My Visit To Daxu Ancient Town (Part 2)

Posted by : foongpc | Tuesday, August 17, 2010 | Published in

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Continued from Part 1

During our visit to Daxu Ancient Town, there was this mysterious old man who offered to bring us around. As I was not fluent in Mandarin, I did not understand what he was talking about. I let Jam did all the talking with this man. So I just wandered off on my own though I did not really stray too far from them.



This is how the old man complete with long beard looks like. He brought us to an old dock by the Li River where we could see people living in boat houses!



Oh, did you notice those cormorants? Here, let me give you a closer view.



Cormorants are fresh water birds trained by the fishermen to fish on the shallow water of Li River. Unfortunately, we did not get to see these cormorants in action while we were there.

The mysterious old man turned out to be a nice local folk who genuinely wanted to show us around without expecting anything! Well, he actually requested for a photo of him to be taken and sent to him, which Jam did after we returned home from Guilin.




After the old man left us, we continued to explore Daxu on our own. Soon, we came to a bridge which was the famous Longevity Bridge (万寿桥)!



We walked up this simple stone arch bridge which was built during the Ming Dynasty about 500 years ago. What an ancient bridge!

Did you know that a scene from the famous 1960 movie "Liu Sanjie" (or Third Sister Liu) was shot at this bridge? Not surprising since the bridge overlooked the Li River and provided quite a breathtaking scenery. You can watch a short YouTube video of the movie HERE.



Nowadays however, the bridge is being used as a place by the locals to dry their blankets and bed sheets! That did not make a very good scenery for picture taking so I decided to focus on the view below the bridge on both sides.


The beautiful Li River on one side of the bridge.



The view on the opposite side.


A kid fishing.


The view from the bridge looking directly down.


The view below the arch bridge.

Coming Up Next In Part 3 : More on Daxu Ancient Town and my encounter with an angry old lady!

FIRST COMMENTER

(77) Comments

  1. Monica said...

    :D

    August 17, 2010 at 2:31 AM
  2. Mariuca said...

    oh no Mon SSG!!

    August 17, 2010 at 2:31 AM
  3. Mariuca said...

    So nice of that old man to bring u guys around, send pic edi or not?

    August 17, 2010 at 2:33 AM
  4. Mariuca said...

    Love the shot of the beautiful Li River! :D

    August 17, 2010 at 2:34 AM
  5. Monica said...

    wow 500 years ago!? ancient bridge indeed :D

    August 17, 2010 at 2:36 AM
  6. Monica said...

    nice shots of Li River esp "The view on the opposite side"! :)

    August 17, 2010 at 2:38 AM
  7. fufu said...

    hohoho probably you should give me the photo, so i can go there looking for him to show me around when i go to guilin in the near future :)

    August 17, 2010 at 3:52 AM
  8. Anonymous

    So nice of the elderly gentleman who offered to show you guys around the Li River.

    Drying bedsheets and blankets on the bridge is definitely an eye-sore...haha.

    August 17, 2010 at 8:14 AM
  9. lina said...

    Not easy to find kind people like the old man anymore.

    August 17, 2010 at 8:14 AM
  10. lina said...

    The locals use the bridge for a practical use i.e. drying stuff. :D
    Scenic spot and tourists be damned. LOL

    August 17, 2010 at 8:15 AM
  11. khengsiong said...

    I have heard that drought has caused the water level of Li River to decrease...

    BTW, I can't 'like' your post due to the company Internet policy...

    August 17, 2010 at 8:41 AM
  12. Reanaclaire said...

    The old man guide looks like those acted in the ancient movies.. u know, those when they talk, they like to touch their beard.. :)

    August 17, 2010 at 8:47 AM
  13. jam said...

    I can't remember you were scolded by an angry lady. Share with us in your later post.

    August 17, 2010 at 10:45 AM
  14. jam said...

    I am done with my Bandung. I will start with Cambodia in my next post.

    August 17, 2010 at 10:45 AM
  15. Caroline said...

    hehe the old man look so happy there.

    August 17, 2010 at 11:30 AM
  16. Caroline said...

    u mean dey r living inside the boat everyday?? 0.0

    August 17, 2010 at 11:31 AM
  17. Caroline said...

    nice view there! very peaceful place indeed. :)

    August 17, 2010 at 11:32 AM
  18. Caroline said...

    whoa! so nice one! can fishing summore! LOL!

    August 17, 2010 at 11:32 AM
  19. Caroline said...

    eiyerr i wanted to know the reason u get scolded by the old lady! have to wait another post pula! LOL!

    August 17, 2010 at 11:33 AM
  20. HappySurfer said...

    Awesome! There's so much history in old places. Thanks for sharing. Nice pictures.

    The fishing birds are amazing. I've seen a documentary on their 'occupation'. Not sure whether they were featured in something called 'Animals at work'.

    August 17, 2010 at 11:58 AM
  21. Naomi said...

    So interesting, always a fan of liu san jie ler. Their house look unique. Did you get the chance to visit their house?

    August 17, 2010 at 1:20 PM
  22. bluecrystaldude said...

    Oh oh! love the water birds!

    August 17, 2010 at 1:24 PM
  23. bluecrystaldude said...

    The place overall look beautiful, the scene is breathtaking, but the river look dirty. hehe

    August 17, 2010 at 1:25 PM
  24. vialentino said...

    wah...nice calm scenery

    August 17, 2010 at 3:27 PM
  25. Bengbeng said...

    good fortune to meet such a helpful guy

    August 17, 2010 at 3:59 PM
  26. Tekkaus said...

    He offered to bring you guys around? For free? :D

    August 17, 2010 at 4:03 PM
  27. Tekkaus said...

    So you stray around while Jam was talking to this old man lar. He looks...kinda weird to me. :/

    August 17, 2010 at 4:05 PM
  28. Tekkaus said...

    Hehehe :D He looks....kinda like me...complete with stylish beard. :p

    August 17, 2010 at 4:08 PM
  29. Tekkaus said...

    He brought you guys to an old dock? This is called a dock? Hmm....to basic? Don't you think?

    August 17, 2010 at 4:09 PM
  30. Tekkaus said...

    These cormorants are used to help them catch fish right? :D What were they doing? Sunbathing?

    August 17, 2010 at 4:10 PM
  31. Tekkaus said...

    Yeah! It is a pity you guys couldn't see them in action right? I have seen this before in National geographic. Quite interesting. :)

    August 17, 2010 at 4:10 PM
  32. Tekkaus said...

    Ouh....so he did ask for something in return lar. A photo. :D

    August 17, 2010 at 4:12 PM
  33. Tekkaus said...

    Wow....500 years old bridge? I hope it is well preserved. It looks a little bit worn out...

    August 17, 2010 at 4:12 PM
  34. Tekkaus said...

    Yeah! It does look beautiful from the bridge...

    Haha :D Why suddenly there is this blanket and bed? :p I thought some people are sleeping there.

    August 17, 2010 at 4:14 PM
  35. Tekkaus said...

    The kid was fishing? Using what? A fishing rod? It looks more like a...I don;t know...looks like he is just trying to poke something.

    August 17, 2010 at 4:15 PM
  36. Tekkaus said...

    Yeah! I wanna know why you were scolded by the woman. :p

    August 17, 2010 at 4:17 PM
  37. Isley Chang~ said...

    How is the toilet in ancient town~? hehe

    August 17, 2010 at 5:38 PM
  38. LifeRamblings said...

    beautiful sights of the river.

    August 17, 2010 at 9:34 PM
  39. betchai said...

    lovely sceneries, our world is beautiful wherever we may be.

    August 18, 2010 at 6:31 AM
  40. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Love the house with the old man, the stony steps..th eold man is so kind to show you guys around.

    August 18, 2010 at 12:52 PM
  41. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Oh the folks there worried the Longevity bridge may catch a cold so they took great care to spread the blanket over else that bridge may not 'lived' that long since Ming Dynasty.

    August 18, 2010 at 12:53 PM
  42. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Oh nice snap shots of the nearby areas from the bridge. Thought you would reveal the close encounter with the angry old lady this post. Wonder what exact words she hammered on you? (Hey you bad boy!???)..haha

    August 18, 2010 at 1:06 PM
  43. iamthewitch said...

    Nice scenery! Reminds me of my trip to Xi Tang ancient village too. very peaceful and serene. So after walking on that Longevity bridge, did you have longer life span already? LOL!

    August 18, 2010 at 3:43 PM
  44. Kelvin said...

    The old man looks like some martial arts expert living in recluse haha XD

    August 18, 2010 at 4:17 PM
  45. vialentino said...

    gula jawa....is lighter a bit than gula melaka taste....quite smooth...just like white wine vs red wine...hahaha....dunno how to describe the real taste of it.

    August 18, 2010 at 5:54 PM
  46. Carol said...

    Awesome pics! Loved the pic of beautiful Li River and even those water birds.Beautiful view of the bridge...

    August 19, 2010 at 1:03 PM
  47. foongpc said...

    monica, yeah it's a really old bridge! The view from the bridge was beautiful right? : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:01 PM
  48. foongpc said...

    mariuca, SSG = Sneaky Speedy Gonzales right? Hahaha!!

    Yes, Jam sent the picture to the old man already : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:02 PM
  49. foongpc said...

    fufu, haha! You should have asked me earlier! : D

    August 19, 2010 at 11:04 PM
  50. foongpc said...

    mei teng, yes very nice of him indeed! : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:04 PM
  51. foongpc said...

    lina, yup not easy to find such kind people nowadays. LOL to scenic spot and tourists be damned! : D

    August 19, 2010 at 11:06 PM
  52. foongpc said...

    khengsiong, when we were there, there was no drought. Oh, what a pity you can no longer "like" my posts : (

    August 19, 2010 at 11:07 PM
  53. foongpc said...

    reanaclaire, haha! Yes he did look like those in ancient movies right : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:08 PM
  54. foongpc said...

    jam, haha! You have amnesia? Oh! So fast start Cambodia posts?!

    August 19, 2010 at 11:09 PM
  55. foongpc said...

    caroline, not sure if they were really living in the boat house everyday. Yes very peaceful place indeed : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:17 PM
  56. foongpc said...

    happysurfer, yes the fishing birds aka cormorants were incredible - too bad we did not see them in action! : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:18 PM
  57. foongpc said...

    ghosty nana, you are a fan of Liu Sanjie?

    August 19, 2010 at 11:19 PM
  58. foongpc said...

    bluecrystaldude, so everything is beautiful but spoilt by the dirty river? LOL!

    August 19, 2010 at 11:21 PM
  59. foongpc said...

    vialentino, yes love the scenery there! : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:22 PM
  60. foongpc said...

    bengbeng, yes he's a kind person I guess : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:22 PM
  61. foongpc said...

    tekkaus, HAHAHA!! Yes he kinda look like you with the beard and all! LOL!

    We probably need to pay to see those cormorants in action! No free show LOL!!

    August 19, 2010 at 11:24 PM
  62. foongpc said...

    isley chang, didn't enter any toilets there!

    August 19, 2010 at 11:25 PM
  63. foongpc said...

    life ramblings, yes beautiful!

    August 19, 2010 at 11:25 PM
  64. foongpc said...

    betchai, you are right! Our world is beautiful wherever we are!

    August 19, 2010 at 11:26 PM
  65. foongpc said...

    bananaz, hey you bad boy?!! Haha! I wouldn't know cos I understand very little Mandarin! Haha!

    August 19, 2010 at 11:27 PM
  66. foongpc said...

    iamthewitch, oh yes Xi Tang Village - you blogged about that right? These rural places are peaceful indeed : )

    I hope I have a longer life span after walking that Longevity Bridge : D

    August 19, 2010 at 11:28 PM
  67. foongpc said...

    kelvin, haha! He does, doesn't he?

    August 19, 2010 at 11:28 PM
  68. foongpc said...

    vialentino, Oh thanks for your explanation! : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:29 PM
  69. foongpc said...

    carol, thanks! I love the beautiful scenery there : )

    August 19, 2010 at 11:29 PM
  70. Naomi said...

    BIG fan of Liu san jie

    August 20, 2010 at 5:54 PM
  71. Suzanne said...

    Thanks for the photos. I really liked the one with water birds in the river. Its really beautiful.

    August 21, 2010 at 12:15 PM
  72. [SK] said...

    haha, that old man just stand still there for you to take photo?? he didn't ask for money?? :p

    August 21, 2010 at 12:45 PM
  73. [SK] said...

    so many birds on that bamboo raft!! are they from the nature or being breed by the villagers??

    August 21, 2010 at 12:46 PM
  74. [SK] said...

    actually not bad staying in that village huh?? i mean temporary, since it's so serene..

    August 21, 2010 at 12:46 PM
  75. Ayie said...

    those are interesting birds foong, from a far i thought there were penguins there!

    August 21, 2010 at 4:38 PM
  76. eiling lim said...

    wah you even know that the birds are called cormorants! Good la you!

    August 22, 2010 at 12:09 PM
  77. Toddler Birthday Gifts said...

    The place is beautiful but the local people are destroying the beauty. They don't know that they are indirectly discouraging the tourist from coming to the place.

    September 2, 2010 at 3:17 PM