Cruising down China’s longest river
After a great week in Sichuan Province [more on that later], my friend Jon and I took the bullet train to Chongqing where we were picked up by our guide and driver and taken to dinner at a hotpot restaurant before boarding the Victoria Anne cruise ship for our cruise down the Yangtze River. Jon loves spicy food and said this was probably the spiciest food he had eaten in all our travels around China (and he had some seriously spicy food in Sichuan).
I hadn’t eaten all day so was famished; the food was sensational. One side of the pot was [for me] seasoned water with mushrooms along with some spices and a little bit of chilli and the other side was [for Jon] a meat stock also with vegetables but with lots of chilli. Our guide kindly made us a dipping bowl of oil, shallots, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds and sesame oil. This fabulous concoction we used to dip our cooked food into before eating. Jon added more chilli to his bowl and told me he regretted this as it was ‘so’ hot, but he still ate all his meat and some vegetables.I cooked and ate so much food; incredible noodles, bean sprouts, sweet potato, cabbage, three types of mushrooms, some tofu and delicious tofu skin. What a meal!!Then it was time to hit the traffic and head to the ship. Once on board we were asked if we both wanted to upgrade our rooms to suites; we did! And really glad as the standard rooms were very small but the suites had a lovely lounge area with a little balcony.Usually non-Chinese are seated in a different eating area to the Chinese which I didn’t like so Jon and I asked to sit with the Chinese and we met some really lovely people. We sat on the same table for each meal and enjoyed the company of a range of very friendly Chinese. These two gorgeous little girls were our favourites – they spoke some English but loved it when I spoke Chinese to them.I had previously taken this cruise in 2013 and was lucky enough to travel through the five ship lift locks but we were told now-days passenger ships cannot travel through the lift locks. This is a photo from 2013 looking out the back of our ship as we had travelled through the locks. It was an amazing experience.Our ship sailed through three gorges; Qutang, Wu and Xiling over four days and three nights.
(source: http://www.yangtze.com)
I really enjoyed the views from the front of the ship and also relaxing in the Yangtze Club with a glass of sauvignon blanc and my book looking at the villages along the shore.The views of each of the gorges was lovely and some better than others due to the time of the day or just plain bad weather.The crew put on a show each night which was lovely. Wonderful costumes and great singing and dancing.
One day we took a smaller boat to a part of the river that could not take the larger boat; so beautiful!Such a wonderful relaxing time as after four weeks’ travelling around China, I think we needed this.
Little Miss Traveller said:
What a marvellous end to your holiday Sue and your suites on board the ship looked beautiful.
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Isabelle said:
I’m impressed by the richness of the trip. So many places you’ve been to and such a wide range of experiences. I’ve only been a few places in China. So you speak Chinese Sue, are you a language teacher I wonder? Lovely post!
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Gaz said:
The meals look fabulous Sue. I was expecting the river to look different. It looks a lot cleaner than I was expecting.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks so much Marion. We enjoyed it so much. Lots of laughs especially when it was a Chinese passengers birthday and I sang Happy Birthday in Chinese. The whole restaurant joined in.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you so much Isabelle. I was a police officer with the Australian Federal Police for 34 years and worked in China at the Aussie Embassy in Beijing for three years so learnt Chinese before I went to China and whilst I was working there.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
When I had hot pot Gaz I thought of you. You would have loved it. Actually parts of the river were very dirty especially where there were villages on the banks. But there are boats full of Chinese who go around cleaning up the rubbish.
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Gaz said:
Thanks Sue.
I had visions of a lot of pollution. It’s great that the people are looking after the river.
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Amy said:
What a fabulous cruise experience, Sue! I’d enjoy taking the small boat to see the sceneries. Beautiful images.
Thank you so much for sharing the enjoyable tour! 🙂
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Lignum Draco said:
What a fabulous holiday!
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JohnRH said:
It looks deLIGHTful!
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Emma Cownie said:
It looks incredible. Are you a vegetarian, Sue? Have i missed this important point. It might explain why I like your food choices, as I am a veggie.
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Isabelle said:
I’m even more impressed by your brilliant career Sue. What an important and meaningful job. You have all my respect.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you Amy.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks John.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hi Emma. Yes that def explains it. Lots of veggies. I was a vegetarian for 36 years and for the past six months have become vegan.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Oh how truly lovely are you. Thank you for those very special words. You have made my night Isabelle.
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Emma Cownie said:
How are you finding veganism, especially when eating out?
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Isabelle said:
The same here Sue. Thank you so much for the kind words. 🌷
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Lyn Douglas said:
Such an amazing trip. Your photos are magic.
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Sophie said:
Fabulous ! The boat trip sounds sensational. And about the food, thank you, now I’m craving for a spicy hot-pot!!!!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks so much Lyn.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Actually having no problem at all. Everywhere here in Canberra I research before I book and have had no issues anywhere. I do miss eggs and milk chocolate (very much) but it’s my decision to go vegan so just don’t eat then.
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Emma Cownie said:
That’s good to hear.
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sidran said:
How wonderful to retrace your steps!
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Marta said:
Wow, such a nice trip, I have been on cruise ships but on the sea, never on a river. I would love to cruise the Yangtze some day!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
When little one gets bigger it would be great for you all.
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Joyce Belfort said:
That hotpot looks like a total winner!! I agree with you, the sitting away from the locals thing is just weird and unnecessary. I find Chongqing people in general are very friendly.
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vinneve said:
I like hotpot so filling after finishing it haha! I guess their culture demands that foreigners are seated separately from them… we were also separated from our colleague in the canteen when time for lunch etc… well that was a long time ago not sure if some places have now changed for the better! 😉
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hi Joyce. I loved the hot pot so much on this occasion. And so glad we sat with the locals. So much fun.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Glad you like hotpot too. It’s so good and for me a little healthy as the vegetables are cooked in water rather than water and lots of oil.
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sileas said:
What an interesting cruise with lovely river views!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks so much J.
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rachelmeetschina said:
I’ve always wanted to visit Chongqing and the Yangtze River!! Your photos are fantastic!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Oh thank you so very much. I do hope you go. Yangtze is wonderful.
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twobrownfeet said:
I loved the first picture! I never heard about this cruise. The views of the river and gorge are gorgeous. On my list for sure. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you very very much. Awfully kind.
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