Yanzhou Island, Zhaoqing

Tours are just starting up again and after receiving confirmation that we can leave the city but stay in the province, I was excited to see this tour offered. I have gone on trips with Banana Tours since it started. They always put on a great tour. This one was 2 hours bus ride out of the city. We needed a correct Suikang code that is not red, had our temperatures checked multiple places, and needed to wear a mask. We could take it off when hiking. As it was very hot and humid we would often walk away from the group to take the mask off for a brief time.

This is the largest river island in Guangdong just south of the Dinghu mountains. The island has an area of about 6 square kilometers. According to the legend, Bao Zheng (a famous upright official who had true integrity in Chinese history) returned to the capital in the Northern Song Dynasty (1042 AD). When the ship passed the Antelope Gorge, he threw an inkstone and then it became into an island, that’s why it is named as “Yanzhou Island”. Bao stopped epidemics by drilling wells for clean water. He established schools and integrity in government for all to prosper.

Looking towards the island before we boarded the ferry.

A short walk to look over the river. This area is a place to go for the devout.

This mural depicts his government life and the throwing of the inkstone.
This mural depicts his personal life and his devotion to his family and parents.

We boarded two shuttle carts to go to another part of the island to look at village buildings. During the cultural revolution, professionals from the cities were sent to rural areas to help society. I visited a museum with memorabilia from Mao’s reign. Villagers were selling produce very cheap. 2 large cucumbers were 2 kuai or 30 cents.

We visited a temple in the village.

We then went to a great Cantonese restaurant on the island. There were lots of vegetarian choices.

Antelope Gorge ancient plank road is located in the east of Antelope Mountain, it has been well known as one of the “Little three Gorges” in Zhaoqing since Tang dynasty. We boarded a ferry to go back across and then on to hike Antelope Gorge.

We hiked for 5 km and had lots of up and down stairs before turning around to head back.

After returning to Guangzhou I key up with Killian and Elaine to go out for dinner. Fun! Killian ate chicken feet. We all had Western style cheesecake with rich sweet frosting.

A great day with some people from school and a new friend I met, Morgana from Canada who teaches at a school in the city. Finishing up with other friends was an added treat!