Luodai has two big gates on either side of the main street, then some alleys etc running off it. It also has a hazardous gutter running all the way through that has running water, a pit about a foot deep and a foot wide. Throughout, the architecture is much the same and there are wall plaques with great carvings.
There are old people selling fresh produce in baskets that they heft around balanced on rods across their shoulders. Guys trying to get you to ride in their sedan chairs. Mainly the attraction here is the food. There are people on the street and in shops. Almost everything is a snack. I had toffee strawberries on a stick, some doughballs coated in caramel and sesame, we saw a shop selling insects on a stick, strange roasted heads of something with pointy teeth. it was the size of a rabbit but they are not rabbit teeth??? there were many placed pounding peanuts and sugar into something resembling fairy floss, they would roll it up into cotton balls. I had fairy floss shaped like a flower.
As for what was on sale, it was disappointing. Fake swords, modern clothing, silk shoes, brass hangings... We came to a big square where there seemed to be a karaoke competition. There were lots of old people sitting around, a pagoda and a nice panorama of a hill.
The funniest thing today was that Adam and Spud were constantly accosted by teenagers and mums wanting a photo with them. At one time, Spud was just sitting down having a rest when a swarm arrived and one after the other they took photos. It was just incredible. I only saw one other foreigner there today and it was an older guy. Bet he wasn't swarmed as much! I heard them keep saying meiguoren which means American.
The other favourite thing here to do is to dress up in costume and have your photo professionally taken. I must have walked past 30 of these establishments! Traditional Chinese costumes... including Red Guard ones, and wedding dresses (!?) and prom dresses.
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