The Yangtze River Circle

So it’s the weekend and I’m off again. This time not only Nanjing & Shanghai, but yes this weekend I am going to Wuhan!

Arrived in Nanjing about midnight. The cat was pleased to see me. Well, I think it was hungry, so pleased to see anyone. It quickly left me once I put fresh food down. Cats are loving and comforting to have around. But definitely they are their own cat, not the owners. It’s all done on their terms. Friday in the Nanjing office, always great to see colleagues and friends that are thriving. But also tough as you’d love to be in amongst it with them.

Now - off to Shanghai. High speed train to Shanghai central station. This time I can use the Metro so no queuing for taxis. That’s a real blessing.

The crowds are light. I've been on the metro in Shanghai when I've needed all my Rugby skills to stay standing in the crush.

I’m off to the Golden Gloves Gym fight night. Good crowd. Good bouts. Good decision to make the journey.

As I said in the last blog, anywhere else and the idea of traveling 300km to see a few hours of boxing would be mad. But the trains are cheap and reliable so in reality it’s more a psychological barrier than a real one. There’s a phrase in the UK about the Lottery - You’ve got to be in it to win it. I think that’s true for life. You either go out there and enjoy the journey or life passes you by. What a waste.

Next morning it’s back to Nanjing. This time to meet up with my Rugby Club. The Nanjing Rockets. We have a bit of a social watching the All Blacks vs Argentina as well as discuss plans for the season ahead. Before calling it a night I drop in at my local. I’m out of Nanjing so much that I drop in as often as I can to keep up with friends. It would be easier to just go home, but for a little effort you keep the relationship strong. Sunday morning - 1st priority is to pack. A case of clean

clothes and supplies as I’m off again in the afternoon to

Nanchang, via Wuhan. Having got that done, even though my legs still feel like lead from the midweek beasting I gave them it’s off for a bike ride. I love getting out into the country and this time of year is perfect. It was so nice, that although I started off with a 30km ride in mind I ended up doing 50kms and almost 500m of climb. That’s the beauty of cycling - you go out - but you have to come back, so you push out while you feel fine. Then it’s just determination and the knowing that the end will come that gets you home.

Now the 3hr trip to WuhanAnother high speed train. This time heading west from Nanjing.

The scenery outside the window flows continuous bands of rolling tree lined hills, with valleys full of water and fields.

The paddy fields have a strong, vibrant green color at this time. Then you get occasional stretches of yellow patchwork as the wheat crop is interspersed. Then it goes black outside & stays black for minutes, as the train cuts through the hills & mountains in long tunnels. As we break out into the sun, the hills roll away with fields and small white villages laping up to their bases. We arrive at Wuhan Hankou. Wuhan is also known as the River City. (Jiang Cheng). It is where the Hanjiang & Yangtze rivers meet. So the city is devised by rivers and is actually a combination of 3 towns - Wuchang, Hanyang & Hankou. It’s a major transportation hub, and key intersection for the high speed rail network. It also has just under 2million students making it one of the major university city’s in China.

I’m here to collect my wife from its international airport. That’s a 30min taxi ride - well should have been. I have a taxi driver that doesn’t know his way to the airport. He also does what all people do when talking to someone who speaks a different language - shouts. When I don’t understand, he shouts louder! What makes it funnier is that he uses the same approach to my voice recognition app on my phone. Shouts at that. When I ask him to explain again as I can’t understand - he shouts louder. So we are on the airport highway - but going in the wrong direction. Yes I’m frustrated as I’d timed the journey to be at arrivals before my wife came through, but with not much leeway and of course it’s costing me money. I say the Airport name again & point behind me. He nods vigorously and then, without a sign or indication, he pulls across the traffic and heads for a gap in the central barrier. Only a slight slowing as he turns into the opposite carriage way and completes the U turn. “Ok ? Ok ?” he shouts. Remember - it’s all about the journey & I’m in one piece! I get there in time. I collect my wife and another taxi to an overnight hotel. Again - another taxi driver that doesn’t know where he is going. I’ve learnt to track drivers on the maps on my phone. Sometimes it’s because they are scamming you by going the long way there, but in both these cases I really think they didn’t quite know the way and made mistakes. In Nanchang I notice almost every journey the drivers turn their phone navigation on. I think this is because the city is changing so quickly. I hope for other travelers sake this habit takes off in Wuhan.

Last leg at 6:30am. We are at Wuhan Station for the trip back to Nanchang. At this time the only shops sell duck meat. Not the nice juicy breasts, but the dried out skin bits like neck, wings, tongues and gizzards. So no breakfast for me. I do eat it, it it’s messy and really to much at this time of the morning.

Another journey complete. More experiences under the belt.

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#China #Travel