Yunxian – Chaozhou, Guangdong - 122 km
On leaving, the morning mist was still lying low over the city. The
streets were eerily quiet and covered in red paper from the nightly
firecrackers. Even the usual breakfast establishments were still firmly
shut. This was because Chinese New Year was celebrated over 16
days and the first day of the new year was a time to honour one's
elders. Hence, families visited their extended family's oldest and most
senior members.
Thus, the way to Chaozhou was quiet, making it a pleasant day of
biking in excellent weather. The landscape and hazy views reminded
me of old pictures of China featuring misty mountains in the
background.
There was much rubber-necking, and I feared they would dislocate
their necks as they spun around to gaze at the foreigner. Later that
day, a chap pulled up and informed me he'd never seen a foreign
woman cycling in China.
The good conditions made pushing on to Chaozhou easy, but finding
accommodation took almost as long as the day's ride. As expected,
all reasonably priced places were full over New Year. Unfortunately,
the most inexpensive hotels only cater to Chinese citizens. In the
end, few options remained, but settling for a pricier abode as it was
becoming dark and searching for accommodation was one of my pet
hates.
Good use was made of the luxury room and all that was available. A
meander downtown revealed dumplings and beer and with my bounty
bagged, I returned to my digs for a hot and strong shower.