Today is our last full day on the Yangtze River and our one stop is the Shibaozhai pagoda which is really a temple from the 18th century. I was up before my alarm and got ready for the day.
Breakfast started at 7 am today and I was there shortly after. There were the usual goodies except they also had waffles.
Before we disembarked I watched another unload and the people ashore doing laundry.
We then gathered again at 8:15 to go ashore at 8:30. Allan gave the normal instructions (guides and order of the groups) and then we started off. Because of the amount of walking a few people from our group didn’t go. Others decided to take an easier way up.
The temple is on a hill that became an island after the Three Gorges dam was built. It would actually be flooded if a coffer dam hadn’t been built around it.
It was a nice walk through a village where we saw people washing their clothes in the river.
It was also the first time I saw ducks in the river. Apparently lots of birds are gone now that used to exist in this area.
I would guess the walk to the start of the temple area is about 1/2 mile. Once we went up a short steep hill, we walked a couple of city blocks and hung a left. Sights along the way were interesting.
I think this t-shirt is a compliment.
What’s for dinner?
Our guide gave us a background on the temple and Shibaozhai but it was hard to hear her.
We then had free time to walk around or over to the temple either with the guide or alone.
Before going across the bridge, there were statues of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.
I took a selfie with the animal from the year I was born.
I then started to cross the suspension bridge.
It swayed quite a bit if you wanted it too.
I walked to the pagoda but didn’t go up.
It’s 100 steps up and with my sciatica acting up didn’t want to chance it.
I walked around the entrance area absorbing the beauty.
Joanne, my table mate, walked back with me and helped me bargain for a few things. I bought a nice jacket, scarf, porcelain whistles sand at shirt for my husband.
At one point I passed a grandmother with her granddaughter papoosed to her back. I asked if I could take a picture and she very emphatically didn’t want it taken.
When aboard we sailed away at 10:45 and had a group meeting with John at 11 am.
First he told us about the relocation of the 1.3 million people from the Gorges. He said many people, including him, took the opportunity to move to a bigger home or build a bigger home. Compensation was based on what you were losing: farmland, home, etc.
He gave us back our passports and instructions for transportation to the airport tomorrow. Most of us are leaving at 8:30 am because we have afternoon flights. There are a few with earlier flights with people leaving as early as 4:30 in the morning!
He also gave us a survey for Sinorama that we could return to him at lunch. After going to my cabin to fill it out and drop off my passport, it was time for lunch.
Lunch was good but I felt pretty tired so went to nap for a couple of hours. There was a bridge tour at 2:15 pm but I slept right through it. I did make it to the hot pot demonstration and tasting at 4:15 pm.
Apparently hot pot is the dish of Chongquing. It was interesting, but the version they made for us that was less spicy was TOO spicy for me. Of course they were selling packets of the base and spices afterwards.
After that I went and reviewed photos and ended up buying five of them; 20 Yuan each. I was to pick them up after dinner. That’s for another post.
Don’t miss the previous China posts linked below.
Going to China (tour and visa)
China: Trip Preparations
November 12-13, 2016: Travel to Beijing
November 14, 2016: Beijing and Great Wall
November 14, 2016: Ming Tombs and Peking Duck Dinner
West International Trade Hotel Beijing
November 15, 2016: Hutong and Temple of Heaven
November 15, 2016: Tiananmen Square, Fobidden City and Beijing Opera
November 16, 2016: Pearl Factory and Summer Palace
November 16, 2016: Traveling to Xi’an
November 17, 2016: Jade Factory and Terra Cotta Warriors
November 17, 2016: Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Opera
Grand Barony Xian Hotel
November 18, 2016: Traveling to Wuhan
Howard Johnson Pearl Plaza Wuhan
November 19, 2016: Wuhan to Jingzhou
November 19, 2016: Boarding the Century Diamond
November 20, 2016: Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam
November 21, 2016: Yangtze River and Goddess Stream
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