Summer solstice and the rainy season come hand in hand, Dragon Boat Festival and holidays come gracefully. When you attended a misty rain date, you realized that although time has passed, you have no regrets.
It was the first time I encountered the rainy season in Jiangnan up close, which I had only heard of in the poems of literati. After experiencing it firsthand, I discovered that besides the leaves shining after being washed, there was also the fragrance of plants struggling in the mud. If you only observe the rain from behind the window, the croaking of frogs in the pond and the sparrows in the courtyard are the main characters competing for the rain and clear sky.
Taking advantage of a short break in the rain, walking on the muddy road, the water in the fields rises, and the young seedlings absorb the juice, filling the whole world with the sound of water. The raindrops from the sky are noisy on the car roof, and the creek changes from a gurgling sound to a vast expanse of water, even the roadside ditches overflow and flow onto the mountain road.
Gu Tan Reservoir#
Before driving to Gu Tan Reservoir in Xianju, I had been thinking for a long time. Firstly, I heard from recent comments that the water level has been decreasing and the scenery is not as good as before. Secondly, the rain was too heavy and I didn't want to take risks. Later, I thought that if I traveled all the way here and didn't go, I would regret it, so I decided to go. It's only 22km from the county to the reservoir, which usually takes half an hour, but the rain was so heavy that even if I turned the windshield wipers to the highest frequency, it couldn't withstand the rain pouring down like a broken faucet.
To my surprise, the road to the reservoir was uphill, winding and tortuous, and there was even a section that was like a hanging road. The rainwater rushed down from the mountainside, forming waterfalls, and the car drove past them. If you were not careful, the water would hit the roof of the car and make it shake. When I arrived at the destination indicated by the navigation, I got out of the car for a minute, and even with an umbrella, my clothes were completely soaked. I quickly got back in the car and continued driving.
It seems that the reservoir is currently under maintenance, with a project team, but the place where the project team is located can be called an isolated place. There are tall old trees outside the gate, and when you push open the half-closed wooden door, the sound of rain on the bluestone floor makes me almost think that I will encounter a hermit from a cultivation story.
In my memory, the water cypress in Gu Tan Reservoir used to be submerged in the reservoir, giving a feeling of a forest on the water. But now, although the rain was heavy, the water did not accumulate, causing the water level to drop and exposing the mud and mudflats, leaving the water cypress alone and beautiful on the mud.
Although it was a disappointment that I expected, since I had come this far, I still had some hope, even though it was faint. Fortunately, the bayberries in Xianju, Taizhou this year are really good, with abundant fruits everywhere. The bayberry leaves were washed clean by the rain and looked vibrant.
Only delicious food can soothe the disappointed mood, so I started a feast at Wuzang Temple.
Seafood Noodles#
4 large freshwater prawns, 2 small yellow croakers, 2 large pieces of fish, several clams, a few cockles, several egg skins, several pieces of yellow flower vegetables, a large bowl (about three or two and can be refilled indefinitely) of noodles, all for only 19.9 yuan.
Just for this price, what else is there to be dissatisfied with? The only dissatisfaction is that the view outside the window is blocked by old white walls and cement walls, which lacks some charm.
Xianju Topping Noodles#
15 yuan for a bowl, enough for two people. As one of the eight famous bowls in Xianju, the topping noodles are not spicy but have a rich soup base. The toppings are stir-fried on the spot, full of flavor. With egg skins, tofu skins, and tofu, combined with hand-rolled noodles, you can taste the original flavor of the ingredients. Without adding chili, adding the local "sour sauce" (from the ingredients, it seems to be vinegar + salt + water), it tastes great.
Salty and Sour Rice#
This is similar to the "Yi Ku Si Tian Rice" or "Kong Rice" in the Sichuan-Chongqing region. It is a large pot of rice cooked with long-cooked vegetables such as green beans and potatoes, and diced bacon and sausage. The boss will suggest adding a piece of salted pork, which makes the rice more flavorful. However, I added local small sausages from Xianju. This bowl of rice costs 10 yuan, which is not cheap, after all, in our hot pot restaurants here, this kind of thing is usually free.
Qian Gao#
Qian Gao, made to order, was the food I came here for.
The outer skin is sticky like a whole piece of rice cake, and the ordinary vegetarian version costs 8.5 yuan, while the rest of the ingredients can be added as desired. Pork belly, pig intestines, eggs... After selecting the ingredients, they are chopped and wrapped together. We added too many ingredients and spent 40 yuan. Cut in half, one half for each person, and our stomachs were full all morning.
We also ordered a serving of seafood tofu pudding. In Xianju, they ask if you want it salty or sweet, so both salty and sweet flavors can coexist. Sweet tofu pudding is served with brown sugar syrup, while salty tofu pudding has a seafood flavor with small dried shrimps.
After the meal, we drove to the next destination and happened to capture this scene on the way:
For those who struggle for a living, it is not easy. These days in Xianju happened to be when chaos was happening in Russia, and when I saw the news, it didn't feel real.
After our generation, the post-90s, became the main force in society, the world is no longer the era of rapid progress. Just like the man walking in the rain, he can only move forward without waiting for the end of the rainy season.
The weather is getting hotter, and we should cherish the opportunities for hiking. The next time I'm in Chongqing, maybe I'll arrange a trip for stream tracing and drifting. If you want to learn more about interesting pastimes, please follow us at our website.