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Tongdao, located in Huaihua city in Central China's Hunan Province, is populated by people of the Dong minority. The unique ethnic culture, beautiful natural scenery and fresh air, makes the place enormously attractive, although it is still not very well known.
A three-day tour can give you a rough picture of the place and of the people living there, but staying longer is better.
First day: Visit a Dong village. The village is located in a place which looks like a beautiful dream to people from the big city. Distant mountains shrouded in gentle mists, zigzag paths, yellow flowers scattered in green fields, wooden bridges across the river, and beautiful small wooden buildings. Everything looks too picturesque to be real.
In the village, many things are great fun for city people. Young women with tender smiles spin and weave in their homes, just as previous generations have done.
Outdoor parties are held in the evening. Local people dance and sing, sometimes inviting travelers to join in with them. Don't be shy, it is a lot of fun.
Second day: Duyan Park. Climb the hill, take a boat out onto the lake and enjoy the bonsai.
Third day: Spend a happy day at Longdihe River. Drifting on the river, people can enjoy the country's biggest ancient tree fossil and beautiful scenes along the river. A good plan for the afternoon is to visit Wanfoshan Mountain.
(Shanghai Star January 3, 2003)
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