Final post on our Hunan Trip...

We got up early the next day, after we had left Fenghuang early because all the bars started cranking out loud music, figuring that we would get some nice photos of the city in the early morning light. We we opened our blinds in the hotel the fog was so thick we couldn't even down to the parking lot from our room on the 11th floor. Not going to walk into the city just to look at mist.

Around 10:00 we left and drove through some small villages on our way to another Miao minority village. Once there we were off on another walk through stunningly beautiful scenery whilst complaining about the hazy conditions that we knew would just hinder out photo taking...
The small town at the beginning of the walk was cute, and as we walked there were only a few houses to be seen. Most of the narrow valley floor was used for farming. After around 2-3 Km we arrived at our final destination, a waterfall.


It was impressive, and there was a small lake at the base. Apparently during the rainy season it is unbelievable, but alas we were here during the dry season. It is supposedly China's longest waterfall, falling some 216 meters.

From there was walked back and then drove to Jishou city to check into the hotel. The next day we had to be up bright and early for a 6 hour drive back to the airport in Changsha for our flight back to Xiamen. We wandered around a little, but this is just another big standard Chinese city, and nothing too impressive. There was a night market right around the corner from out hotel where we enjoyed a great dinner. We headed back to the hotel right after that as it started to rain, shortly after we got back it was a full out downpour.

The next morning we were finishing our Hunan trip, driving through some beautiful rolling valleys. The rains had cleared out all of the fog/pollution that had followed us on our trip, leaving us with some really nice views to enjoy during our drive...

Zhanjiang

Today's adventure was a four hour drive to Zhangjian. We ended up getting lost on our way to the local market. Actually we drove past it, and Mark thought they were taking us to another one, so after an hour or so, when the roads became worse, it dawned on our guide and driver that we may be going the wrong way. Turned around and went to the village we past.

The first stop was to see Miao village, actually it ended up being a landlord's house way back when, which has since been converted into a museum. Ray, our guide took off with one of the local girls to pay, what Mark and I thought was for parking but later came to find out it was for the entrance to the museum. We couldn't stop him in time to tell him no thanks. We were more interesting in seeing the local market, though we did learn about the history of the Miao, and about 3000 years ago they use to live in trees.

Ray was getting hungry and asked if we wanted to start heading to Fenghuang. We asked him about the market and wanted to know if we missed this one, if there would be another market that we would be visiting where the locals still where their traditional outfits. In typical Chinese fashion, he muttered maybe, I think. Which means no. Mark and I told him that we would be going to the market, but will be back about 20 minutes or so. It was a wee bit longer, but had we not asked, our opportunity to visit the market would have been lost and it was definitely worth it.

Miao people

We could have stayed for hours, and glad we were able to see this market, as we we were unable to get to another on this trip.