"River Adventure 1993" Top 5 Page for this destination China Travelogue by nepalgoods

China Travel Guide: 35,886 reviews and 78,811 photos

Fulu

After seeing the Dong-Valley, I wanted to go from Sanjiang to Congjiang, a distance of about 100 km, if there would be a road. My final destination would be Kaili on the way to Guiyang.

In 1993 they were building a road along the big river, which leads to Congjiang, but most parts had been washed away by landslides. I had two alternatives to go on: One was to go north by bus, find a train station and go on to Zhenjiang, which meant two or three days lost.

The other alternative was to go to a little village on the river and take a boat to Congjiang. Nobody could tell me, whether there would be a boat going upriver or whether I could find a guesthouse. But I decided to take the boat.

Street

I arrived in Fulu at this river (I don't remember the name of the river). Fulu is a little town with a market. The area around Fulu is very poor. I saw people harvesting the rice on the field with just their hands, no knife, nothing.

I found a small pension, where I stayed two nights. The room was very basic, shared bathroom. This was the view out of my room's window.

Pharmacy

Fulu made me feel like a hundred years ago.

Market

Women

Boats

After two days I got a ticket for one of these boats upriver to Congjiang.

My view

Many local people took the boat to reach their villages along the river. There was no toilet, no possibility to buy something to eat or to walk around.

I first thought, that the trip would not take longer than about 5 hours as the distance were only 40 km. But it was upriver and the boattrip took about 9 hours! Though everything was very interesting, and I knew, that my friends envy me for my "adventures", after some hours, I felt bored. Nobody on board spoke a single word Mandarin. People were all and every minute staring at me. And I needed a toilet! This kind of adventure was not really what I wanted!

People

Every time the boat stopped at a village the local people gathered at the river. It was a big event for them!

Along the river

Congjiang

Finally we arrived in Congjiang, which is quite a big town after Sanjiang and Fulu. It is a place, where people come together for markets from all the villages around. During my trip in South of China I saw lot of people from different minorities. I am so sorry, that I do not know anything about them. In Congjiang I even saw men wearing black skirts. I am most of the time too shy to take photos of persons.

Man

This "bag", the man is wearing, is actually a case for a sickle. But most people don't have a sickle.

Chilis

Flat Tyre

From Congjiang I wanted to go to Kaili, wheere there is a famous Sunday-market. There is a direct road between Congjiang and Kaili. But I was not allowed to take the direct bus. I still do not know, whether it was, because I as a foreigner would have crossed "forbidden" areas, or whether the road was washed away by landslides. So instead of just a few hours busride I had to take a bus to Liping, stay over night and take another bus to Kaili. Two days in a Chinese local bus, with about 30km per hour up and down the hills! It was quite interesting landscape. And I wish, I had had the courage to get off the bus and stay in one of the beautiful little villages, which I saw on the way! But I did not!

On the first day the bus had a flat tyre. And as it always happens, it was the most uninteresting spot of the whole road!

Landscape

At least the landscape was fantastic!

It took the busdriver and all his assistants two hours to change the tyre.

After two days I arrived in Kaili. The rain was pouring, the hotel was damp, and in the restaurants they only had dog for dinner!

Please see my travelogue about Kaili! On my Kaili-Page!%s*

Page Updated May 29, 2006
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Comments (100)

angiebabe Feb 20, 2011 at 2:42 AM Report Abuse

so much is similar to how China impacted on me.my pics are all home in Sydney-seeing yr pg Id so love to make mine! haul out the exciting memories of the adventure there on my own, stunning landscapes, lovely people and the very hard work often involved!
Fesl Jun 30, 2010 at 8:54 PM Report Abuse

China is a really interesting country !
globetrott Jun 19, 2010 at 8:33 AM Report Abuse

An excellent overview & great updates again about this fascinating destination !Thanks for reminding me to bring a "roach-hotel" for Amanda the cockroach ( a small box with the inscription : They always check in, but never check out...)
Nemorino Jan 19, 2010 at 11:42 PM Report Abuse

I enjoyed reading your enthusiastic and informative updates and new tips that you have added to this page since October 2007. Great that you have been to China so often!
toonsarah Jan 4, 2010 at 12:10 PM Report Abuse

I am so glad I finally got round to reading this excellent page :-) I especially enjoyed hearing about the less well-known parts such as in the west. You have made me want to return here when befire I thought I had seen enough :-)
timada Sep 15, 2008 at 12:29 PM Report Abuse

Can't find the words for admiring your pages about China !!!!!!!
Queennie Jan 22, 2008 at 8:48 AM Report Abuse

Wow! I admire you! ;) Love your China pages! Keep up the good work!
volopolo Dec 31, 2007 at 12:31 PM Report Abuse

Happy new year 2008! Nikos from Greece and Emmy from Thailand.
Luchonda Dec 5, 2007 at 9:59 AM Report Abuse

Perfect China overview, reports and photos. Greetz
tini58de Nov 24, 2007 at 7:42 AM Report Abuse

Ulrike - your update has turned this fantastic page into an outstanding page - I LOVE IT!!!!!!