Chengdu 9's Lovely Yangtze Cruise on the Ship Century Diamond

A Message from Susan

Hi Louisa,

I just sent this (the following travelogue) to my family ---- thought I would share it with you. ;-)

Thanks for your efforts for our group - otherwise known as Chengdu 9.

Susan

Yangtze River Travelogue

Mike & I got home last night - here is relatively quick rundown of Saturday through Tuesday ;-)! We took this tour with 3 couples and a 20 year old son of one of them and we got our group a nickname "Chengdu 9" during the journey. --- God has blessed China with extraordinary beauty - the Yangtze river tour was spectacular scenery!!!!!

On Saturday, April 2

The men had to work because Mon & Tues were the Chinese "Tomb Sweeping" Holiday.  At 4:30pm,  8 of the 9 of us took a train from Chengdu to Chongqing --- pronounced Chong-Ching - a "Q" is a "ch" sound.  The train was modern & lovely in our first class compartment.  We all ate our own snacks in route.  One of the husbands met us at the train station in Chongqing - this town only has 31 million people in it. ;-) 

From the train station we took a bus to the docks and passed really neat areas of buildings located strait up on the mountain side - we need to go back there again .... We got on the boat CENTURY DIAMOND about 9:30 - we called ourselves "Chengdu 9" so that is how we will be referred to for table seating & excursions. 

We all were on the 5th floor with the 6th floor being the sun deck - the room was truly double the size of the room Mike & I had 27 years ago on the only other cruise we have been on.  This one had 2 twin beds, nice big shower, 2 sinks, nice big closets and a little balcony.  The boat pulled out about 10:30 and we went on to bed not even watching to see if anyone was waving us bon voyage. ;-)

On Sunday, April 3

We were sailing - Mike & I got down to breakfast at 07:00. Our table is labeled "Chengdu 9".  After breakfast, the 9 of us attended the English version of the River Lecture - it was being offered in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and German.  At 10:30, Susan and two of the three ladies went to a scarf knotting demonstration.

Then that afternoon we docked and the 9 of us as well as the whole boat went on a CAVE tour.  It was called SNOW JADE CAVE because many of the creamy white stalagmite & stalactites looked like snow jade.... tons of steps .... pictures of Mike & I show our sweaty hair - very attractive. ;-) 

We got back on the boat & cleaned up for a dinner - we greeted & toasted the officials as we entered.  Mike and the guys went out on deck and Susan and the girls got our seats for the cultural show. The girls played a game that we had brought called 'Toss Up'. The guys joined us at 9 pm. The audience members were given big clapper hands to use for the a nice show put on by the talented crew - very nice. It ended after 10 pm and before they let us go. We girls were forced to join in on the YMCA & I think even the guys did the Chicken Dance ---- pictures of what was done on the ship needs to stay on the ship. ;-)

On Monday, April 4

- Breakfast at 6:30 then off on the optional tour we paid for last night.  At 7:30 they put us on a bus then drove to an area where we walked over a long bridge to a little mountain island - someone said yetserday's place had over 1000 stairs today is only 300 steps up to an area called White Emperor City. We had the cutest tiny guide named "Betty" - the scene from this mountain top is the scene depicted on the back on a 10 Yuan Bill .... very very beautifu. The beginning of the gorges! This little mountain we are on is now an island due to the dam. With it's high location the historic city wasn't effected.

Back on the boat, we all enjoyed the sun on the sun deck - woohoo actual sunshine!!!!!!  We were thrilled with the scenery going through the first 2 gorges - the Qutang & the Wu.  Spectacular.  This river rises & falls throughout the year and there is a section of white on both sides that is so odd looking - rocks, trees, everything looks like it is totally bleached out in a perfect line!  They said the top of the line is 175 meters and the water level right now is 162 meters - again it varies throughout the year. 

After lunch the entire boat loaded on a ferry to go to a tributary called Shennong River and we were put on small boats & all of us donned life vests - Our guide was Jim and he & 3 paddle men were in the front and 2 more paddle men in the back - we yelled out "stroke stroke" as we passed other groups - we went to an area where 2 of the men jumped out and pulled the boat - pictures in books show that this event used to take place with those men naked ;-)  Jim and one of the paddle men sang on the way back so of course we had to buy the CD & the book they were selling.  The huge bridge here had Badong written on it and we sailed away around 5:30.

Mike & I went to the "martini party" but it was dead.  Music came across the room speakers and we went down for dinner at 7 and Mike took Susan's picture with the two colorful dragons in the foyer. Once again, just like last night, we toasted the officials as we came to dinner - tonight was a set menu - not too bad. We all played Bingo and 2 out of our "Chengdu 9" won 2 out of the 3 games - yippee Linda & Bev!  

After 10pm we entered the first of 5 Level Ship LOCKS - really neat as our ship pulled into it nice & tight with other barges and another ship then the gates closed behind us and we dropped pretty rapidly 20 meters and the gates in front of us opened and everyone pulled forward into Lock Number 2 and the funny thing was from the top deck we were eye level with a pretty park on one side instead of concrete sides - by then it was 11pm and we were exhausted.

On Tuesday (yesterday), April 5

Breakfast at 6:30 then we had to have our luggage out in the hall by 7:30 then at 8 we loaded on busses to go to 2 different look out points of the Three Gorges Dam - yesterday's sunshine was replaced by misty fog today - darn it - oh well. Although of course this huge dam makes electricity, the main reason it was made was to alleviate flooding - the stories of loss of life in history were tremendous - every tour we have had has discussed the relocation of the millions & millions of people - the river reached the height of 175 meters in 2009 - so so recent.  On this side of all of the locks the variance in the water levels is much lower than prior to the locks so the white stripe along the river is narrower. 

Back on the boat we all needed to be out of our rooms by 10:30 and the boat took off however it stalled for quite some time due to fog - the 9 of us worried a bit as today we need to catch a plane home.  We passed though the last of the 3 gorges called Xiling Gorge but all of us didn't really go out to see it - we were playing a game. 

Once we docked in Yichang our guide Nancy arranged for our luggage to be taken to our little bus - the 9 of us were in a nice little bus without seat belts and we drove 4 hours to Wuhan.  The scenery changed from mountainous  to super flat farm land. Fields and Fish Farms along the route. The highway is nice & modern and we stopped at what looked like potentially a very nice rest stop - but no water - it all seems like "if you build it they will come".

Nancy gave us little commentaries then helped us check in at the airport.  Most of us checked our luggage home.  The airport is beautifully modern and we even saw a TCBY place but couldn't get over to it.  Our flight on China Southern was fine and we don't know how it happed but 2 of our 4 families including Mike & I ended up in "premium" seating somehow for our 2 hour flight home.

We had a great time and happy to make lovely memories with our new China friendships - such a blessing!!!

Hugs to you all

Susan - right now it is 2:35pm Wednesday April 6