Live Travelogue Posting of Our China Holiday

September 8th, 2010    China 1

Hi everyone, first email of the holiday...

We arrived in Singapore into a deluge, thank goodness for not staying yet.

On to Shanghai, we were greeted with an efficient collection by our guide Fiona, who is gorgeous, CC thinks so anyway! First day, we walked around and got bearings.

Next, we began to the tour of Shanghai, an amazing city on banks of Huangpu River. Huge architectural skyskrapers were everywhere. Weather, very hot and humid.

Then we saw the Yu Garden and Yuyuan Market, walked along the Bund (which means keyside), bartered in Nanjing Road shops, went up the Jinmao Tower which was420.5 meters tall, the highest building in China, amazing views from viewing area. The Grand Hyatt has floors 53-87 inside the skyscraper. As for the treat for the day, we were taken to Tea House for a special Tea Ceremony, excellent, beautiful music being played, very entertaining. For lunch, we went to a typical chinese restaurant for local delicacies, delicious!

In the evening, we proceeded to see the famous Acrobatic Show, excellent.

Tuesday was our Expo Day, very hot when walking around the amazing huge pavilions.

We managed to get into Australian, Finland, Estonian and China Provinces pavilions only as queing for 3-4 hrs in heat, not our cup of tea! So many people everywhere. Good free bus services from one end of site on one side of river across to other area. We were collected at 4 p.m. and thank goodness as we were 'stuffed'.  Great day, though.

Today we have a free day, so plan to return to Old Town area.

All for now, 

Pat and Chris.

September 11th, 2010             China 2

Hello everyone, many thanks for the lovely birthday wishes, really appreciated them.

On to our holiday news. The last day we had in Shanghai, we had a free day, so headed back to the Old Town to float around. Then to beat the heat, we went into Shanghai No.1 Department Store for the airconditioning.

Found a quiet corner to have a drink where we were bombarded with sellers and a begger!  Arrived at the French Concession for an evening meal.

Early breakfast and pack as we fly to Yichang where we board our cruise.

Not well early mornng, but was happy when we arrived on board ship...

President No.2 Cruise boat, we opted for an upgrade to a delux king size which is great.  Meals too good, eating too much. Weather, misty first day, but hot and sunny once we set off.  Amazing scenery, huge mountains both sides of Yangtze. Had an excursion to the well-known Three Gorges Dam site which was amazing... 1 million people 'removed' from the dam area and rehoused elsewhere. The river was quite muddy due to floods previously, all cleared now thank goodness.

We entered the first of the 5 Locks at 4.15 p.m. and cleared the last at 9pm, incredible engineering achievement.

Captain's Reception party in evening, photos and glass of champagne. I was honourd with a rendition of Happy Birthday and a beautiful cake (per CC) and a lovely signed card from the Captain.  Great night.

Excursion today to Shennong Gorge, Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge... Chinese boat for a 1 hour cruise then onto rowed sampans for trip up the Gorges, great scenery, hot and sunny.  Gun Rowers on our boat overtook many other boats, we were serenaded too.  Coffins in caves high up on cliffs, which are rare to see...

Brides in this area have to cry 15 days prior to marriage, exotic wedding custom, isn't it? ....

One child policy still current in cities but 2 children acceptable in rural areas.

Passed shipyards, orchards, coal stockpile areas, cultivation and some large cities, many huge bridges and highways... amazing.

Have to sign off, running out of time. 

Pat and Chris

September 15, 2010                       China 3

Hi everyone,

Here we are again in sunny China. We missed the bad weather in Shanghai, thank goodness. We had a great time on the Yangtze River Cruise. Last stop was Fengdu, the Ghost City. We took the chair lift to the top, too 'foggy' to see much.

Too many people with microphones, so  we didn't stay at the top for long. Lots of statues of underworld gods, street stalls, pagodas etc.

Very hot and humid, glad to return to the boat and airconditioning. Had a traditional Chinese massage, very good, but flipping painful!

Docked in Chongqing early morning, our guide John arrived to escort us to the Park Hotel, 8th floor, excellent rooms.

Onto city tour, fantastic! Ciqikou Old Town, Huguang Guild Hall, Hongya Cave Folklore Street. Walk in Elong Park near hotel, good to see greenery again. Into the China 3 Gorges Museum which was excellent.

Taken to Government Hotel for delicious lunch (it would have been if I could eat - not well, so declined) delightful friends (and Hubby) tucked in!

Today (Tues. 14th) we had a longish drive (2.1/2hrs) to see Dazu Rock Carvings, Beishan Grottoes and Baoding Grotto carvings.  Worth the drive to see some of China's preserved cultural history, fantastic setting below overhanging cliffs. Buddist Gods etc, found approx 1960's hidden beneath creepers.

Taken to meet 88-year-old chinese lady, who manages to grow her own food, winter melons, pumpkins, marrows, logus and greens which she preserves.

Collects duck eggs and grows rice.. healthy diet eh?

Delicious lunch then long drive back to hotel. Pretty hot and humid.

Tomorrow we head off to the train station to catch the 'express' to Chengdu, just hope we get off at the right station... could be interesting.

Talk to you later,

Pat and Chris

September 21st          China 4

Hi again, Next leg was express train to Chengdu, excellent at 200 kilometers per hour ...

We went through countryside. Still mega blocks of flats were being built everywhere not sure who for or why, no industries around.  Strange exit from station, up steps across, down steps and up again carrying luggage not good.  Great guide June was waiting to greet us a welcome sight, can't think how she spotted us with a train full of Asian people and 4 westerners...

Visited Wenchu Temple, the oldest Buddist temple in Chengdu built in Tang Dynasty about 1500 years ago.

 Walked into Jinli Street, a replica of traditional style old street, great place but awfully hot.

Next day short flight to Jiuzhaigou in the mountains, not well, unable to eat... recovered sufficient to enjoy amazing views, up Huanglong Scenic cable car and 6 kilometers walk back down along wooden boardwalks, fantastic place. Amazing blue limestone pools all along wooded areas.

Drive back over Mt. Xueshanliangz back to Jiuzhaigou which was 4200 meters.

Managed a western style pizza for tea bliss. Too much spicy food here.

Jiuzhaigou scenic touring day, nine Tibetan villages in the valley, high mountain peaks around the World Heritage listed park. Mirro, Mother, Panda and Long lakes some of the lakes. We would take a 3 day hike to cover the area back down to town, beautiful area, and found a great market and indulged!

Evening performance of traditional Tibetan dance, front row, fabulous show, CC slept through!!!

Next day back to the airport for a return flight to Chengdu and our visit to the Giant Panda Reserve, fabulous, 12 pandas live in excellent conditions, baby nursery, babies in hummicribs, all very well cared for in great garden setting, driven round in electric carts get on and off. Very hot day. Also red pandas or raccoons, very healthy animals.  Small quality of bamboo were grown in park, and the remainder were grown by local farmers. One pandas eated 5 kg bamboo per day.

Next day back to Jinli Street, love the place, so much character. Lucky day as university students were waiting to have photos taken in many different traditional dresses outfits, great to see.

Early start to airport 6 a.m. but flight cancelled, managed another and we were off to Xian and met by another great guide, John. Good humour and excellent English. Visited Hanyang Tomb of Emperor Jing and his wife, 80 burial pits and 5000 smaller tombs surrounding area.

Next stop was the famous Terracota Warriors and horses.  There were over 6000 statues... Amazing!  Huge, huge buildings over excavations. There were 3 different pits, 1st pit housing warriors, horses and weapons, 2nd animals and 3rd pottery etc.  Entrance to pits cannot as yet be opened as mercuty lake protects any intrusion, maybe 20 years time. Many figuirines had being repaired. Museum excellent, but very hot again.

Visited beautiful silk gallery (again) how could I resist?

Long drive back into Xian, then KFC for tea, even that spicy. 

P and C