Started out the day docking in Baidicheng...
they really can control these ships...the Cruise Ships
stack side by side at the popular tourist sites...
it's weird to open your curtains and look in
someone's room on another ship!
it's weird to open your curtains and look in
someone's room on another ship!
After breakfast we went to a Snuff Bottle painting demo. They paint the inside of the bottle with a right angle brush. Very interesting.
There was also a calligrapher at work.
We then went to a wonderful talk by Luther, our River Guide. We met Luther on our bus from Chongquin. He's a 30 something and really a fun guy with a great understanding of English. He was raised on a farm so he shared many stories and pictures of his youth. We think he's the reason for the upgrade. Guess we all charmed him on the bus--haha.
Pagoda near entrance to Qutang Gorge.
A good number of sampans on the river.
Entering the Qutang Gorge.
It's the shortest (5 miles), narrowest (500 feet),
and most dramatic of the three gorges.
Qutang Gorge
Qutang Gorge
Qutang Gorge
Qutang Gorge
Entrance to Wu Gorge
Wu Gorge
Wu Gorge
Wu Gorge
The Goddess Pinnacle
Reminded us of the Rock of Gibraltar.
Then onto some ferry boats and up Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze, to our "Pea Pod Boat" ride through the old tracking area. This wild preserve is home to more than 1000 types of trees and is named for the legendary peasant and mythical founder of Chinese medicine, Shennong, who hiked the cliffs and collected herbs here. We did see a couple of monkeys during our ride upstream.
We were poled up to the clearer shallow areas upstream.
Note to self: Next time remember your
seasick bracelets since they don't have a coxwain!
Traditionally "Trackers" would take over where the current is strong or the water shallow and pull the boats through those areas. Since the Three Gorges Dam was opened, water levels at the point the stream feeds into the Yangtze have risen 155 m. They are only demonstration trackers now. These gullies used to be very narrow and in some areas trackers had to pull the boats upstream more than 1 km--very hard work!
Stalactite Rocks...first time I've seen that!
Narrow gorge.
Pea Pod Races???
These guys enjoy their work.
Road past caves...
and the Hanging Coffin. There were many more
but are now underwater. They are not quite sure
how the people got the coffins down the tight openings.
Last groups from our boat coming in.
Some pea pod boats stored overnight near the dock...
and the crews ferried home
and others just ride them home.
We got back on the ferry boats to the Cruise Ship and hauled anchor and set sail down the River. Had another wonderful dinner and then headed to bed. Some of the group went to the Crew Cabaret and it sounded like Rocco and Mei danced the night away:-).
