Day By Day

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Return to China -- Part 21, The Road to the Butterfly Spring


Our next destination was the famous "Butterfly Spring" located at the base of Mount Shenmo, the first peak of the Cangshan mountain range. Of course, as is so often the case in China, to get to the park entrance we had to pass a village of vendors.


The park entrance, about one kilometer from the pool itself.


We saw a lot of these hearts hanging from tree branches. I'm not sure what they signify, but suspect it has something to do with young love. 


We passed lotus pools. 


And bamboo stands.


The path to the pool, bounded on both sides by bamboo.


I met an old man along the way.... 


The entrance to the pool garden.


I'm not sure who he is, but he sure looks fierce.


The Butterfly Spring itself. You are supposed to stand on the rocks and let the water splash on your feet. As I had a severe cold, I declined to do so. 


A huge acacia tree that stands in in the butterfly pool. Each spring its aromatic scent attracts large numbers of butterflies -- hence the names, Butterfly Tree, Butterfly Pool, Butterfly Spring and the annual Butterfly Festival. Unfortunately in recent years pollution has severely limited the number of butterflies migrating through the area, but the locals have come up with a solution to that problem.


A local Bai woman. She rents ethnic costumes to tourists so they can play dress up. 


Below the spring, a goldfish pond. 


Chinglish.

Tomorrow, the return from the Butterfly Spring and the solution to migration's end.

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