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Uri Máté leaves a Mongolian-themed hotel after an overwhelming visit to a Mongolian theme park and heads to a mountain in rural Hubei. A village with Santa figures, unusual decorations and fake attractions leads into a mountain landscape of bamboo, artificial waterfalls and koi-filled lakes. He changes into anti-slip shoes to climb a waterfall, then reaches a summit with restaurants, a Ferris wheel, Disney characters and a waterslide. The fast ride leaves him wet despite a protective suit. After a countryside meal with coconut milk and small watermelons, he fills the car with gas and stops at a red memorial statue honoring 72 soldiers of the Seventh Army who died in the Second Revolutionary War.
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A surreal village and a mountain in Hubei
Uri Máté leaves an overwhelming Mongolian-themed theme park and the Mongolian-style hotel where he is staying for a mountain outing in rural Hubei. The nearby village surprises him with Christmas decorations in summer: Santa figurines, a Christmas-themed couch and Village Bucks Coffee. Other details include a fake hot air balloon, a fake cow in a fake rice field and an abandoned vending machine. Uri describes the village as full of random, unexpected details.
The mountain has bamboo, artificial waterfalls and koi-filled lakes, giving the landscape a rainforest-like feel. Uri crosses a rainbow bridge, finds a xylophone and changes into special anti-slip shoes before climbing a waterfall. His trousers get soaked during the climb. Further along he sees a treehouse that reminds him of a childhood cartoon, large koi fish and an old-looking machine that he guesses may have been used to clean rice. The paths also lead to a fishing pond where visitors can pay 40 yuan and take home what they catch, and a pavilion in the middle of a lake that he jokes resembles a final-boss setting. He climbs steep steps and remarks on how strong the calves of local people must be. A loudspeaker announcement is audible even in a secluded section of the mountain.
The summit park, waterslide and countryside meal
At the summit, Uri finds more than a viewpoint: there is a theme park with restaurants, a Ferris wheel, Disney characters and a water slide. He chooses the slide to descend. The protective suit and backpack cover do not keep him dry; the ride is fast and dizzying, and he calls it the most fun way he has descended a mountain.
Afterward, he eats at a countryside restaurant whose menu is written on a blackboard. The meal includes local food with coconut milk and small watermelons. A shy, hungry dog asks for food, and Uri shares some with it. He also comments on how cheap gas is compared with Ireland. In the FAQ, he gives the specific example of 115 litres costing 1,000 yuan, about half the price he would expect, while filling a tank that was only two thirds full. On the drive home, he stops at a striking red communist memorial statue built in honor of 72 soldiers from the Seventh Army who died in the Second Revolutionary War. Uri notes that such memorials are common across China. The trip moves from unusual village decorations through a mountain climb and summit attractions to a meal and a historical memorial.
In the countryside, some restaurants may close when light rain begins, and menus can be written on blackboards. Uri follows local choices and tries seasonal food. The meal includes small sweet watermelons, which he describes as a rural specialty. At the end of the day, the red memorial statue stands out on the drive; it honors 72 soldiers from the Seventh Army who died in the Second Revolutionary War.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Why did you need special shoes before climbing the waterfall?
- A: The rocks were slippery, so Uri changed into special anti-slip shoes before climbing. His long pants still became soaked, but the shoes made the climb possible and helped him manage the wet rock.
- Q: What did you find at the top of the mountain?
- A: The summit had a full theme park rather than only a viewpoint. Uri found restaurants, a Ferris wheel, Disney characters and a water slide, showing how lively a mountain summit can be in China.
- Q: What was the best way to get down the mountain?
- A: Uri chose the water slide. He wore a suit that looked like protective gear and covered his backpack, but still got soaked; he describes the ride as fast, dizzying and a lot of fun.
- Q: What was the countryside meal like?
- A: Uri enjoyed the local meal, which included coconut milk and small watermelons. A shy dog kept asking for food, and he shared some with it during the restaurant stop.
- Q: What surprised you about the gas station?
- A: Uri was surprised by the low gas price compared with Ireland. He says 115 litres cost 1,000 yuan, about half what he expected to pay, and the tank was only two thirds full.
