Prelude -    Yes…we were on an island and yes we saw the crystal clear blue waters of the South Sea …but let me say there was so very much more .

DAY ONE  started with the blue Hainan skies and a healthy local breakfast of a noodle style soup , along with a healthy { for bikers } sticky rice delight with a cooked egg center .

   Got on the ‘pedals for a cruise to a rustic minority village just off the old Hainan National Highway . Caught a small sun shower , then a right turn under an ornamental gate ‘noting we were entering a Wanning County special village .

   The village was a vintage minority culture area featuring some most unique Chinese characters and petroglyphs. The homes were small and very ornate . We shared a village local green tea .

AFTERNOON  was some scenic pedaling to one of China’s few organic coffee growers . Prosperity Coffee is just outside of Xinglong { a famous hot springs area } and you arrive  into the center of a coffee planation . This plantation grows 3 major varieties of coffee ‘including Robusta and Arabica.     The top treats were making a special local sweet , along with aromatic  the coffee cupping.

  The day finished with a fabulous visit to a private collection of Chinese cultural history and art with bronze artifacts to calligraphy  at the Xinglong Century 21 Hotel / Resort .Note - this collection is extremely large and a must see .

 Day TWO  started as a sunrise ride to the beaches of Wanning . Cool temps , excellent roads  and a colorful sunrise made the 20 km most memorable .

    We shared a local noodle , local sweet coconut éclair and a coconut pie style breakfast - then to an old ‘seaside village with 800 year old connections to the China mainland . The village featured large home style building with a center entry into a large common rooms ‘used for the family gatherings . Then each side of the center room features two rooms for the family hierarchy.

AFTERNOON started with a fabulous lunch at Wuchang Harbor , along the seaside . The seafood  was not only fresh caught , but large healthy portions.

    It was onto a local Wanning Town coffee village famous for it’s large nursery of flowery shrubs , as well as  flowers. Good coffee and we had a chance to try some  Chinese calligraphy.

    The late afternoon took us to DongShan Ling ..Wanning coast famous mountain peak for religious temples  and vistas .

    Our guide got us the chance to bike up the peak to an awesome and engrossing temple of monks who did a ‘blessing ceremony for us and our bikes .

Then back down the mountain to a ‘famous eatery known for it’s local goat dishes. Yes , we had the famous DongShan goat in a delicious soup , along with the local Dongshan tea .

It was a grand way to complete two days in Wanning City - that went ‘way too fast ...

I am very grateful to the Wanning Cycling Association and the Wanning Photographers Association.