Day 11 October 26 2015 on board MS Yangtze 2

Day 11 Monday 2015 October 26 Suzhou/Wuxi/Suzhou

After breakfast we transfer to the historic town Wuxi and visit the beautiful Li gardens

, then a pearl breeding center and a teapot factory. Back to Suzhou and visit to visit the grand canal dated back to 605 AD. They are still being used. . Next we visit the ancient town of Santangie , the so called Venice of the Orient. We have a gondola ride on the canal and explore how people live the traditional way along the river

Day 10 Sunday October 25, 2015 aboard MS Yangtze

Wewatch ships go through the locks

Day 10 Sunday Yichang to Hangzhou.

We arrive at Sandouping port and take a shore excursion to witness the magnificent view of the 3 gorge dam , the largest and most powerful hydroelectric project in the world only to find too much smog to see anything very disappointing. We return to the ship and enter the third gorge- Xiling gorge the longest and historically the most hazardous. We enter the 5 step locks. We disembark in Yichang and have lunch in the city before we take a flight to Hangzhou. A coach to Suzhou where we stay 2 nights at Grand Metro Park hotel- a garden city

Day 9 Saturday October 24, 2015 Yangtze river cruise

Day 9 Saturday On the Yangtze river

our boat moves at night. We enter the first gorge Qutang Gorge.

We take an optional tour to the White Emperor city . Located at the entrance of the 3 gorges. It is the most famous historical scenic spot along the banks of the river. On the top of the mt. Is a platform to visit the scenery of “Kui Gate”. There are 73 stone inscriptions. We climb ,many many many (300 steps) 299 too many .beautiful gardens and temples. We also see the hanging coffins in a case.

We will see where they were hung latter. Back for lunch then where we transfer to a ferry through the second gorge-Wu Gorge.

this  is the first gorge . this scene is on the face of the 5 yuan bill 

these are the boats we go up the canyon in

this is the cliff the hanging  coffins were

Known for odd misty rock formations and soaring mountain backdrop. Lots of beautiful scenery a mini grand canyon. Here we see where the hanging coffins are. Back to the ship for the Captains Farewell dinner.

Day 8 October 23 2015

Day 8 Friday  October 23  On Yangtze river on board MSYangtz. Breakfast is a buffet. Very good a lot of fruit , omelets made by request

We stop at Fengdu better known as Ghost city. We do not take the optional tour here.

After breakfast we get a river talk then Captain's welcome party with all the wine you wanted and h'orderves . Dinner is a buffet.  

boats on the river

Day 7 Thursday October 22, 2015 Xi'an/ Chongqing

Day 7 Thursday October 22 2015 Xi'an city tour

We are bused to an art gallery. Next we do Xi'an's city wall.

( older than Forbidden City. After lunch we do the National History museum. A. 1 and half hour flight to Chongqing ( population 30 million, the largest city and commercial center of southwestern China.) 

a bus takes us to the waterfront. What a beautiful city all lit up .We board the M.S. Yangtze 2. we are on the 3^rd floor. Rooms very small. Another late night. All have a very small balcony  

Day 6 Wednesday October 21 2015 Xi'an Terra Cotta warriors

Day 6 Wednesday Xi'an a full day. We visit 3 pits and are amazed to see the 6000 life size terra cotta warriors. A mausoleum for the first emperor Qin Shi Hang who unified China in 211 BC. Each warrior was different in facial expression. Some had their weapons by their side,Their horses and chariots were there too. Really amazing. ( all in organized rows). WE visit a museum on site showing close up of weapons and are shown how everything was made. Tonight we have a special dumpling banquet followed by Tang Dynasty music and dance show.

Day 5 Beijing to Xi'an

Day 5 Tuesday Beijing to Xi'an

This morning we get an early visit to see the panda bears. We are in time to watch them eat their bamboo shoots. Next. we visit the Temple of heaven, a materpiece of 15 century architecture where former emperors prayed for harvest every year. We take a high speed bullet train to Xi'an- a beautiful smooth ride. We pass many farm lands. We stay at Titan

Times hotel. Very nice.  

day 4 Monday we visit the soul stirring GREAT WALL

Day4 Monday October 19 Beijing We bus to the Great Wall wow 12,000 kilometers in total Snaking across China. It is the only earthly evidence of man visible from space. We climbed a short distance some went all the way to the 3^rd tower. Back to Beijing Still blessed with great weather-23”. We have lunch then go Hutong-

Hutong

a 700 year old traditional cottage neighborhood. We visit a family in one of the quadrangles. We get a fun rickshaw tour around ancient alleyways of Hontong. Tonight we have Beijing Duck dinner. Very good no bones