Kunming (21st October 2015)

Kunming, in the Yunnan Province, has Spring all year round. It was our introduction to higher elevations (1900 m).

First stop: The Stone Forest

There were some Yi people there. They added colour.

No problems getting to the Stone Forest. We did have some problems getting back. There was an 8-car pile-up somewhere up ahead.

 We were stationary for 2 hours.

At least it gave us more of a chance to see the countryside.

BTW. We're easily amused. This is the side of our bus.

In the evening we went on an optional extra trip to see a stage performance by multiple ethnic minority groups. We enjoyed that more than the Sichuan Opera.

Chengdu (20th October 2015)

Pandas! Pandas! Pandas!

Yes. We visited the panda breeding research base.

After the excitement of pandas, we visited a brocade and silk embroidery manufacturer.
Brocade:

Silk embroidery:

Chongqing to Chengdu (19th October 2015)

We left our river cruise at Chongqing and browsed the shops in the old part of town, Ciqikou.

 Hmmm. I hope we didn't break any rules.

 By the number of pets in the street, I think these tips are mostly ignored.

Up a little side alley was a Kissing Fish Spa.

Very tickly.

Anyone for noodles?

Then we boarded the bus for Chengdu. To pass the time Lyn and I provided entertainment with a rendition of The Scotsman. (If you're not familiar with it, here's the Arrogant Worms.)

And finally at Chengdu, we got a taste of Sichuan Opera and the magic of Face Changing.

Yangtze Cruise (18th October 2015)

As we disembark for another shore tour, we see a single-tub, multi-user washing machine.

We cross a very wobbly bridge. Walking across it reminded me of school fetes when we used to ride bicycles with eccentric wheels.

There was a temple on top of a large rock with a 12 story pagoda built up one side of the rock. The base is now below water level, but it isn't wet. They built a levee around it and the wobbly bridge. Now you can descend a staircase to get to the bottom of the pagoda to climb up.

Bzzz, bzzz. I like apples, but I can never eat a whole one.

And finally the pagoda.

Dude, can you play Misty Mountain Hop?

No, I only know Stairway to Heaven.
Indeed, here's Heaven's Gate.

Apparently you have to cross this little bridge using an odd number of steps, and then you get a free pass to heaven. (Seems like a pretty minimal requirement compared with some religions.)

And the view from outside the temple is not exactly heavenly.

Back on the cruise boat for the Captain's Dinner.

Yangtze Cruise (17th October 2015)

Off the cruise boat in Wu Gorge, and onto a smaller one for a trip up a stream (I think they called it the Goddess Stream).

This is a tomb with a view:

There are coffins in caves half way up a cliff. And before the waters rose when the dam was built, these would have been about 90 metres higher above the stream.

Yummy bamboo for all the pandas that aren't in these mountains.

A good spot for bird nests.

Back on the cruise boat. The river has a lot of fog. I'm sure it's just fog. All water vapour, right?

And the crew provided evening entertainment.

Yangtze Cruise (16th October 2015)

Cruising is relaxing, until you get off and go on a shore excursion that's described as a half-hour walk. Of course, that half-hour walk is the mostly-level walk to the start of the valley, and that's where the ups and downs start.

There were stone carvings along the way.

 Hi Tony!

Very stylish.

 

At various points along the stream in the valley there were performers depicting village life from some time in the past.

 

 

 

On the way back down the valley we spotted a black panther.
你好猫咪 -- pronounced "Nǐ hǎo māomī" *

In the afternoon we bussed up to the Three Gorges Dam for an overview of the system.

 The locks.

 Fountain at the observation point.

The dam.

Back on our cruise boat, we entered the first of 5 locks.

And in the evening the cruise crew put on a show.

* Hello Kitty

Xian (15th October 2015)

First stop: a quaint little place where we could get our names written and interpreted in Chinese characters.

Second stop: the Little Wild Goose Pagoda

And near the pagoda, a bell.

(Of course the bell has a toll. You can't send your prayers to the afterlife for free.)

After that we flew to Wuhan to board our Yangtze river cruise.