03-Feb-2003 -- Set off 10:30 from Shanghai by car. After about 2.5 hours driving on very quiet highways we arrive at the vicinity of Hongqiao, and follow the back roads to the village. The GPS indicates we are about 1.5 km away from the confluence so we set of hike over flat agricultural terrain heavily divided by manmade irrigation (or drainage channels) The channels are broad and deep so can only be crossed on the infrequent bridges. Boats and boatman are not on the water - for the same reason that the roads are quiet - it is Chinese new year.

After several km walking we approach the confluence, and about 200 m from it we reach another stream. Fortunately it has been damned at one point and we cross, continuing our stroll to the exact confluence in a muddy field about 200 m from the nearest habitation. Altitude is about 4 metres by GPS, though we are well inland.