Viking River Cruise in China
Bill and Linda Cleveland, owners of Antietam Travel Service, Inc., traveled
to China March 25-April 9.
The all-inclusive "China's Cultural Delights" tour was operated
by Viking River Cruises, the world's largest river cruise line, based
in Europe. The company entered the China market in 2004. All meals
and tours are included in their package prices.
The itinerary began with 4 days in Beijing that included tours of
Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Sacred
Way of the Ming Tombs, and the Great Wall, as well as a Hutong
rickshaw tour and silk carpet workshop tour.
Bill and Linda Cleveland on the Great Wall of China
A day in Xian included a visit to China's greatest archeological
site at Qin Mausoleum, where Emperor Qin Shi Huang was buried along
with 6,000 life-sized terra cotta warriors. The Tang Dynasty dinner
show was also part of the Xian stay.
Everyone boarded the Viking Century Star, a 186
passenger river boat, at Chongqing, the largest city in China with a
population of 33 million.
The nine-night cruise included a visit to Shibaozhai Temple, also
known as the Red Pagoda; Qutang Gorge, Lesser Three Gorges, and Wu
Gorge cruising; Three Gorges Dam visit and Three Gorges Dam 5-stage
lock transit; Jingzhou, where Viking River Cruises sponsors an
elementary school; Wuhan, with a visit to the Hubei Provincial
Museum that includes a collection of bronze bells; Jingdezhen, known
for its ceramics and porcelain; Mt. Jiu Hua, one of only four sacred
Buddhist mountains in China; Nanjing, including a visit to the Folk
Art Museum and Old City wall; and finally Shanghai, one of China's
most important port cities.
The last night was spent at the Westin Shangri-La in Shanghai. A
tour of the old town and riverfront Bund was included.
The most striking feature for new visitors to China will most
likely be the stark contrast of old and new - people riding
bicycles among 50-story high-rise apartment buildings; people
washing clothes in a lake adjacent to a four-lane expressway.
When you are thinking about your next vacation, consider the
history, culture, and contrasts of China. |
