Under Construction
This was quite an adventure. I had no idea what Lu Town was or what to expect.
The young man at the Hostel front desk said that I could get there on bus #70 and came up with a suggested location to catch a #70 bus. I have no memory of how I figured out which direction to take it but I did have my map.me app working so I was soon able to see that we were headed in the right direction.
Of course the next challenge is where to get off! I rode the bus too far and finally figured I better disembark. I tried asking a few pedestrians with no luck and then I noticed this traffic sign:
So now I know I have to go back 2.5K. I re-board a bus going in the right direction and get off ahead of time so there is no danger of another overshoot.
Below is a picture of the only car accident I ever saw in China. They drive fast and too close to each other but somehow seem to avoid mishaps.
The road to the right seemed to lead into something that might be LuTown so I headed in. It turned out to be a hotel but the people at the front were able to direct me here:
A Dumpster. Oh well. I think I am getting close. A jogger was able to direct me on to the next road and Lu Town.
But is gets worse. I am able to figure out that there is a charge to get in but I see no place to purchase a ticket. I try one place and it is selling something else. Then my savior appears. She is a young woman with 2 children both in a stroller and another couple. I have no memory of how I found out she spoke English. Turns out she was born in China, she is with her sister and brother-in-law but she lives in Toronto. She explains to me where to buy the ticket and I see her at least 4 more times as I tour the park. Unfortunately it seems I never take a picture!
The park is more expansive than I imagined. I usually leave my room with about the equivalent of $40 in Chinese currency and I have to spend a large per cent to get into the park. And it is lunch time! I go into the first place that looks promising and am able to procure a cold beer, using my trusty google translator, and the least expensive food that turns out to be a reasonable soup.
The bad news is that Lu Town is a poor imitation of the the towns I have already been in for weeks. It is new construction meant to look old. The people in the shops are selling things to tourists.
The signage is pretty good. Lots of English!
They are continuing to build the town. You can see the stones that make up the paths.
As is true with many towns in this part of China, they have built in canals and bridges.
Below is a picture of my real Lu Town success. As usual, it involves not some great historic or natural beauty but food and drink! Remember. I am low low on money. I have put aside the few dollars I need for the bus home but I now would like to procure another meal. There is a wine shop and I have been able to find a bottle of the local favorite, yellow rice wine. I also find a dumpling shop that allows takeout. And I seat myself in what is probably a “go out and smoke” area for the workers. I am a happy camper.
And this is my lunch time view.
Lastly, I stopped in for a moment to watch this woman preform what must me be typical old Chinese music. The seated people are all fellow tourists.
The bus ride home was uneventful! I was glade to have seen Lu Town but if one wants to see ancient china, it is much easier to visit the ancient cities and ask your host what lanes to poke down. One does not really need to visit this type of recreation.