BTC. Wuhan to Changsha

Fog and some light rain

Rolled into Wuhan, 8 millions strong, on the northern edge of the rice bowl, rice, tea, oranges, wheat, corn, in about that order, late evening. The city lights were ablaze, few seemed to be LED. Apartments as well as commercial enterprises gaily lit in multi colors.

We were assigned room 8530.. No eighth floor. Back to ask, the leading 8 is for luck.

Wuhan, provincial capital, Hubei, Lake North sits in the middle reach of the Yangtze. Changsha, Lake South, in Hunan, train ride away, will be our head resting place for three nights. About 200 miles, almost due south (a bit southwest) but as we took a local, four sleeper beds in our open compartment, takes 4 hours. Nothing like the bullet train to X’ian.

The beds are three high on each side with narrow ladders. Pillows of unknown cleanliness, toilets that should not be visited. Naturally more people than beds so the aisles are crowded. Food carts, musac, some of it western.

Bronze age tomb, intact, from the warring states period. Shows how little has changed with how the nobility took care of themselves. At least until the end of the Quing dynasty. Did get to hear interesting two toned bronze bells, hammer and stick struck, described as chimes. An enormous set found in his tomb. 20 minute enjoyable concert, many aftertones.

Lunch, noisy, next to a wedding banquet. Usual large one, then off to the train.

Riding south into the Hunan rice bowl villages are now numerous and landscape mostly flat. Did not see many urban areas. Green and villages. Train rocked gently.