Preparations for visiting the middle kingdoms of China started ... let's say exactly ... 3 years ago by starting to convince my mother to visit me in China. After all these years of hard work it all finally started to roll in November 2012 when my mother and brother landed in China, not in Shanghai or Beijing, but in the very middle, in Chongqing. Mother first time ever so far and in Asia! Brother already second time on rice.
Wanting to show something different from golden triangle of Shanghai, Beijing and Xian, we headed to search for somewhat more traditional - Southern China's rich minority culture, misty hills with small villages in between, burning spicy food, long bus and train trips. All this was available in Guizhou and Chongqing province.
Chongqing transporter. As the city is very hilly, old profession of transporter guys offering service to carry goods on their shoulders is still highly valued.
Mother getting to know the local market life
Vegetable seller's rice break
Train departing from Kaili (Guizhou province), 13 hours and ~700km it took to get there from Chongqing.
In Kaili, the last big town, before heading to villages in the middle of mountains. Feel of China: little foggy (smoggy), little hilly, a pagoda and already few rice terraces. Still the beginning!
Miao minority women
Xijiang village in mountains
When there is no rice season the same field is used as a fishing pond. Basket was used as the fishing net
Just a spider net
Village street, for some reason cars were not the most popular mean of transportation inside the village, must have been high parking fees :)
Terraces preparing for winter
Xijiang village entrance - developed as tourist attraction, so everybody coming to the village will be welcomed by local dancers
Getting the true looks of Miao people
Chinese-Estonian farming cooperation, knowledge sharing workshop in progress
Tasting flowers
Roofs with no cement
Into the mist.... siilike
Next stop Baltics, Dec2012