We caught a local bus and spent the first part of the morning in the local flower and animal market. As it was just after 09:00, the markets were only just opening up their stands but nonetheless we saw many strange sights. Only in China could one expect to find a market specialising in pets including not only kittens, puppies, mice and guinea pigs but also a range of song birds, four or five different species of tortoises, numerous fish, insects and arachnids. We found the whole concept most distressing as the animals were couped up in tiny cages or, as were the tortoises/terrapins, crammed into crates with no space at all. Genetically modified frogs were also for sale as pets. These poor unfortunate creatures have had a gene transplanted into their genome giving them colours of fluorescent pink, orange and green.
Equally bizarre was a box of very large scorpions for sale.
Pets for sale in the market, Kunmin
Scorpions for sale in the market, Kunming
Terrapins for sale in the market, Kunming
Fluorescent frogs for sale in the market, Kunming
Orchid plants for sale in the market
We soon found the animal market far too much to tolerate any further due to both the inhumane treatment of the ‘pets for sale’ and the appalling smell their conditions had generated.
The flower section of the market was only partially open. As is often the case in China, many small businesses don’t open until 11:00 and then stay open well into the night. However amongst the flower stalls that had opened the most popular plants seemed to be orchids, succulents and bromeliads.
Having had more than sufficient market exposure for the morning, we walked a kilometre through the streets and traffic to Green Lake Park, that being a pleasant sanctuary in a city with few redeeming natural features.
The park comprises a number of small lakes with gardens, community areas, brightly coloured pavilions and paths all intermingling to create a lovely relaxing atmosphere. The lakes are ‘green’ because they are almost totally covered with lotus plants. Many of these were flowering with large, highly attractive blooms of pink and white. This floral bonanza had created a photographic frenzy amongst the locals and tourists alike.
In the open community areas people were participating in activities such as tai chi, yoga and ribbon dancing to music. Many appeared to be sitting quietly and meditating in solitude.
Ribbon dancing in the park, Kunming
Park, Kunming
Giant waterlilies in the park, Kunming
Giant waterlilies in the park, Kunming
We then returned to our 21st floor hotel room in the central metropolis and gathered our things and caught a local bus the Kunming airport, in preparation for our ninety-minute flight to Guilin.
View from our hotel room, Kunming
View from our hotel room, Kunming
Police vehicle, Kunming
The Riuli plane was stiflingly hot when we boarded and we all suffered near heat exhaustion. Corinne fell asleep and doesn’t even remember the plane taking off. She later awoke and was surprised that we were already half-way to Guilin!
Now being in Guangxi Province, we clambered on board a private bus and headed south from Guilin towards Yangshou, our intended location for the next few days. The road was rough and uneven but the scenery was breathtaking. Apart from the relief of seeing green farmlands again the landscape has features that are described as ‘karst’ mountains.
There are literally thousands of limestone stacks protruding from the flat plain in every direction one looks. These small mountains are pinnacles with sheer sides often several hundred metres high. Most are covered in lush vegetation but where the rocks are barren there is often evidence of white limestone being present. The plain from which these amazing structures rise is rich agricultural ground with rice paddies predominating.
Our path south from Guilin to Yangshou followed the Li River which we’ll travel on tomorrow. On arrival in Yangshou we booked into our hotel and then when for an orientation walk in the central part where night-time creates a party atmosphere with colourful lights and the decorated stalls in the streets set against the illuminated backdrop of the karst mountains that surround the village.
Corinne & Jak at Lucy's cafe, Yangshuo
We had an evening meal of ‘western’ food in a local restaurant and then headed for bed trying to put aside and lingering memories of the concrete and glass edifice of Kunming.