25-Sep-2004 -- 46 N – 125 E Heilongjiang（黑龙江), China

Visit Date: Sep 25, 2004

This is the third confluence point visited by the Yip-Bannicq group (Ray) in Heilongjiang with a group of co-workers and friends: Wei Xiao-Yu, Wu Yu-Hua, Li Di, Liu Fei, Zhang Rui Da, Zhong Hua, and Huang Tao. During the same afternoon we also visited 46N 126E.

Both hunts were done as part of a short visit to the city of Da Qing – the largest oil producing field in China - located about 150 km northwest from Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang.

The Da Tong district, the most southern part of Da Qing, located 60 km south from the city center, was the last part of our site visit and we noticed that 46N-125E was about 12 km away from where we were having lunch and appeared to be near the road to return to Harbin.

After a great lunch in Da Tong and after saying goodbye to our host, we used the GPS to guide us to the confluence point – 3 left turns and about 15 km later, we were there. A straight shot.

46N-125E is located near a village called Song Xian Wei belonging to the Zhou Shan Township and is within the Da Tong district of Da Qing. We only had 240 meters to walk by the time we parked the van.

This confluence point is located in a field mixed with rolls of corn, sorghum, and yellow rice which is a rare grain only found in Heilongjiang. Also near where we started walking is a large field of marigold flowers which was planted to make cosmetics.

We had a nice little visit with the folks who lived the closest (300 meters) to the confluence point before we took off toward Harbin. We departed at 2 pm, with the next point to hunt 78 km straight east, and some of us had a 6 pm flight to catch.

Rating of this hunt:

Degree of Challenge: 1 – can not ask for an easier approach, not even one wrong turn (Scale: 1= very easy - drive to the point; to 5= a death march – glad it is over)

Scenery: 3– rural and colorful farming area with a classic village near the confluence point (Scale: 1= not interesting at all; 5= take your breath away)

Culture-social factors: 3– Northern China rural setting (Scale: 1=dull; 5= most stimulating)