day 21: 承安铺 (cheng’anpu) - 新乐 (xinle) = 18,3km

Today was all about people:

I wandered around fairly relaxed, except for my feet that have still not quite healed up.

And I took some time to sit down every once in a while, have a chat with some of the old folks, sometimes take a portrait picture or two:

This was a particularly friendly bunch, I got an interesting photograph of his friend, too:

Nice atmosphere around that place. A couple of kids, some old folks, the occasional lady riding her bike to go get some food from the market… Really relaxed in a way.

Others were busy working though:

These two guys are tough. They are outside next to this gigantic oven, making the bricks that other people built their houses with.

When I looked at this fellow’s glove I thought: Maybe my foot isn’t so bad after all? Maybe I should just stop complaining?

Then there was this sign on the street indicating a place called 伏羲台 (fuxitai) 2km off the way. And because I had the time and because I was going to stop complaining about my feet I took that detour - and found something very interesting…

This is 伏羲 (fuxi):

And this is his home (伏羲台):

Clear so far? Now here’s what you didn’t know:

This is the birthplace of mankind.

According to Chinese tradition, 伏羲 is the most ancient of all emperor-deities and once brought the people hunting, fishing, and the 易经 (yijing - the book of changes). Although he was born elsewhere, this is believed to be the place where he lived (though thousands of years ago). So, according to tradition, that makes this the topographical spot where mankind stems from.

You are not convinced? Well, a lot of Chinese, Japanese and Koreans are. They are said to swarm this place by the tens of thousands on holiday occasions.

Today I was the only visitor though, and I whiled away some time taking artsy-fartsy pics:

Then I sat down for crackers and walnut-milk. When I looked up, 吴玉欣 (wu yuxin) was there:

Very interesting guy. His friends call him 吴哥 - big brother wu. He’s a martial artist and a self-made man from the old school. Owns several businesses in 新乐 (xinle), most notably a 洗浴中心 (spa), where he invited me to hang out tonight.

From what it looks like I am going to be spending tomorrow here, too, with my new friend, big brother wu.

Soundtrack: Sinik - “Bonhomme”

—total: 301,6km