Huizhou Peach Blossom Spring Scenic Area 桃花源景区 (广东省惠州市惠城区激流坑路) sits within touching distance of Huizhou’s centre. It offers a 5km running track circle, electric cart hire, leisure and pleasure, and a refuge for nature such as fireflies. Whilst we didn’t see fireflies, we did see a revolutionary link to Eire, a half-dozen ducks, and some bird-life.

The ducks, I was told, carry various values,  “this black one would be 200RMB in a restaurant”, the common mallard-looking one around 50RMB, and the mottled white and black one midway in price. And, “the black one is better at feeding. More strong and healthy. More clever.” Duck eugenics, I guess, are thoughts at the farm. Thoughts of plum sauce and cucumber are my contradiction to their cuteness.

Walking past a fella clad in a Che Guevara t-shirt, I wonder how much said man in China knows of the artwork or its intended depiction. Does he know the original two tone work was made in Ireland by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick? Ernesto Guevara de la Serna did of course visit China. Perhaps an ancestor of the young-looking man was in the crowd when Che spoke to all. Or perhaps at a school or a chicken farm. Or not at all. The effect of Che signing a communique of friendship between Cuba and China may have been a bridge between nations but Che’s revolutionary leanings can be controversial and a tough nut to crack. Self-contradictions within Che Guevara’s lifetime make it easy to blanket over a man seen as both hero and opportunistic.

Spying an opportunity to feed well, a school of fish shot after the tail end of a duck in water. A group of  red-billed blue magpies (Urocissa erythroryncha) fluttered through the trees soon after other long-tailed species. Our four seater cart trundled along at no risk of breaking land-speed records. It barely crept above walking pace. Still it was a relaxing 5km loop around Peach Blossom Spring. Oddly, few mosquitoes bothered us and the warnings of dangerous snakes did little to cause worry. The ever-present heated air and occasional distant flashes of thunder ensured all clothing a good soaking of sweat.

Fresh orange juice greeted us ahead of a Thai meal in a more central-Huizhou location. Sleep called ahead and eventually after a refreshingly juicy ginseng fruit (人参果) fruit or two. They’re unrelated to ginseng. And they extend your life, according to The Journey to the West (西遊記). Those extra 47,000 years may be useful for buying the right farm of ducks to become as rich as mythological tech-Führer Elon Musk.