Shae was feeling unwell today and Dad wanted to get some trip prep done, so Rhys, Anai, Owen and Mum set off this morning for the Wushan Monestary. Caught the metro and It began to snow gently whilst we were there. Wasn’t much happening at the monestary as it was quite chilly so we just walked around then headed for Xinnanmen Statation (where we were advised was a direct bus to Luodai Ancient Town).

Upon investigation, we found out this was not the case so we decided to be adventurous and catch the metro/taxi there. We caught the metro (line 2) all the way to the end then got a taxi  to Luodai Ancient Town. Where we got dropped off was quite deserted and seemed like a modern rehash of an old town. I suggested we leave, but it was Rhys’ insistence that we further investigate which lead us to finding the ‘ancient town’. Just as well; as it was fantastic. Luodai Ancient Town is the oldest Hakka town in China, dating back to 1600 AD (Popo’s family is Hakka). It was a blend and mish-mash of all types of shops … food stalls selling everything from insects (which we just had to try) to traditional treats to a fast food “Crispy Chicken’ joint (Maccas-esque). There were also fish-foot nibbling, places, a haunted house and everything else in between. The kids loved the shops and we wandered up and down the predominate 3 streets. Not many people about and indeed we were one of 2 sets of non-Chinese touroes that we saw. It snowed on/off all day today, but not enough to leave any ground cover.

We then got word at 3.30pm that Dad was coming out to meet us (Shae wanted to lie low as she was still feeling unwell, so stayed at the apartment). We killed time and decided that if Dad hadn’t rendezvoused with us by 5pm, we’d set tracks.

Lo and behold, at 4.55pm who saunters down the road, but Dad himself. He’d done well getting there with Mum’s directions and without the assistance of wifi technology. We had dinner together then went back to the pot shop that Anai had bought pots from earlier in the day. Shops had shut shop by about 6pm. By the time we set off for the metro, the street was mostly deserted if not for a few restaurants which remained opened.

We couldn’t find a taxi so we walked about a kilometre back to where we got dropped off and as we couldn’t find a taxi there either, we caught a #850 bus back to the metro station. The trip back took some time. We stopped off to get more noddles and dumplings for dinner before getting back ‘home’ to Shae at 9.30pm.