YANGTZE CRUISE

Thursday, 20 April. We got up about 6:30. The Pearl was underway, and I went out to explore the boat. It wasn't very large, so it didn't take long. Our cabin was fairly typical for a river boat, smaller than on an ocean cruise.  Breakfast was at 8:00, a very good buffet. Tables were assigned for all meals, with our tour group having two tables. At 10:00 there was a briefing about the boat and the cruise. We had a good buffet lunch at 12:15.

Jane in our cabin

The Pearl at Fengdu

We actually got to relax for a couple of hours before we all met again at 3:30 for our first shore excursion, Fengdu - City of Ghosts. The city is built on a steep mountainside. After we disembarked, a bus took us to the base of a chair lift. From the top of that, we had to follow a walk taking us even higher up the mountain. There we visited a couple of 15th century Buddhist temples, then a couple displays of Fengdu's ghosts. The city got its ghostly reputation from Chinese mythology, but the City of Ghosts will soon become a real ghost city. After the new Yangtze River Dam is completed, the water level here will rise 240 feet, covering almost all of Fengdu. Only the top of the hill we visited will be above water, as a small island.

Some of Fengdu's ghosts

15thCentury temple that will survive the rising river

Fashion show

 We got back to the ship at 5:45 and hurried to get ready for the Captain's reception at 6:30. Dinner followed at 7:15. The food on the boat was pretty good, but our whole group was tired of Chinese food. Several said they never wanted to see another lazy-susan. There was a "fashion show" in the lounge at 9:00 p.m. that included historic Chinese clothing as well modern.