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Huwenguang Arch
Ming Dynasty decorative Arch- At the entrance to XidiYesterday we took the 10.20am bus from Hangzhou to Tunxi and arrived earlier than expected after our hotel recptionist told us that the journey would take 6hrs whereas it actually took 2.5. Upon stepping of the bus we were mobbed by taxi drivers all trying very hard to get us to part with our yuan. We stayed strong until we discovered on the map that the hostel was beyond walking distance so we got a taxi at 10yuan to the International Youth Hostel.
We opted for a shared two bed room as it was just 100yuan for two, cheaper than a dorm room in Shanghai. This hopefuly would allow an undisturbed nights sleep which hasn't happened while staying in any of the dorms so far on this trip. The room felt like a palace after weeks of dorms with its en suite shower, fresh towels and shampoo & shower gel dispenser!
We booked the tour to the villages of Hongcun and Xidi as the entrance fees for the villages are 165yuan alone and the tour including a free lunch and transport was just 180yuan. In the evening we took a cab to the old street (5yuan)
just off the heavily neon- lighted main road. Here was a selection of art and souvenier shops on a quietly lit old chinese-style pedestrian street. We ate at a very decent restaurant recommended by the hostel near the entrance of Old Street for just 56 yuan for two (move the decimal one place left for english pounds). Instead of a menu this restaurant has all their dishes out on display and you walk along with an order form noting which dishes you would like. The staff were very helpful and managed to translate to us what every dish was. Back at the hostel we played a few games of pool before going to bed at around 1am.
The following morning my 25yuan watch let us down and we were woken by the hotel receptionist knocking on our door to tell us it was 7.50, 10 minutes before the tour bus arrived. We got on the bus in time and were the only non- chinese out of about 12 people.
We arrived in Hongcun at 9.30 and had 2 hrs to walk around the village before moving on. The entrance was very pleasant with a river and bridge to cross over
Hongcun
Entrance to the village into the village.
Inside, the winding streets were littered with ostentatiously decorated doorways and roof-tops in the local 'houizhou' style. The atmosphere was very serene and you really felt like you had stepped back in time. The villages are still inhabited and we witnessed the local people living their day to day lives, washing clothes in the river, crushing seeds in the street and working in the many souvenier shops.
At 11.30 we moved on to Xidi and had lunch. As myself and Tjis were the only english speaking non- chinese the other tourists were quite fascitated by us but beyond basic pleasantries the language barrier prevented any lengthy conversations developing.
Just before entering the restaraunt I bought an ice cream not knowing at this point we were about to eat. When finished with lunch to my delight the ice cream was still edible so I started eating it at the table. Soon after a fresh bowel of rice big enough to feed 5 people was brought out and placed
on the rotating service tray and spun round until it sat directly in front of me! Unintentionaly I think I caused a minor offense, next time I'll be leaving
Buddha!
Hongcun souvenier shop the ice cream until after the restaraunt.
Xidi was similar to Hongcun but with less shops, less tourists and was more enjoyable, probably for those reasons. The architecture was again in a similar style with many chinese writings and intricate carvings around the doors and buildings. Walking through the town I asked a local where the nearest toilet was and he showed me into a small hut with a toilet which aside from this also housed two small piglets.
At 2.30 we returned to the coach and arrived back at the hostel at 4.30 pretty knackered. An early night tonight and then off to yellow mountain tomorrow.
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