Rafting and old towns: a quiet trip through Jiangnan
On 23 and 24 August, Minton Law Firm took a group to Tonglu and Jiande in Zhejiang for two days away from the summer heat. The group split into pairs and rafted the Snow Mountain rapids, with its spiral bends and calmer stretches, stayed at a hotel beside the Xin'an River, and the next day walked the old streets of Meicheng, visiting its grey-tiled houses and trying the local food before setting off home. The trip was meant to ease the pressure of work.
Shanghai - Tonglu - Jiande
In the heat of midsummer, Minton Law Firm arranged a two-day trip through Jiangnan to ease the pressure of work and strengthen the ties within the team. On 23 and 24 August everyone put their work aside and set off.
The group gathered in front of Jin Mao Tower in the morning and left the city by coach for Tonglu. As the traffic fell away the view gave way to hills and running water, and after a few hours the coach reached the region's scenery and old towns.
The place: Tonglu
Tonglu, in western Zhejiang, draws visitors for its landscape and its history. The Fuchun River curves around wooded hills, with the occasional fishing boat on the water; the Yaolin Cave, hidden in the mountains, is known for its stalactites; and the Yan Ziling fishing terrace recalls the scholars who retired there. Each of these gives a sense of the region's pace, which is slower than the city's.
What to do: the Snow Mountain rapids
The Snow Mountain rapids at Tonglu was the first stop. The group split into pairs, put on life jackets and set off in inflatable rafts down the winding channel. At first the water was smooth and the surface like a mirror, with the trees on either bank reflected in it and the hills beyond.
Then the channel narrowed and the current quickened. The rafts were pushed forward, throwing up spray, and every knock against a rock and every drop sent the heart rate up. Shouts and laughter carried along the water.
The course includes several spiral bends where the raft spins and almost leaves the water, and stretches of calmer water where the group could look around, feel the spray and catch their breath.
In the evening the group checked into a hotel on the bank of the Xin'an River, where dinner was followed by a walk along the river or a swim in the outdoor pool.
The next morning, after breakfast, the group went on to the old town of Meicheng. Along its streets the grey-tiled houses stand as they have for generations, and a few older residents sat in the sun on the stone paving.
In Meicheng the group visited the old buildings, looked at traditional crafts and heard local stories from residents. Lunch was a spread of local dishes, from street food to a full table. Afterwards the group set off home.
The two days gave the group more than scenery. The trip deepened the ties between colleagues and gave them a measure of quiet away from work, and the firm hopes to arrange more of the same.