Moganshan: Sun-dried

Shanghai represents China the way that New York City represents the United States.  Which is to say, it doesn’t.  The fast pace, busy sidewalks, bright lights, international flair – not to mention droves of tourists – make it intriguing, but I’m sometimes left feeling that I’m getting an inauthentic experience here.  I’ve been longing for something a little more average, the Chinese equivalent of “middle America”, the towns and people that tourists don’t typically experience.

Well, I got my wish this past weekend when we ventured out of Shanghai with Paul, Matt’s friend and our first guest in China.  Moganshan is a mountain 3 hours outside of Shanghai that was a popular expat escape in the 1920s and is slowly experiencing its renaissance as a relaxing nature retreat.  As I wandered the rustic lanes, I found myself thinking, now THIS is China.  I also found myself noticing a theme in the particular hamlet where we stayed.  Everywhere we looked, there was bok choy on fences, herbs on grass mats, clothes on lines, wrinkles on faces.   

The whole place was sun-dried.  I couldn’t help but snap photos of it all.

bok choy drying on bamboo poles

baskets of bok choy with a pile of dried & halved bamboo stalks

hang the laundry on one pole and the produce on another

possibly dried meat, although I didn't want to get close enough to sniff-test

minced and dried herbs