Huidong – Zengcheng - 120 km
According to legend, Nüwa was the goddess who created the world.
On the seventh day after creating the world, Nüwa created human
beings from (obviously) yellow clay. On that day, with the divine
power entrusted to her, Nüwa made the clay figurines come to life (I
always surmised God was a woman). The seventh day of the New
Year, therefore, celebrated the event. I surmised that this event was
celebrated at home as the road was dead quiet. However, as soon as
someone could speak English, they would ask: "Why are you
travelling alone?" I was subsequently informed that for the average
Chinese person travelling alone to a foreign country was the most
unsettling and terrifying experience they could imagine.
China was developing at a head-spinning rate, but the ever-present
water features gave even built-up areas a peaceful vibe. My hotel,
hence, featured a massive water feature. Water in front and
mountains behind were some of the most positive feng shui layouts
that feng shui masters have always sought. Therefore, most
buildings, especially hotels, featured water fountains or koi ponds at
the entrance.
Zengcheng – Guangzhou, Guangdong – 80 km
On departing, the route led past a large, impressive city park, and
the abundance of greenery took the sting out of the concrete jungle.
Even though new and significant developments were taking place
everywhere, these developments included plenty of parks, large and
spacious pavements and separate bicycle/motorbike lanes, making
these new megacities more bearable.