China Trip -- Page 2: Yangtze River Cruise

Farewell to Three Gorges Summer, 1999

The Yangtze River cruise was relaxing, quiet, and peaceful. Beautiful scenery lined the river on both sides. We were disappointed to see the river muddy, dirty, and littered with trash. However, as a main waterway in China, similar to the Mississippi in the U.S., we should have expected it.
 The Star Dipper, our cruiser, was spacious and comfortable. A stop and a side trip each day off the ship also helped alay cabin fever.

Our cruise director provided interesting information regarding the river and the people living along it.

One tributary of the river, which is not deep enough for navigation by the large cruise ship, contains three lesser gorges. To see these gorges we boarded these small 24-person boats for our half-day excursion.

During the trip we saw many other boats and watercraft used by the residents of the river banks.
 boats on little gorges
scenery in little gorges Chinese ponga little gorges

Yueyang Tower The pagodas, towers, and Buddhist Temples are all part of the Chinese culture that we usually associate with China. We stopped to visit various of these on our Yangtze River Cruise.
Yes, frequently we climbed many steps. Sometimes these excursions were made in damp conditions.

Below you can see one example of the planks we walked when we came off the ship for our excursions. Note not only the plank we walked but also the hand rail held by two crew members.		 climbing steps to Yueyang
walking the plank 1 walking the plank 2
street market The cobblestone streets that we walked to see a pagoda was frequently lined with shops of various kinds. Many of us stopped to buy items along the way. I bought some bells, silk scarves, t-shirts, many postcards, and Chinese paper cuts.

Mostly we took pictures of the items for sale. Since the residents shop here too, there were many food tables with food that we could not identify. Some also sold cooked food.

All along the Yangtze River, our guide pointed out the markers indicating the future water level after the dam project is completed. At the highest point the water will be 175 meters. The Chinese government is relocating 1.3 million people, building apartment complexes above the high water mark. The year 2003 is targeted for having everyone moved. The total project is to be completed by the year 2010.

The purpose for the dam is to provide hydro-electric power, which is a growing need in China.
 dam project construction


dining room on Star Dipper		 All meals on the cruise ship were buffet style. There was always a variety of dishes available so that it would be possible to make one's meal of one or another dish. Except for Sichan, I found the food rather bland for my taste. I usually add more seasoning to my Oriental dishes.


Various classes were offered on the ship. Several classes in Tai Chi, a very controlled exercise program which is a favorite of many Chinese. We would see Chinese people doing Tai Chi in the gardens in the early dawn.

The chef also taught a cooking class in which we learned to make Chinese dumplings.		 making dumplings

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