Great walks of China

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-06-24 16:32

Old-world charm

Houses with gray roofs and white walls are surrounded by blossoming yellow rapeseeds. Small rivers wind their way around the villages and are home to ducks and geese as well as spots for women washing their clothes, their laundry sticks every now and then disturbing the tranquility. Big camphor trees with huge crowns offer good shade for the villagers.

These are typical scenes in Wuyuan and its beautiful, centuries-old villages inJiangxiprovince. Spring is the best season to visit, although the villages also offer rich colors in the fall.

Wuyuan’s tourist attractions are divided into three areas — east, west and central. Apart from wandering around the villages you should not miss theRainbowBridge. Built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), it is one of the best preserved roofed bridges in the country and regarded as a Wuyuan landmark.

The 140-m bridge is in Qinghua town,20 kmfrom downtown Wuyuan. It has a simple design, lacks decoration and during the past 800 years has undergone various renovations — but kept its practical use throughout.

The clean water mirrors the bridge, echoing the mountains nearby. It’s better to visit the bridge before sunset, leaning over the rails and keeping your brain blank. The villages will be bustling, smoke pouring out of the kitchens, the white houses bathed in the golden sunset.

Try savoring a local experience — stay in a farmer’s hostel and have a typical home-cooked meal. It’ll cap off your trip.

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