Traveling the World

River Rafting in Fenghuang

by on Jul.08, 2009, under China

My first river rafting experience was meant to be in Switzerland, back in 2005. Due to heat exhaustion from bike riding in the Swiss Alps earlier in the day, I missed the activity because I passed out. As a result, I felt the need to experience it here to make up for it. I realize now that it would have been stronger rapids, and thus more fun for me had I done it in Switzerland, but who am I to pass up on such an experience that costed only $16 (as opposed to the $100 in Europe).

Rafting with the Paddle

Initially weary of the idea of river rafting centered around water fights with other participants, I eventually got over it and decided to participate. The people in my group included my girlfriend, a woman and her mother and son. Of course, I was the only one with any water activity experience, and thus the only one capable of using a paddle. Thankfully, due to the fact that most of the participants are like them and not me, each boat comes equipped with three local men strong enough to paddle the boat as well. I felt a strong desire to use the paddle myself, so I asked the man next to me to let me use it.

Splash

Along the way, there are stations set up next to the river for you to select the photos you want. At the end of the trip, the people who took the photos will have them available for you to buy for 10rmb ($1.50) each. They laminate them too, making it a cheap and easy purchase, while still letting the pictures stay dry on the ride home. If you want good photos, you should make an effort to look at the camera and do whatever it is you want captured, such as my photo of using the paddle! I bought three photos, but I wish I could have had more.

Going Down

So the first half of the trip was quite calm, with about 10 parts where we dipped slightly. After the second rest station (rest stations? come on, it’s river rafting, not lollygagging!!!), the guide got serious and told us it becomes very dangerous from here on out. Everyone was laughing and joking, but I knew what he meant, even though I couldn’t understand everything he said. Another indication of his change in demeanor came in the form of me not being allowed to paddle anymore. At one point, I almost got sucked into the water. He himself, a seasoned expert on this brief but beautiful journey down the Chinese river, almost fell in as well.

The rest of the activity was hard but worth all the effort. At the end of the trip where everyone gets off the boats and starts walking to the minibus to return to the beginning, there is a place where you can swim. The sad part is, most Chinese people can’t swim. I figured this would be a good place to teach my girlfriend, except that the bottom was rocky and we were wearing sandals. To make matters worse, she was afraid of taking off her life preserver, which restricts your arms from really pushing yourself.

Since we were going against the current, it was quiet difficult, and I found myself almost rescuing her. After she got out, I took off everything but my swimming trunks and enjoyed swimming on my own. All the Chinese people were staring at me, partially amused at my doggy paddle, and partially amused at how I was the only foreigner, and that I was swimming without a life preserver. Silly Chinese!

*If you are interested in doing this trip, call the travel agent I dealt with at 13037416770. The price is between 130-150rmb. His office is located next to the Hong qiao Bridge.


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