Debrouille toi ma Poule

Oh what fun we were having before and with such facility, well in China it's a completely different story, hardly anyone speaks English in this city and so instead of spending 1 hour on our travel arrangements it's more like 2 days. The friendly CITS office we finally located helped us out by writing down the names of the places we wanted to visit which we then proceeded diligently to present as proof to the ticket offices :)

Sha Nanhua monastery lion

In this rather large city capital of Guangdong we only really visited "White Cloud Hills", an adjunct to the local park, Mausoleum of Nanyue King which is 2000 years old and looks something like a pyramid and finally Guangxiao temple with nothing much to recommend. The only thing we'd say about this place is that the metro works pretty well even though it's not quite completed.

Qin Nine Dragon Fountain

Travelling north we first stopped off at Qingyuan and were helped out almost immediately by a man and his wife who spoke a little English, they dropped us off at a hotel where we were accompanied up to our room by the receptionist who then consigned us to another friend for 2 days visiting. Our thanks are due to Yang, Mai and Che who made sure we actually visited "tube" cave (no idea why) which is a local park and involves climbing several levels. Took a guide to Feila temple which is only accessed by boat, this trip included dinner but this was a very rushed affair since the last bus back was due any minute. Not only that but our guide spoke not a word of English and although he'd told us (via translator Yang) the entry to the temple was included it wasn't.

Qin In Front of Nine Dragon Fountain

Just outside of Shaoguan are the Danxia Shan means red mountain in the mist and this is completely accurate since the mountains are mostly shrouded in white clouds. However this didn't stop us hiking around for 7 hours with four Hong Kongers we met on the way. The area is now a national park protected by unesco, it's claim to fame being some rare geological formations yin and yang rocks better known as the female and male stone (see piccies for clarity). Steps have been carved into the mountain which have been worn by time and climb almost vertically in places so you use both hands and feet sometimes even with your back against the wall.

Sha Nanhua archway

Guan Chinese art

Qin Feila Temple

Qin Saying bye to Yang

Sha Lady Stone

Sha Steep Steps

Sha Danxia temple

Sha Danxia view

Sha Male stone

Some friends from HK

Sha Space Bamboo Park

Guanxia temple

Guan Yat temple

Guan Shamian Island statues

Guanxia temple guardians

Guanxia Cauldron