11-Jun-2004 -- 44 N – 131 E Heilongjiang（黑龙江), China

Visit Date: June 11, 2004

This is the second line-hunting trip in the Heilongjiang (HLJ) province of the Yip-Bannicq group (Ray) and friends (Ms. Wei Xiao-Yu, Dr. Zhang Yeli, and Mr. Miao plus 3 members of the Dong Ning City Health Bureau).

The first confluence point visited in HLJ, 44°N 128°E was done a day earlier while traveling to Dong Ning – the major border town between China and Russia. This is the most eastern point visited by the group in China thus far.

When we arrived Dong Ning City the evening before, during dinner the first-time line-hunters were busy telling our local host what a fun exercise it was. Our host asked – is there a confluence within Dong Ning? The answer was that, there was one about 11 km from where we were having dinner. To Ray’s delight, it was quickly agreed upon that we all take off 6 in the morning for the 2nd hunt of HLJ, before we started on the real project work which is the real reason for coming to Dong Ning.

We did manage to push off at 6.15 am after getting our driver, Mr. Miao revived from a semi-comatose state – the consequence of serious drinking with other drivers the night before.

Dr. Chen, the Chief of local Health Bureau claims that he knew the best way to go to the village near the point. We took a very small and round about dirt road which was more difficult than the main road shown on the map. The terrific scenery made up for the bad road. It took us 45 minutes to come to the nearest point from the confluence point - 400 meters.

We crossed over a large open field of newly plowed field which was a challenge for Dr. Zhang who was wearing a high fashion street shoe. It was even more fun when we have to cross a swampy drainage area – one of her shoe got stuck in the mud.

About 200 meters from the point, we crossed over a rail road; found a good road which would bring us much closer if we had taken the main road there.

After the rail road, the confluence point was an easy approach. It is located right at the edge of pine forest overlooking a wide open fame land. It was only 7.30 am when mission accomplished. Everybody in the hunting party were amazed how tranquil the general surrounding of this “magical point”.

We took the main road back to Dong Ning City, it took only 20 minutes.

After a hearty breakfast, we stated our scheduled project site visits by 9 am. Three more first-time line hunters and they were appropriately delighted for been the first to discover the only confluence point in their home territory.

Rating of this hunt:

Degree of Challenge: 2 – the 400 meter crossing field and creek was fun, and a 3 if you were high heel Italian shoes (Scale: 1= very easy - drive to the point; to 5= a death march – glad it is over)

Scenery: 4– a mix of forest and farming area with rolling hills – clam and pretty (Scale: 1= not interesting at all; 5= take your breath away)

Culture-social factors: 3– a major border town with influence of Russian culture (Scale: 1=dull; 5= most stimulating)