part three - in hunan the heat is on: ancient cities and more

In Hunan, the Heat is On!Stepping into Serendipity

A Talking Travel Destination Presentation

Part One: Shanghai

Part Two: Natural Wonders

Part Three: Ancient

Cities and more

Leaving Langshan, we drove 2.5 hours to Hongjiang to visit the Ancient City of Qianyang

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Strolling through the city, taking photos, visiting some shops and learning a bit of history along the way

The Zhongzheng Gate is the western entrance to the ancient City of Qianyang

After lunch we visited the Ancient Commercial City of Hongjiang, known for his history of brothels and opium dens.

An opium den--but the 'mannikan' turned out to be real...so I did the natural thing, and joined him for a puff

Many of the historic buildings feature enactments of the various transactions that would have taken place.

One of the street vendors

Play-Swords provide a great excuse to play Starwars. Here I am with Johnson Lin, our tour guide.

In the evening, we checked into our hotel in Huaihua and then enjoyed an outdoor performance celebrated the history of the area.

The next morning we visited the Grape Valley Scenic Area

We were accorded a VIP greeting by musicians as we got off our coaches to attend the festivities

We were treated to some welcoming talks and dance performances and then mermerized by the magician

...and the sword swallower

Time to taste the grapes and, oh yes, the wine. It was quite good!

Some of the bottles sold for nearly $100.00 (CAD). I was honoured to be presented with two very nice wines, which were shared with the group over the next two dinners.

A very special lunch of local dishes was served in Zhijiang, as we watched a musical performance.

In the late afternoon, we arrived in the Ancient City of Phoenix and checked into the Phoenix Grand Hotel

Amazing wooden sculptures fill the hotel lobby

A woman from the Tujia ethnic group selling her wares on the street leading to the market in Phoenix.

Johnson Lin, our tour guide, giving us some pointers

about buying Chinese alcohol

After dinner we attended the Ethnic Minority Dancing Show, "Phoenix's Timeless Love"

After the performance a few of us walked the 15 minutes to the Ancient City

All the buildings are lit up at night...

Early the next morning, we walked to the ancient city again...

Our 3rd visit to the Ancient City...a Miao woman sets up her food stand

Stretching ginger candy, one of the local specialties

Pounding candy to break it into small

pieces--you can try a free sample

along one of the scenic alleys

Signs announce the historical houses

And some scenes around town and from the river cruise

For more insights into Hunan, please see my article "Stepping into Serendipity: In Hunan the Heat is On"

Steve GillickTravel Writer, Speaker, Photographer

Steve@talkingtravel.cawww.gillicksworld.ca