GUANGXI 9: VILLAGE LIFE IN CHINA

 I seem to have developed a routine of excursions and activities in the morning followed by afternoons lounging over a beer, writing and planning the next day. I walk into the hills where there is a small Buddhist temple, actually the monastery that I'd failed to reach the last time, and the countryside is green, peaceful and almost silent. It's a good place to relax and escape my worries, and reminds me of village walks at home in England.

Xingping has now been invaded by a wave of mass tourism: hordes of tourists arrive every day and the the streets are thronged with tour groups, lines of coaches and cars, cars cars. The tour groups are easy to spot as they are led by guides with coloured flags like the one Sarah and I joined when we visited China in 1997. It's rather chaotic and the hostel desk is constantly checking groups of Chinese tourists in and out, often families of several people occupying one room I wonder where they sleep. There are also market traders everywhere: the streets are like Eastern bazaars.

I decide to hire a bike again and see where I end up. I make sure I've got plenty of water and some fruit. The weather continues to be warm, sunny and pleasant: I couldn't wish for more. It's like summer in England but the Chinese continue to walk around in heavy coats and thick sweaters, in addition to which they have air-conditioned heating on in the rooms 24 hours a day. It seems that temperatures below about 68 F are too cold for them and they have to wrap themselves up. Meanwhile I'm in my T shirt.

I cycle around some local villages, also taking the time to visit the railway station about 4 miles away and pick up my return ticket to Guilin,, the last one I need for the voyage back to Baoding. As ever the scenery doesn't disappoint, and the villagers smile and say “Hello”. I feel as if I'm living village life in China.

 In the evening I go out for something to eat and spend some time chatting to the owners of some of the restaurants. The streets at night are lit with lanterns and there are occasional fireworks.