In the
previous post I shared where I spent the last days of 2011 -- Hengyang, Hunan province. Typically I don't do two "scenes" posts in a row, but in the spirit of symmetry I'll now share where I spent the first days of 2012 --
Chenzhou, Hunan (
map).
Like in Hengyang, the weather was overcast and caused me again to forgo a nature trip. This time I had hoped to see Suxian Hill -- a place of natural scenery and Taoist relics. Again, maybe in another year or life I'll see it.
Despite some rainy drizzle at times, I took the opportunity to explore the city. Some of my walks were directed to places of potential interest I saw on a map and others were more random. One thing I noticed that is consistent with what I've more recently read about Chenzhou was that the food didn't have the characteristic spiciness found in the food of other regions of Hunan. I suspect Chenzhou's close proximity to Guangdong province, where cooking styles aren't known for their spiciness, is at least partially responsible.
If you've kept track of the last 4 cities (including Chenzhou) I've posted about, you may see a connection between them. That connection will provide a clue both for where I headed after Chenzhou and for what I plan to write about in a future post.
But for now, here's some of what I saw in Chenzhou:
![busy street and department store in Chenzhou](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0KprPJOp5jw/TwMbOfcIc6I/AAAAAAAABfo/AKsS886kNik/s640/chenzhou-street-shopping-center.jpg) |
The department store on the right was very busy on New Years Day |
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l_Th9XUAVZY/TwMbPv1G6pI/AAAAAAAABfw/pthg3M9Xyhk/s640/chenzhou-xinglong-pedestrian-street.jpg) |
Nearby Xinglong Pedestrian Street |
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4avCnldyDRo/TwMbAufPeBI/AAAAAAAABfA/KSXwwTA6Y-g/s640/chenzhou-food-sales.jpg) |
Popular place for Cantonese style snacks
People thrust money at the very busy server to get her attention to take their orders - not my hands. |
![employees at Bo Lan Yoga Beauty Club](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-84qpYB-PN9g/TwMbYJkH8lI/AAAAAAAABgA/YrJA0GBbCPM/s640/chenzhou-beauty-and-yoga.jpg) |
The lady in the red coat saw me passing by outside and was eager to speak some English. So, I went inside and said hello. |
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ocGweg1glA4/TwMbGXNjvuI/AAAAAAAABfQ/gEqMyQZudXs/s640/chenzhou-new-apts.jpg) |
Seemingly new apartment complexes. Similar ones nearby appeared to be mostly empty - a not uncommon sight in China. |
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G_-VNmI81vs/TwMa9QcplsI/AAAAAAAABe4/EUM4hp1a4Lo/s640/chenzhou-city-farm.jpg) |
Some farming in the city |
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RtWgNp1ip70/TwMby6QaZWI/AAAAAAAABgQ/R40VwrSvj7M/s640/chenzhou-bridge-construction.jpg) |
Bridge under construction |
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DUjSr4Lz25c/TwMb5pX2lkI/AAAAAAAABgg/RT_nIXX0OH4/s640/chenzhou-rainy-road.jpg) |
Walking in the rain |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XO7xUe-0aYs/TwMbIZyi0HI/AAAAAAAABfY/JUFOuYwLg6c/s640/chenzhou-river.jpg) |
Chen River |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q9l2-_tU89g/TwMbZ7qMFMI/AAAAAAAABgI/WX0eUbvjMqc/s640/chenzhou-baby-bar.jpg) |
Baby Bar -- No, I didn't try it. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-owuAR34zDUQ/TwMbLKOLf2I/AAAAAAAABfg/e47lvcmj2Ac/s640/chenzhou-snoopy-car.jpg) |
Snoopy by Peanuts car |
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YSUHHsnNbVg/TwMbPrYH-gI/AAAAAAAABf0/IWKD69BOhCo/s640/chenzhou-vegetable-street-market.jpg) |
Fruit and vegetables for sale at a street market |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OMBjKTg7OB4/TwMbDtMNKLI/AAAAAAAABfI/tKNrTySn9Cs/s640/chenzhou-fried-peanut-crisp.jpg) |
Street vendor selling a sort of peanut crisp |
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0AirxwbKIp4/TwMbzdL5TcI/AAAAAAAABgU/EH0DIDDUNso/s640/chenzhou-fireworks-remains.jpg) |
Remnants of fireworks |
cheers mate, I am from here, lovely pics but the river pic is smelly.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is that I didn't notice any strong smells.
Delete