Hubei Wind-Chasing Journey D2 (Part 2): The Grand Danjiangkou Water Diversion Project and Delicious Fish - Burp!

On February 24, 2021, we arrived at the Danjiangkou Scenic Area in the morning. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperative, with a steady drizzle falling, a stark contrast to the sunny days before—it felt like winter.

Visiting in the rain was romantic, but it also brought the cold.

So we only stayed briefly, took some photos, and then headed to our next stop—Nangang Ancient Tomb in the Danjiangkou Scenic Area.

Remember our planned itinerary for today? Check it here.

If you're interested in our earlier journey, here are the links:

Hubei Wind-Chasing Journey (D1): A Truly Spontaneous Trip, Sleeping at a Service Area on the First Night?

Hubei Wind-Chasing Journey D2 (Part 1): Touring Danjiangkou in the Rain, There's Even a Fighter Jet!

After covering the earlier part, let's continue. Maoxian will guide you onward.

The morning trip to Danjiangkou Reservoir was quite "fulfilling," but by 2 p.m., we still had a long way to go. So we took one last photo and got in the car to set off.

Our next target was Nangang Ancient Tomb, a small subsidiary attraction of the Danjiangkou Scenic Area. We essentially circled the lake.

The road we took was the Green Corridor around Danjiangkou Reservoir.

Along the way, we saw many projects with signs saying "Beijing Assistance." My cousin asked, "Why is Beijing helping with projects here?" I replied, "Maybe because Beijing is rich, and it's a poverty alleviation project—like a mentorship thing?" ...

We turned off the ring road at a small fork, but the slope was very steep.

After following the GPS for a while, we finally reached the location indicated by "Gaode Navigation" for "Nangang Ancient Tomb," but...

Where the heck is this?

There were no markers or signs, no nearby farmhouses or locals. Where to start looking?

My cousin Zhang Shaoruan got out to scout ahead, and after a while, we heard: "Cousin, drive down ahead."

We went about 100 meters, listening to the screeching sound of branches scraping the car paint. My eardrums twitched, and I felt a bit frantic...

Finally, I saw this, and I felt relieved.

By the way, I have a panoramic photo taken from my eye level. Check it out.

We didn't find Nangang Ancient Tomb, but stumbled upon this amazing wild spot. Naturally, I had to send up the drone for a look. So, go!

After flying the drone, satisfied, we returned to our car, which was waiting loyally. Look back at the road we came from—so much grass!

"Let's go, cousin! Stop studying my drone!" Facing Danjiangkou Reservoir, did our car get enough screen time on this trip? Haha.

We came to see Nangang Ancient Tomb but found nothing, yet discovering this wild riverbank lifted our spirits. We regrouped and continued to our next stop—the headwork of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project's central route.

(PS: Friendly tip—don't bother looking for Nangang Ancient Tomb; there's nothing to see. But if you walk a few hundred meters down, you'll find this wild spot we discovered. It's worth a visit, but beware of getting stuck.

Also, I urge the Nanyang Xichuan government to protect the Nangang Ancient Tomb site. There are many signs of human activity nearby, like bread bags, instant noodle cups, and burger wrappers. They should add some signs so travelers who've come a long way don't leave disappointed.

I also urge all travelers to respect cultural relics and nature. Don't take away the beauty while leaving behind your manners.)

Back on the ring road, a short distance ahead lay the headwork of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project's central route. Unfortunately, it was off-season, so it wasn't open to the public. The dam faced a bridge. We parked in the lot and walked to the bridge to see the "Central Route Headwork of the South-to-North Water Diversion."

Since we're here, let's talk a bit about the project.

"South-to-North Water Diversion" means exactly what it says: the south has plenty of rain and rivers, while the north is dry and lacks water. The project diverts water from the south to the north.

This concept was first mentioned by Chairman Mao during his inspection of the Yellow River in 1952. Years later, it became a reality. The project has three routes: eastern, central, and western. Only part of the eastern route is complete; the western route is still in planning; only the central route is finished.

Today we visited the headwork of the central route. Water from Danjiangkou Reservoir starts its northward journey here, supplying Henan and Hebei provinces, and eventually reaching Beijing and Tianjin, ensuring water for the capital and Tianjin.

We couldn't linger any longer—it was already 4 p.m., and Mount Wudang, our destination, was still far away...

Across from the headwork was National Highway 241. We left the site and headed toward Hubei. Highway 241 runs through Henan and Hubei. We would enter Hubei here. Probably due to geology, mountains were on the left, Danjiangkou Reservoir on the right, and the road was strewn with fallen rocks.

Every trip, I admire China's infrastructure. The left slope must have had frequent landslides, so construction machinery and trucks were busy reinforcing it in the rain. I saluted them, but also felt a bit uneasy—more mud and rocks meant I worried about my tires...

This section of Highway 241 runs along Danjiangkou Reservoir, with many viewpoints. We chose a relatively clean one to stop for a last look at the reservoir.

After the view, we continued. Past the Henan border, tunnels became frequent. It was still raining, and the distant mountains were misty. On a clear day, this would be beautiful.

There were many dump trucks on the road. The rain made the road muddy, reducing traction and causing accidents. Indeed, we saw one: a sedan's right side was nearly stripped of metal, revealing the door frame.

Fortunately, the owner was standing by the roadside unharmed. I reminded myself and fellow travelers: always be safe on the road, and slow down in rain or snow.

Nervously we continued, and my cousin also slowed down after seeing the accident.

Two hours later, we entered Danjiangkou City, a small riverside town with a unique charm. Turning a corner, we crossed a bridge over the Han River. Heading south on the bridge led toward Mount Wudang.

At the southern end of the bridge stood a grand building—a hotel. Zhang Shaoruan asked, "How much is a night here?" I said, "Depends on the star rating." He said, "Danjiangkou is small, probably not five-star. Maybe 500-600 yuan a night." After the traffic light, he parked and took out his phone...

So we abruptly and happily ended our day's journey, checking into this impressive-looking hotel. For the first time, our plan was disrupted...

We parked and got out. I joked to Zhang Shaoruan, "This looks like a freshly unearthed relic." Imagine the road conditions we'd been through!

After settling into the hotel, we realized we hadn't had a hot meal all day except for the morning's spicy soup. At lunch, we just had some bread and sausages from the car. So the next item was simple—dinner.

After driving all day, we wanted to take a taxi, but taxis were hard to find. So we walked back across the bridge, as it seemed the dining was on the north bank.

The first street along the river after the bridge was lined with restaurants, most serving fish. Though I don't love fish, in Danjiangkou, you have to try the local specialty.

Going by the principle of "beggars can't be choosers," we picked the nearest one.

Starving, we felt we could eat the whole place, so we ordered a pot dish (shown below).

I'm not a food blogger, so I can't describe why it's good, but it tasted great.

Looking up, I've written so much. But today's trip is almost over. Here's our route today.

We didn't make it to Mount Wudang, our destination. Will this affect our next day? What impact will it have?

See you tomorrow. Waiting for you.

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