~ Jieyang-Chaozhou (揭阳-潮州) - Day 3 (Part 1) ~

3rd June - Day 3 and we are leaving Jieyang to Chaozhou today. Breakfast at the hotel was bad. Not sure what happened... by 715am there isn't any food yet. -__- Even by 8am, not all the dishes are served. The variety was also very minimal. Still, I managed to grab some bread, eggs and noodles to keep my stomach full..

Group photos before leaving Temeisi Hotel.

After completing our visits to the relatives, the subsequent days are left for touring around. We headed down to 潮州 and our first stop is 湘子桥 （广济桥）.

湘子桥位于潮州古城的东门外，它是中国第一也是世界第一座启闭式桥梁，以其“十八梭船二十四洲”的独特风格与河北赵州桥，泉州洛阳桥，北京芦沟桥并称中国四大古桥。湘子桥全长500余米，东岸桥墩13座，西岸桥墩11座。由于“中流警湍尤深湘子桥，不可为墩”，中间只能用18只梭船并排构成一列横队，用铁索连成浮桥。每遇洪水或要通船，可解掉糸船铁索，移开梭船，变成开闭式浮梁桥。这就是“十八梭船廿四洲”的由来。

湘子桥横跨韩江两岸，24个桥墩，经历几百年风雨，依旧牢固如初，在古代生产力落后的情况下，在大江中建造这样一座大桥，其难度极大，故潮州民间有“仙佛造桥”的传说。

据说，湘子桥是韩湘子和广济和尚建造的。当年八仙巴凤凰山的石头化成猪群，争先恐后奔向江的东面。桥建到江心，石头便没有了，何仙姑将手中的莲花瓣化作18条木船，广济和尚抛下禅杖，化成大藤把18条船系住，这样，整条大桥就建成了。人们为了纪念仙佛合力造桥的功绩，便把此桥称为“湘子桥”，又叫“广济桥”。

桥上现在有一只铁牛，原来有两只，为镇水和栓系船只而铸造的，但是在一次大雷雨中，东桥的一只被雷电击落水中，故有民谣曰：“潮州湘桥好风流，十八梭船廿四洲，廿四楼台廿四样，两只生牛一只溜。”

This is a historical bridge with various interesting facts and myths. Unfortunately, it has been raining and we can only admire it with the raindrops. Tourist can choose to enter the bridge and walk on the 18 boats that makes the link to cross over the other side by paying an entrance fee of 60 yuan (~12.5 SGD). We didn't opt to do so since it was still rainy and it's a bit pricy for all the 10 of us to go! ($125SGD)!

Taking photos in the rain is another experience we had on this trip as it has been rainy most of the time so far. Gladys seems to be enjoying herself, taking her umbrella all the time and having her pink jacket on. The view should have been much better if not for the gloomy weather.

After getting drenched in the rain, it's time for some shelter and warm tea. We headed to a local shop specializing in selling Chaozhou's delights and food products. We bought a few boxes of goodies and that was our first buy so far.

This is known to be good for the eyes. Did I mention Denver & Gladys loves drinking Chinese Tea? Throughout the trip, they have been enjoying the various tea being served during our meals. :) 

After visiting a few shops, we went to 开元寺 and tour around.

Since morning, the rain doesn't seems to be interested to stop and rest. So, we can only confine ourselves for more photo-taking.

Today's lunch is a bit special as we'll be having our meal in a vegetarian resturant. This is the first time the kiddos are having vegetarian meal. The dishes looked very interesting but the children simply cannot appreciate the taste. LoL... They EEeeek and Yuuuck at the unique flavour and skip the meal this time round. Bread of snacks are more appealing to them.

Jieyang-Chaozhou - Day 3 (Part 2) to be continued....