Nanxin (南新) is the town spread out over the southern “tip” of Maoxian. It is the closest Maoxian town to Wenchuan (汶川), the neighboring county that was the epicenter of the 2008 earthquake. The Minjiang and Highway 213 (G213) run alongside each other through Nanxin, going south into Wenchuan. G213 is rather noteworthy for running all the way from Inner Mongolia to Yunnan (where it reaches Laos). Over 1,700 miles through four provinces. In 2008 it was an essential route for transportation into the region following the earthquake.

Although parts of Nanxin have seen better days, its proximity to Fengyi and alignment with the national highway and the Minjiang help to keep parts of it active and developing. The geography and civil character of Nanxin is not particularly unique when compared with the rest of Maoxian.

Like many places throughout Maoxian, occasional buildings in Nanxin are brightly decorated with large depictions of local fruits. I’m not going to get into all the fruits grown locally, or which areas grow which fruits. But generally speaking, Maoxian (and Qiang) people love their apples, grapes, cherries, red plums, green plums, and jujubes. Maybe I will return to the theme of fruit “observance” some other time…

Nanxin’s most populated neighborhood seems to be built on/around a highly irrigated inlet of the Minjiang. While the water management structure looks modern enough, the foundation of the neighborhood is built on an old stone platform (shaped into the inlet). However, like all the other villages and towns in Maoxian outside of Fengyi, and realistically much of the Sichuan countryside, most of Nanxin stretches out through the mountains. And time has a habit of shifting people around.

Nevertheless, this specific location is still symbolic of key local elements in concert: the surrounding mountains and exposed rocks, the modern tunnel infrastructure which contains the rocks, and the older foundation built on the other side of the river and on a plane. On the other side of the neighborhood, mountains provide host to agriculture.

Elsewhere in Nanxin, local activity and infrastructure are less conspicuous. An abandoned market, a row of abandoned homes, while the adjacent terraces in the mountains look healthy. The lingering artwork and spacious foundations make the area seem like it used to be rather active.

I regret not exploring inside the old market. Although I’m not sure exactly why it is no longer used, the nearby road has almost no traffic.

Final stop in Nanxin. I was really hoping to get down to the water level from here and see some old buildings by the river. But the path down was blocked. Still, a good viewing spot. A narrow bridge crosses the river, while next to it, an old bridge support base has been converted into a little Qiang monument. I am told the graphic depicts a Qiang couple in wedding attire.

Pretty happy with some of the views and pictures at this location. Not many days during this visit had such clear sky and sun. Wish I explored more deeply down “back roads” though. Maybe another day.