Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,

For those who are planning on a Hanzhong Adventure I have created two pages full of things that aren’t so exciting to visit in and around the city. Though the city has a huge history (it is from this city that the Han Chinese get their name) there really is not a lot to do in the actual city itself but there are several rather dull sites to find if you grab your bike and spend a few hours searching.

Always remember, though the 'sites’ maybe dull it is what you find and experience between Point A and Point B that is of actual value.

If you are a bike rider like me (or love long walks) then Hanzhong is not a bad place live and teach as the city is surrounded by fields scattered with small villages where a few decent bike rides can be found. All you need is a set of peddles and adventurous spirit to make your time worthwhile. It is also impossible to get lost as the city sits in a huge basin and everything is flat so all you need to do is simply head back the way you came.

Here is my SECOND list of 'Not So Exciting Things to See & Do’ in and around Hanzhong city.

This though is my personal view and after spending five and a half years living and travelling north, south, east and west in China I think it is pointless telling you that what I see here in this city is going to be completely different to any visitor new or otherwise. This is my blog though and one day when I am old and more silly than now I want to even remember the parts of China that didn’t really appeal to me.

Along with those that blew my mind.

Folk Village & The Peony & Rare Stone Gardens

All sites can be found on the eighteen kilometre ride to the Ancient Baoxie/Shimen Plank Road I personally think that none of them are worth visiting nor even their small entry fee so if you are short on time here in Hanzhong city then simply continue your ride north to the Ancient Baoxie/Shimen Plank Road. But if you have the time to spare then why not spend a day visiting the Folk Village, The Peony Gardens and the Rare Stone Gardens and make up your own mind. They are all very well signed and are easily located and you will actually have a great day with your pedals and friends and you can easily visit the Plank Road the next day or following weekend.

To find them continue riding north past KFC after twenty or thirty minutes you will come to a huge round about. Here continue north toward the distant mountains, the right turn will take you to Chenggu town and the left turn takes you to Mingxian Town. Below are several links to my visits to Mingxian town, Chenggu town and the Ancient Plank Road.

Walking The Ancient Baoxie/Shimen Plank Road
The Rural Ride to the Ancient Plank Road
Collective Gatherings at Wu Hou Tomb
Zhang Qian & Local Temple Festival

The Sujiun Tea House Ride

The Sujiun Tea House (or I think that’s what it is called/spelt) can be found to the north west of Hanzhong city and to be honest it is probably the most beautiful site that I visited in this city. It’s not a large site but it does offer peace and quiet and is filled with trees, flowers and several pagodas.  I can’t actually tell you how to get there so you will have to find it by mistake just as Sarah and I did on the return journey from one of our western village rides. We found it several months ago and I only found it again last week so from that I can gather that it is not located in a popular location in the very North West of town as Brad and I have ridden this area on many occasions and have never stumbled upon it.

From what I can gather there is only one tourist sign to be found that mentions it and that is located in a dusty unvisited north western corner of the city just around the corner from the actual tea house. The same sign also mentions the name of the temple that Brad and I found many months ago yet at the actual temple there is no sign or English name to be found anywhere.

BUT as I said above, it’s the actual trying to locate the sites that is the beauty of the ride!

The Han River Ride 2 & South Western Temples

Beers N Noodles toya…..shane

PS: If you find that the photos actually make the destination appealing, that’s because of my promise that I made to Brad that I could actually make anything look worthy of a visit. This promise can be found in myfirst list of ‘Not So Exciting Things to See & Do’ in and around Hanzhong city.
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The soundtrack to this entry was by Mr Bungle
The album was ‘California’
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