Ryu2.mind

I went with some local friends last weekend to Wuyi (武义), a small (by Chinese standards) town in Zhejiang province about 5 hours out of Shanghai, famous for its hot springs, and as well as the surrounding countryside, mountains, and a cave as well. 

It was a welcome getaway from the city, and pretty much my first time really exploring in the rural settings of China (other than a 2003 trip to Yunnan) -- a reminder that beyond the glitz and the glamour, the hustle and the bustle of Shanghai and the other megacities, there lies another world.

While this place hasn't made it on the radar for foreigners yet, it still has felt the "development" of shall we say, tourism with Chinese characteristics, especially in the "cave", and it seems we were literally on a whirlwind tour -- even our time in the hot springs was about two hours at most. 

Many others have written about what they see as the negative impact of "tourism" in these places.  Yet, when I asked them, my local friends never really minded this much at all... to them, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.  Fundamentally, tourism for Chinese is first and foremost just like going to the movies -- a social activity and a desire to "soak in as much as possible", whereas for Westerners, it's about retreating, enjoying "nature" and getting away from it all.  Just one of the things I find intriguing.  All in all though, it was a good hangout time, and of course, lots of good photo ops. =)

My 10D is still in the shop for repairs, so I had to make do with my point-and-shoot.  Nevertheless, I had fun documenting the time as usual.  All the pictures are here.  Enjoy!

A vendor weighing the goods.

This is a subterranean waterfall.  But in case you were somehow oblivious to the fact, the authorities have thoughtfully put a neon sign on top complete with flashing marquee lights.  Really sets the mood, huh?

What other country in the world can you be 80-100 feet underground and still get a perfect cellphone signal?

China, forever innovating in the area of tackiness.  Is this a cave or a club?  You decide.

Ahhh yes, the obligatory fountain spewing water with "special properties" that you pay 5 mao for.  Funny how so many sites have their own "special" water, and it's so convenient to pipe from the ground.

It seems almost every tourist attraction in China has a "No Visitors" sign, and every English-speaking visitor gets a shot next to it.  I'm no exception... =P

Tastes kinda like calamari, actually... (just don't eat the intestines.. =P )

Of course, what Chinese tour is complete without the obligatory stop at "tourist shopping centers"?  Above, we can see the evolution of propaganda in China -- from Maoist ideological slogans to this...

A pleasantly unexpected surprise... =)