China Day 9

Quieter day today. In spite of our guides assurance that the hotel had a western breakfast option we found no such offerings- just lots of vegetable and rice offerings. No cereals, fruit juice or bacon/sausages etc. There was bread and a toaster but no butter or spreads! Robyn used her translater to ask for butter and out came a tiny bowl of apricot jam! We also asked for tea and out came glasses of hot water with leaves floating I them.

After breakfast we were taken on quite an interesting walk along the banks of the Yellow River. There is a beautifully landscaped park right along the town reach with magnificent willow trees, gardens, cycleway etc. First stop was the first iron bridge built in China, now pedestrian only. We then went to the statue of the "Mother River" as the  Yellow River is considered the life-giver of the whole of China. Next was an ancient water wheel which was used for both irrigation and also connected to stone grinding wheels - an extraordinary piece of ancient engineering.

Lunch was held at the Lanchau Noodle museum and of course involved the famous Lanchau Beef Noodles - absolutely delicious.

After lunch we again crossed the river and, as is the thing these days, climbed huge stairways up to the White Pagoda on top of the mountain - great views of Lanchau.

Taken then to the (again massive) railway station and said goodbye to David Our guide and Mr Lee our driver. Had a two hour wait for the very fast train to take us to our next destination - Xinsing. Amazing people control - you waiting a boarding station a bit like airport and then through the checking station, down to the platform where you line up in marked que lines and the train stops with the carriage door exactly where you stand. Very regimented but that's the way everything is done here.