Saturday Shoes - Shennong Stream, China

The shoes worn by our tour guide as we meandered along the Shennong Stream in China are today's featured story. She was the sweetest thing. Here is a picture of her with the other guides. She is the first guide in this picture.Check out the red shoes on the guide on the right.

This tour is part of the excursions provided when taking the Yangtze cruise. There were only a few Westerners on the trip so we were quite the main attraction.

On the border between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge is the Shennong Stream. Taking its rise from the main peak of Shennong Jia (the first peak in the center of China) and flowing through Badong County, the stream ultimately flows into the Yangtze River via the Wu Gorge. Cruising along the stream by boat, we were immersed in the wonders of zigzagging watercourses, the primitive environment, the canzonet* by the boat tracker, and the mysterious culture along the banks.

Along with the grandeur, elegance and danger of the Yangtze River, the Shennong Stream has its own unique scenery. It has four natural gorges - Chengnong Gorge, Mianzhu Gorge, Yingwu Gorge and Longchang Gorge - and each has unique characteristics.
Among the four gorges, Mianzhu Gorge is renowned for its danger. The riverbed is not only narrow, but also falls steeply. Stalactites hang on both sides of the bank.
Yingwu Gorge is noted for its elegance. The evergreen vegetation along the banks remains beautiful during the whole year. The ancient and mysterious suspended wooden coffins and plank road are the highlight of the section.

Drifting along the Shennong Stream in small open sampans (called 'peapod boats' by the locals) is the unique method for viewing the natural scenery, the ancient village and the flavor of Tujia (the local ethnic minority). The sampan (14 yards long and two yards wide), holds ten visitors at a time. We all had to wear orange life jackets which spoils the naturalness of the photos!

One sampan is usually steered by six boatmen who are local peasants. While appreciating the natural beauty and historic sights along the two banks, you can hear the songs from the rowers as they row the boat. When reaching the shallow-stream places, they will paddle in the swift-flowing stream to tow the boat upstream by the rope.

* 1 : a light usually strophic song

2 : a part-song resembling but less elaborate than a madrigal