Rong Jiang had a very old Banyan Tree (been there…seen that) and a Dong village in Che Jiang. This was one of the most interesting villages because of all the different activities taking place. Groups of people were playing maj jong in the central courtyard (I was invited to join in but didn’t remember how to play), two older women were taking turns giving each other a back massage, …. View image…

Another woman was busy pounding the life out of some black (indigo-dyed) cloth with a heavy, wooden mallet. The pounding softens the cloth and then it into a shiny blue-black color. It takes hours and days of pounding to get the cloth soft and shiny. She would fold…and pound…refold and pound… I tried lifting the mallet and could only manage one stroke on the cloth which she thought was hysterical. Yes, I did look like a wimp. Hard, hard work. And, strong, strong people.

pounding the material in Rong Jiang Village, Guizhou Province, China
This village was situated alongside a river, exceptionally picturesque – scenic and peaceful.

 

On the road again, we actually saw a landslide coming down onto the road….View image.., and then Andy walked us through a small village to show how their rice and grain was stored on stilts in the middle of a lake area to keep rodents away.

storing grain in Guizhou Province, China
Rong Jiang Hotel for the night…finally…but what an unusual, highly enjoyable day…