So it’s been over a month since I last posted here. Time flies when you are living in China! This past couple of weeks, my friend, Ralph, has been visiting us from Canada so we took a couple of days and headed south to Changsha to visit my son. I have been there several times and every time there is something different to see. It is a great little city of only 5 million or so people and everything is very central that you would want to see. It’s an hour and twenty minute ride on the bullet train from Wuhan at an average speed of about 300 km/hour. These trains used to go a lot faster but were slowed down after the accidents a couple of years ago. I’m not sure how much safer they are at only 300 km/h!
We hiked the length of Orange Island (Tangerine Island, depending on which sign you read!) to visit the 103-foot tall head of a young Chairman Mao. We also walked through a wonderful food market area, or should I say “raw ingredients area”??!! The colors and odors of the huge variety of spices, peppers, vegetable and mystery meats made it a true sensory experience.
Every Saturday night, there is a huge display of fireworks sent off from the island. Yes, every Saturday night. It can be watched from anywhere along the riverbank looking towards the island.
Our day finished off with a visit to bar street, a long alley lined with dozens of small bars. There are lots of other things to see in the city that I have already written about in past postings. Changsha makes for a great one or two day getaway for us.
Hope you enjoy the pics.
Always love your photos – this time was dissappointed that they would not get any larger so they were a little difficult to see.
I am travelling to Australia soon with a stop over in Shanghai both ways – what would you recommend seeing when there for 7 or 8 hours?
Hi Steve
Great pictures! Remind me of when we toured Singapore many years ago! It certainly isn’t like visit our local grocery store with all the packaging – there you can see what you are getting!! Happy travels. Continue to enjoy your blogs (Whatever)! Joann
@Sylvia…The pictures are the same size as usual. Click on the first small photo and the slide show should come up. You can even make them a little bigger by clicking on the expand button at the top right of the pictures in the slide show.
I’ll think about some suggestions for Shanghai and get back to you. The nice thing is you can leave the airport without any hassles or visa for up to 24 hours. Just be sure to keep your ticket and passport with you!
Was great visit!!! Thanks U2.