Adolph Valentine, Kent Sharp and I are college classmates. We all love adventure and challenge. After graduation, we went our separate ways and pursued different careers. We rarely had a chance to meet. Last month, we finally had some free time and decided to go hunting together in Jiangjunshan Forest Park in Sanming, Fujian, to relive our friendship and passion.
Why did we choose Jiangjunshan Forest Park in Sanming, Fujian? Because it is one of the largest forest parks in China, covering an area of 18,000 acres, with rich wildlife resources, and a good place for hunting. Moreover, it also has a profound historical and cultural heritage, as it was an important battlefield for Yue Fei’s resistance against the Jin Dynasty, and a national scenic spot in Fujian Province.
For this trip, we prepared a lot of equipment, among which the most important ones were night vision binoculars and infrared binoculars. Night vision binoculars can help us see the target clearly in the dark, and infrared binoculars can help us detect the target’s heat and position through infrared rays. These two equipments are essential for hunting at night, as they can improve our safety and success rate. Of course, we also complied with the local laws and regulations, and did not randomly kill rare or protected animals.
Sanming, Fujian, a beautiful city located in northwest Fujian, was our first stop for this trip. We took a plane from Beijing and arrived at Sanming Shaxian Airport after more than two hours of flight. The airport was not big, but it was very clean and tidy, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We rented a car at the airport and planned to drive to Jiangjunshan Forest Park.
Along the way, we enjoyed the scenery of Sanming, which had green mountains, clear rivers, dense forests, as well as various fields and orchards. We felt the natural beauty and cultural charm of this place, and also experienced the pace and atmosphere of life here. We also tasted some local delicacies along the way, which made us very satisfied.
Speaking of the delicacies of Sanming, Fujian, we have to mention Shaxian snacks. Shaxian snacks are one of the most famous snacks in Fujian Province, originated from Shaxian city area, and have a history of more than 800 years. Shaxian snacks are mainly based on noodles, with hundreds of varieties, among which the most representative ones are soup dumplings, baked buns, rolled noodles, fried rice noodles and so on. These snacks are made and sold on the spot, with a fragrant aroma, delicious taste, and affordable price. We tried some soup dumplings and baked buns at a small shop by the roadside, and felt very satisfied.
In addition to Shaxian snacks, we also tasted Putian braised noodles and Fuding meat slices. Putian braised noodles are a specialty noodle dish of Putian City, famous for their thin and soft noodles, rich and savory soup sauce, and abundant ingredients. The main ingredients of Putian braised noodles are pork belly, mushrooms, kelp, dried tofu, peanuts and so on. They also need to be added with special braising sauce and soy sauce. We had a bowl of Putian braised noodles at an old-fashioned shop, and felt very appetizing.
Fuding meat slices are a traditional famous dish of Fuding City, known for their tender and smooth meat slices, clear and fragrant soup sauce, and attractive color. The main ingredient of Fuding meat slices is pork hind leg meat, which needs to be cut into thin slices first, then boiled in water. Then mix them with ginger, garlic, salt, soy sauce and other seasonings. Finally pour the broth over the meat slices. We had a plate of Fuding meat slices at a farmhouse restaurant, and felt very fresh and tender.
Through these delicacies, we not only filled our stomachs, but also enhanced our understanding of the culture and customs of Sanming, Fujian. We looked forward to the next journey, and also looked forward to more surprises and fun.
After a day of rest, we were ready to go to Jiangjunshan Forest Park and start our hunting trip. We set off at seven o’clock in the morning, driving north along a road in Sanming city area. About an hour later, we arrived at the south gate of the park. We bought tickets at the gate and then entered the park.
As soon as we entered the park, we were shocked by the scenery in front of us. This was a natural oxygen bar, with fresh air and greenery everywhere. We saw all kinds of trees, such as fir, pine, camphor, plum, osmanthus and so on. There were also some flowers and herbs. We heard the singing of birds and the cries of some small animals. We smelled the fragrance of flowers and the scent of soil, and felt a cool breeze.
We walked along a plank road by an artificial lake for a while, and then came to a pavilion. Here we could see the whole view of the lake, with blue waves rippling and green trees shading the shore. There was also a small island in the lake, with a pavilion on it. It was said that it was where Yue Fei had rested before. We took some photos in the pavilion and then continued on.
We walked for about half an hour and then came to the core area of the park – Jiangjunshan. This was a mountain peak with a height of 1,200 meters, with steep terrain and clouds around the top all year round. It was also the main battlefield for Yue Fei’s resistance against the Jin Dynasty, and there were many historical relics and monuments on the mountain. We climbed up along a winding mountain road, enjoying the scenery along the way and listening to the guide telling us stories about Jiangjunshan.
The guide said that Jiangjunshan was named after Yue Fei’s resistance against the Jin Dynasty here. It was said that in 1137, the Jin army invaded Fujian Province, and Yue Fei led the Southern Song army to fight back. He set up many ambushes on Jiangjunshan, using various tactics such as fire attack, water attack, landmine and so on, and defeated the Jin army. The Jin army suffered heavy casualties and fled in disorder. Yue Fei became famous for this and was revered as “the god of Jiangjunshan”.
The guide also said that there was a place called “Yue Fei Well” on Jiangjunshan. This was a well about 10 meters deep, with clear and sweet water. Legend has it that this was the water source that Yue Fei found and used during his resistance against the Jin Dynasty. He would drink water from here and wash away the dust and sweat from his body before every battle. He also shared the well water with his soldiers and encouraged them to fight for their country. Later people called this well “Yue Fei Well” and regarded it as a sacred thing.
We listened with great interest and admired Yue Fei’s heroic deeds. We stayed on Jiangjunshan for a while and then went down to look for a suitable hunting spot. We looked forward to our hunting experience in Jiangjunshan Forest Park, and also looked forward to more surprises and fun.
After leaving Jiangjunshan, we found a secluded place, set up a tent, and prepared to spend the night here. We planned to hunt at night, because it was more challenging and exciting. We checked all our equipment again, especially night vision binoculars and infrared binoculars. These two equipments were our weapons for hunting at night, as they could help us see the target clearly in the dark, and also help us detect the target’s heat and position through infrared rays.
It was dark, and we had a simple dinner, and then took our guns and equipment and set off. We walked along a small road into the forest, looking for suitable prey. We turned on our night vision binoculars and adjusted our vision to the best condition. We saw everything in the forest turned into green images, and some places had some bright spots, which were the eyes of some animals. We carefully approached those bright spots, trying to identify what animals they were.
We found a wild boar, which was gnawing on some roots. We decided to make it our first target. We aimed at it with our infrared binoculars and saw its body temperature and outline. We judged its approximate position and direction according to its size and shape. We quietly surrounded it and then fired at the same time. The wild boar fell to the ground without making any sound. We went over and confirmed that it was dead, and then dragged it back to the tent.
We continued to look for other prey, and we saw a deer, which was drinking water. We also wanted to shoot it down, but it was not so easy this time. The deer was very sensitive and would be alert at any sound of wind or grass. We observed its behavior and habits with our night vision binoculars and infrared binoculars, and found that it would raise its head and look around every once in a while. We waited for the right opportunity, and when it lowered its head to drink water again, we quickly aimed at its head and heart, and then fired at the same time. The deer was hit and jumped up, then fell by the water. We ran over quickly and confirmed that it was dead, and then dragged it back to the tent.
We wanted to shoot another fox, but we ran into some trouble this time. We found a trace of a fox with our night vision binoculars, which was lurking in some bushes. We tried to find its position with our infrared binoculars, but we did not see any infrared signals. We felt very strange and wondered if there was something wrong with our equipment. We decided to get closer and take a look.
When we got about ten meters away from the bushes, we suddenly heard a loud noise, and then saw a fireball coming out of the bushes. It turned out that there was a landmine buried there! Fortunately, we did not get too close, otherwise we would have been blown to pieces. We were scared out of our wits and quickly backed away a few steps. We remembered what the guide said, that this place used to be Yue Fei’s battlefield, and there might be some unexploded landmines. We regretted that we did not listen to the guide’s advice, not to enter the deep forest at will.
We decided to give up hunting and go back to the tent. We felt it was too risky and too dangerous. We did not want to risk our lives for some illusory pleasure. We felt that a safe and peaceful life was more suitable for us. We packed up our things and prepared to leave early the next morning. We hoped to return home safely, and also hoped to maintain our friendship.
This trip gave us a lot of gains. We experienced the natural beauty and historical charm of Jiangjunshan Forest Park in Sanming, Fujian, and also tasted the local food and customs. We hunted at night, feeling a kind of stimulation and challenge different from usual, but also encountered some dangers and difficulties. We used night vision binoculars and infrared binoculars, found their advantages and disadvantages, and also learned how to use them correctly. We also relived our friendship and memories, and enhanced our understanding and trust.
This trip also made us think a lot. We realized the responsibility and risk of hunting, as well as the importance of protecting the environment and animals. We felt that hunting at night was fun, but there were also many unpredictable factors that required caution and care. We felt that night vision binoculars and infrared binoculars were useful, but we could not rely on them completely, but needed to combine our own judgment and experience. We felt that instead of pursuing temporary happiness and satisfaction, we should pursue lasting happiness and peace.
What moved us most about this trip was the friendship between us classmates. Although we had not seen each other since graduation, we still kept in touch and cared for each other. Although we pursued different careers, we still had common hobbies and ideals. Although we experienced different lives, we still had the same values and beliefs. This trip made us cherish and appreciate our friendship more, and also made us face the future more firmly and bravely.
Thank you, Adolph Valentine and Kent Sharp, you are my best friends and my best classmates. Thank you for accompanying me to Jiangjunshan Forest Park in Sanming, Fujian, and enjoying this unforgettable trip together. Thank you for bringing me joy and warmth, and also bringing me growth and enlightenment. I hope you are all well, and I hope you can achieve your dreams. I look forward to seeing you again, and also look forward to sharing more wonderful and beautiful things with you.
