down a fast road in fading light. Drivers here are so used to unlit cargo tricycles, scooters and other random road users that they keep their eyes peeled. It also had a very wide shoulder, probably designed for aforementioned unlit objects, so we stayed safe.
We popped into Zangcun to see a bamboo bridge. It's wider than it looks (about 1 m) - don't fret, we weren't balancing on a single pole.
And the poser is off again. JC tried to befriend a local water buffalo.
It’s currently unspoilt but, again, being ‘upgraded’ with concrete paths, a pavilion and tourist boats awaiting. It won’t be the same if we ever return.
Once back in our village, Yancun, we did a quick explore at dusk. It too is a scenic village and, during the day, has many art students sketching and drawing. You can see the high walls and small windows of the old 'mansions' with their sky wells. Our hotel is the same - well, before they extended the roof space and the conservatory.
Wednesday 25 October 2024
We had a quick runaround the village again before we left. They too have a small bamboo bridge.
The sign said "Danger! Please do not stay here". A water pump.
Apparently Jin Qaqiu, a MIT educated physics and space microwave remote sensing professor once lived here. Just the thing JC is into - he’s going to look him up.
And that was Wuyuan and some ancient villages. Plus a most awesome mountain. Now, off to Huanshan City/Mountain we go...
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