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the Degree Confluence Project
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China : Héběi Shěng

1.3 km (0.8 miles) N of Shizuizi, Héběi, China
Approx. altitude: 1008 m (3307 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 41°S 65°W

Accuracy: 5 m (16 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: East view #3: South view #4: West view - just in front of me #5: North view #6: GPS reading #7: Filed between road and river, look to the South East #8: Field between road and river, look to North East #9: The Gate of Great Wall

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  41°N 115°E (visit #1)  

#1: General area - the point is at middle horizontal and 3/10 vertical from top

(visited by leo H)

English Narrative

06-Jun-2004 -- 不久前从网上看到这项户外活动,感觉很有意思。翻开地图看一看,以前旅行中的很多路线都与这些点相距不远,只是没有意识去拜访。

我选择了N41E115作为第一个要访问的交汇点。从图上看,这个点在张家口北面不远,而且就在一条公路的边上,是在河谷里,应该不会有太大难度,除非是正好落在了大水里。

2004年6月6日,周日一早与两个旅行社的朋友出发,上八达岭高速。这两个朋友要到天漠看一看,据说有境外游客感兴趣。在天漠短暂停留后返回高速赶往张家口。途中路过宣化,在路边看到了宣化的古城墙,这个古城的规模还真不小。

在张家口吃了午钣后向崇礼方向走,顺路去看了一眼大镜口关,这道长城关隘的大镜门上有“大好河山”四个颜体大字。

过了朝天洼村左转向北,这时GPS上显示距离目标点越来越近,最近的时候仅有900米,就在路的西边,穿过一片农田和苗圃就应该到了。可惜的是车开不过去,看时间还早,于是继续向前走,看看有没有能下到河床里的路。这里的路已经没有柏油了,不过有几台筑路机在工作,看来用不了多长时间也会成为柏油路的。过了两公里,有座大桥,过了桥在河边就有一个村子,看来有门儿。

果然村边有条路指向了河里,而且有车辙,只不过不是机动车的。河里几乎没有水,下车试探一下,沙地还算比较结实,就试探着往前开,左拐右拐,越开越高兴,结果当然是陷车喽。没办法,只好下来找石头、挖沙子。可惜白折腾了半天,车也没开出来。只好出去找人相助了。我让两个朋友留下,一个人向河谷外走。这河谷里的景色还真不错,一面开阔,有农田和树林,另一面是峭壁。还能听到很多的鸟叫,如果水再大一点儿就更好了,当然不是现在。阴天,不时有几个雨点下来,要快呀。

在村子里见到个小孩儿,问他村里有大拖拉机没有,他说没有,问他见过没,回答是见过,不过不是当地的。小孩问我手里的对讲机是干啥的,我说是说话用的,还示范了一下呼叫河谷里的朋友,听到机器里传出来朋友的话声,小孩子很高兴地笑了。

这里的村子都不太富,或者说比较穷,只见到几辆农用三轮车,有人在往上面抱大石头。问了一个村民,他说前面不远有个矿,上面有铲车。也许这铲车能有用。向前走了十分钟看到了一个小矿,不知是什么矿。没见到什么铲车,到是见到了一辆2020。跟司机聊了几句,他不是车主,是来办事儿的,马上要走,而且四驱车只有两驱了。看来没戏,我就继续向前走,前面有个砖窑,结果还是什么车都没有。

想想还是往回走吧,实在不行只有多找人了。正走着,眼见前面驶来一辆绿色的切诺基!赶紧上前拦了下来,还是辆四驱的。开车的是个中年人,还算和气,几句好话就答应了。他还是有些经验,很快就把我的车拉了出来,并且一再告诫我不要再向里开了。

回到路上往回开,回到了距离目标点最近的地方,路边有座扶贫学校,就把车停在了学校大门边上。沿着与公路垂直的一条引水渠一直向西,穿过一片农田,进了苗圃,又钻出苗圃,经过一片小树林,终于来到了河道边上。这时从GPS上看还有300米,看来要过河了,还好这河里的水不多,很容易就过去了,还有不到100米了。沿着河边走,越来越接近目标了。最后在只有20米的地方被山崖拦住了。

抬头看,这河边的山不很高,也不陡,而且边上竟然还有条上山的小路。走小路很快上了半山腰,结果发现走过了,这个点一定就在这山崖上。没办法,只能一步一步向下探,每走一步看一眼坐标,左左右右来回调整,最后终于站到了这个交汇点上!站在高处看河谷很是壮观。抓紧时间拍下几张证明照片后就回撤了。这时天上的阴云渐渐地散了,阳光撒到了远处的山峰上和近处的农田里,四周的景色马上大变样儿,原本平平淡淡的河谷马上有了生气。

火红的晚霞把我们送上了归程。还是来时的路,除了很多大货车以外没见到什么。

English Narrative

06-Jun-2004 -- I found this outdoor activity while surfing on the web, and feel interesting. I look the map, found some of my past travel routine are very close to these confluence points, just not be aware of.

I select N41E115 as my first visit point. It is at the north of Zhang Jia Kou City, close to the county road alone a river, it should not be difficult to be visited, unless it is covered by the water.

Today is 6th June 2004, Sunday. Together with two friends from travel services, we drive north along the highway. These friends need to visit a tourism point first, it is a sands area. We spend about one hour at this site and then continue the journey. While passing the Xuan Hua county, we see this old town's wall along the road It is a bigger town.

After the lunch in Zhang Jia Kou, we move to the direction of Chong Li County. We visit a part of Great Wall on the midway

After passing a village named Chao Tian Wa, we turn left to the north. From the GPS' indication I know we are closer and closer to the target. Finally we reach a closest point on the road, just 900 meters away from it. There are farming land and tree nursery between the road and river, the target must be over there. Unfortunately, there is not road for vehicle. Sounds we still have enough time, then we continue move forward to see if there is a way along with the river. The road from hereafter is under construction. After about two kilometers, we see a bridge and a village, there is a road there direct to the river bed.

There are traces of vehicle on the road, but not motor vehicles. The river almost dry, I step on the sand bet, it is solid. Then I drive forward cautiously and we are happy to be in the valley. But just after a while, we are caught by the sand and can not move anymore. We try all the methods and tools we can find, but still can not make the car out of the sand. We need help. I leave two friends there and go back to the village. The valley is beautiful, with farming land and trees at one side, and cliff at another side. I can also hear of singing of a lot of birds. If there is more water there, it will be much better, but not now. The sky is cloudy and some raindrops fall on my head. I must be hurry up.

The villages around here are not rich, or say are poor, I only find some motor tricycles in the field to carry rocks. A farmer tell me that there is a mine, 10 minutes walking distance, maybe I can find something useful. Well, it is true, I find there is a 2020 there (like a Jeep), but the driver tells me that they will leave very soon, it is only 4X2. I continue walk along the road, but find nothing useful.

I decided to turn back, maybe I can just ask for a dozen people to help me. I still keep looking around and wish to find something. Suddenly I see there is a Jeep coming to me. I was very excited and stop it. The driver is a middle-aged man, and very nice, he turns round and drives me to the valley. He is an experienced man, take my car out of the sand quickly, and strongly ask me leave the riverbed.

We drive back to the closest point on the road, there is a school, I park the car besides its gate, and then we walk along a small irrigation channel to the west. We pass through farming land and tree nursery, arrive at the riverbank. The GPS indicates that there is still 300 meters. It means we need cross the river. There is just a few water in the river, it is easy to cross it, only 100 meters left now. We walk along the river, getting closer and closer, but finally a hill stops us while just 20 meters remained.

The hill is not too high and not cliffy, I follow a tracks move up easily, but find I have left the target point behind, it must be at the slop beneath. However, I move downward step by step, and look at the GPS readings on each step. I finally stand on the target point after a few minutes adjustment! The valley looks great from the hill. I take some photos and then go back. The cloud now is dispersed by the wind and the sunshine spreads on the mountain and the filed, the scenery around is changed immediately, the gray valley became lively.

The sunset glow accompany us on the journey to home, we take the same way as coming here. Nothing special except a lot of big lorries.


 All pictures
#1: General area - the point is at middle horizontal and 3/10 vertical from top
#2: East view
#3: South view
#4: West view - just in front of me
#5: North view
#6: GPS reading
#7: Filed between road and river, look to the South East
#8: Field between road and river, look to North East
#9: The Gate of Great Wall
ALL: All pictures on one page