A two hour flight from Shanghai followed by a two hour bus ride and we arrived at Yichang for our Yangtze River Cruise. It takes the MV Katarina with 264 passengers and 128 crew 4 days to navigate the 660 kilometers upstream to hilly, foggy Chongqing (pop 34 million), climbing 80 meters through 4 locks on the way.
MV Katarina ready to depart Yichang
Dawn on the Yangtze River
Temple near Three Gorges Dam
We will need to enter the locks to rise 80 meters to the top of the Dam
The lock gates close ahead
Two more boats can fit
Pam checks while we rise rapidly
Fast Food …
… along the Yangtze
Fisherman with his Cormorants
Woman of the Tujia ethnic minority
Couple on bridge
Waterfall in the Xiling Gorge area
Bride in traditional Tujia dress
Approaching Xiling Gorge on the Yangtze
Up Shennong Stream in a small boat – only 5 meters wide here
Hanging coffin high above the stream – a traditional burial in this part of China
Mountains reflected in Shennong Stream
Fishermen
New bridge across Shennong Stream
Back to our cruise ship to continue on the Yangtze
In winter, water will rise to the level of this village
Public ferry across the river
Steps leading up from the river
The local fish market
The river will rise to 175 meters in winter (now it’s about 150m)
We can’t go ashore, but an enterprising woman with a long pole is selling beer
Sunset from our cabin balcony
Shibaozhai Pagoda
Before the Three Gorges Dam flooded the valley
Making tofu
Shibaozhai women wash in the Yangtze
The wharves float to allow changing water depth
Everything is transferred on and off the ship the old way
Kites flying over Chongqing