The Twin TowersGuilin, China
Sunrise view from hotel roomGuilin, China
Reed Flute CavesGuilin, China
Reed Flute CavesGuilin, China
After seeing the sights of Guilin we boarded a boat for a day long cruise up the Li River. The Li River is famous for its limestone peaks and boasts some of the most famous scenery in China. These mountains can even be seen on a 20yuan bill. It surely lived up to the hype.
Motor powered bamboo boat on the Li RiverGuilin, China
Li RiverGuilin, China
Li RiverGuilin, China
Li RiverGuilin, China
Famous 'Snake Bile Wine' LiquorGuilin, China
Fisherman and his cormorants on the Li RiverGuilin, China
From Guilin we headed out to Chengdu where we spent the night before heading up to the Wolong Nature Preserve. Wolong is home to about 600 native pandas who wander in and out of the perimeter of the park. Inside the park there is also a well known breeding center that is home to 60 captive pandas...one of which we were able to hold :)
Shawn and SerenaWolong Nature Preserve, China
PandasWolong Panda Preserve, China
Eating panda biscuitWolong, China
Wolong, ChinaNext up was Xian, home of the Terracotta Warriors and a nice city in and of itself.
The Bell TowerXian, China
The Drum TowerXian, China
Crickets being sold at the Muslim Night MarketXian, China
Terracotta Warrior replicasXian, China
The real dealXian, China
With Xian and the Terracotta Warriors done, done and done we headed south again to catch a three day cruise down the Yangtze River. The cruise started in Chongqing, a modern city whose population has grown exponentially over the past 10 years and is considered the largest city in the world (depending on who you ask), and ended in Yichang. The boat trip went through an area of the river that will flood after the completion of The Three Gorges Dam. The trip included two excursions along the way.
View of Chonqing from the Yangtze RiverChongqing, China
Cleaning the YangtzeYangtze River, China
The Abode of GhostsFengdu, China
Torture statues in the Abode of GhostsFengdu, China
The following pictures were taking on the Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze River. The boatmen are referred to as boat trackers. Originally used when fishing, the boat trackers would pull the boats upstream through shallow parts of the river.
ShawnShennong Stream, China
Bamboo boatsShennong Stream, China
Rowing upstreamShennong Stream, China
Shoes made of bamboo and grass used specially by the boat trackersShennong Stream, China
Boat trackerShennong Stream, China
Bamboo rope used to pull the boats upstreamShennong Stream, China
PullingShennong Stream, China
Heading downstreamShennong Stream, China
ShawnShennong Stream, China
Boat tracking boat heading upstreamShennong Stream, China
Bamboo and grass footwearShennong Stream, China
Our lead boat tracker guiding the boat upstreamShennong Stream, China
RowingShennong Stream, China
Out of the mistShennong Stream, China
Directing the boatShennong Stream, China
Pulling with bamboo ropeShennong Stream, China
That evening our ship queued up to go through the lock system at the Three Gorges Dam. When completed the Three Gorges Dam will be the largest dam in the world. Its construction has caused many villages upstream from it to be relocated (we monetary reparations going to the people whose villages will be underwater)
Ships beneath the water line in the lock systemYangtze River, China
Shawn and Serena checking out the view from our cabinYangtze River, China
ShawnThree Gorges Dam, China
The other sideThree Gorges Dam, China
Lilly pads at the park overlooking the Three Gorges DamThree Gorges Dam, China
Home sweet home
Dalian, China
Dalian, China
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