Back from Anshun

Braving the cold, we made it back from Anshun to Guiyang. Sadly it looks like this was the last of my sightseeing in the region as the conditions are just too unfavourable. The cold is not extreme but in an area that is unused and hence unprepared for it, the reaction is appropriate.

We stopped on the way at a traditional Miao (that's a minority group not a cat network) batik studio and then on to Tianlong to see a Han (that's the majority) culture village. This is a very old place, and there was the Ground Opera, a precursor of the Beijing Opera, performed before battle to scare the enemy. Well, it was certainly not long enough to bore them (b'dum tish). I shouldn't be mean - it was interesting and you do get an idea, even if the Beijing Opera was so much more refined.

Guizhou (the province) is not especially well-known especially outside China. The falls are gaining a reputation (although as I intimated, the water-curtain cave deserves more recognition), but there would need to be a fundamental rethink to get the place really buzzing. The roads are poor, the town centres are a bit disorganised and there isn't much English spoken. On the other hand, the people are really friendly, there is a buzz about the place and the scenery is startling. It is basically a gently rolling countryside (admittedly not well suited for airports and the like) but with lumps. Big ones, small ones and everything in between. Everywhere. Just rock. Sticking out of the ground with a small amount of vegetation on top. It is unreal (the weather and driving conditions precluded pictures of this). But, and this is what annoyed me, on top of so many of these fantastic (in the classical sense of the word) protuberances was a pylon, telephone line or mobile phone tower. Like putting a rubber band on a beautiful face it looked ridiculous and marred the view. But fixable, if they really want the tourists to come. And I think it would happen. Guizhou is a fine place.

Let us hope that the airport is sufficiently clear on Saturday morning, else I'd just have to stay here... Hmm. Local sights only tomorrow.

Here are the piccies