07-May-2005 -- 33 N – 120 E Jiangsu (江苏), China

Visit Date: May 7, 2005

This is the first of six confluence points we hunted in Jiangsu during the weekend of May 1 holiday week. The entire line hunting trip took 36 hours. Our plan was to hunt for 4-5 points but the excellent expressway system of Jiangshu made it possible to do more than expected.

Button is a native of Jiangsu and suggested the hunting trip before the start of the week long holiday. Ray flew from Beijing and landed in Nanjing at 9 am on May 7, and picked up by Button and Yang Haitao from Nanjing. The hunting party went straight to this first point, which was about 180 km away from the airport.

We arrived at the general vicinity of the confluence point around 11 am. It is an area with many waterways and ponds which made approaching somewhat slow. The last stretch the road was a motorcycle path but we managed to squeeze the car on it. We stopped at a narrow bridge only motorbike can pass which put us and about 430 meters from the confluence point.

After cross over the bridge we entered a village, and at end of village we found another river kept from getting to the point, which was still 180 meters away. It just so happen there was a boat at other shore, and after a few shouts, the nice lady who live on the river bank brought the boat over to bring us across (photo 7).

After crossed the river, we found there was another canal before we can reach the confluence point. Except this time, there was a little bridge we can cross.

Around noon time, we reached the confluence point which is located about 30 meters from the edge of the canal in a wheat field. By the canal there is a little hut, and Mrs. Yin who is the owner of this plot of land were there (photo 8). She was very pleased to learn that her land contains one of the only 9 confluence points in Jiangsu.

The nice lady living by the river bank ferried us back, and we had a big lunch next to a large canal in a nearby town before we pushed off to hunt for 34N 120E.

The confluence point located in Weiwu village, which is part of the Lianwu township in Xinhua County.

Rating of this hunt:

Degree of Challenge: 2 – many rivers to cross and some without bridge (Scale: 1= very easy - drive to the point; to 5= a death march – glad it is over)

Scenery: 4– late spring wheat field in area where there are more water than land (Scale: 1= not interesting at all; 5= take your breath away)

Culture-social factors: 3–rural central Jiangshu farming community (Scale: 1=dull; 5= most stimulating)