1994 China – Part 2 Yang Shou

We took a 10 hour boat trip from Hong Kong to Wuzhou in China along the Pearl River. Tree covered mountains rose up on both banks of river. Near Wuzhou the river was more congested with boat traffic than the roads were with cars! In the town of Wuzhou we stayed at the simple but comfortable government hotel of Yuan Jiang. No one seemed to speak English except for a government representative met us and led us around.


From Wuzhou we took an all day bus ride to the small town of Yang Shou. The roads were red dirt and we passed thousands of rice patties with oxen and farmers trudging through them. The landscape in the Yang Shou region is breathtaking – the famous tall limestone hills dot the countryside. This town was quite traveler-oriented as many foreigners come for the amazing scenery. There were many restaurants and merchants to visit, and lots of hiking and exploring to do.



There are many caves in the nearby hills, and we went in a few of them with local people. They are literally mazes - some lead through steep and narrow passage ways, others lead you along underwater rivers. Very neat. We also hiked to the top of Moon Hill, which is a hill with a round hole near the top. From the top there is a beautiful panoramic view of the visas. We met many very nice people here. I felt extremely comfortable and safe. I really fell in love with this humble and beautiful place.

1994 China – Part 1 Hong Kong

Ok, this post harkens from a long way back in my memory, so chances are it will be brief, and the recollections based almost entirely on photos from that trip. My parents and brother and I traveled to Hong Kong to visit my other brother who was attending school there.

Hong Kong was full of skyscrapers and neon and sounds and people. Out the windows of rows upon rows of high rises people hang laundry and caged finches which sing all day. Old men sat in parks and played games. Traders brought their wares to sell at large outdoor markets. Public transportation seemed very efficient – subways and taxis, and ferries through the harbor.


At my brother’s school it was quiet and lush and in the distance you could see pollution shrouded misty mountains all around. The ocean was beautiful to behold for this prairie girl. The constellations were different from those in our sky in Canada, but the moon was a comforting constant.


At some point we went traveled to Lantau Island on the ManKong ferry to visit the little fishing village of Tau O. There were tiny homes on stilts, and colourful wooden boats. The pace seemed slow. Dried fish and fresh seafood dominated the small market.