29 Fengdu Ghost City

The final tour on our Yangtze River cruise was to Fengdu Ghost City.

Fengdu got its name of Ghost City when two imperial officials Yin and Wang came to Ming Mountain to practice Taoism.  Combining their name "Yinwang" it sounds like the word with the meaning "King of Hell".  This sparked the beginning of the site's focus on the "Underworld", which would have been a good name for it if it was a theme park.

Ghosts that are meant to be scary have more of comical look about them

Like all City's we have visited, they all seem to be at the tops of mountains.  So it was another big climb up many steps or for those less inclined there is a cable car that will take you up part of the way.





To reward the walkers there is a path lined with some ghoulish statues which I am sure have a myth or legend behind them.

Much like an amusement park for the dead, rides.... I mean tests have to be passed before passing to the next life.

First they pass the Bridge of Helplessness.  The three arches of the bridge stand side by side, crossing over the middle one you are judged.  The good are allowed to pass while the evil will be pushed into the water below, and like all good rides there is a photo opportunity as you exit.

Like all good rides there are queues

Yay I didn't fall in....

"You can purchase your photo's as you exit the park"

 Test number two, Ghost-Torturing Pass, here you present yourself infront of Yama (King of hell) where you will be judged.

Third test is at the entrance of Tianzi Palace where you have to stand on a rock on one foot for three minutes..  Good people can do ... evil can't and they will be condemned to hell.

 Many of the temples and shrines show sculptures of people being tortured for their sins.

28 ShiBaoZhai Temple

Another Day another temple, but on saying they all have some special feature and I don't think I would not visit one if it was on offer...  Why did I say that?, well most of the Contiki kids decided to sit this one out..  Think they might have had a big night before, but on saying that this trip has been pretty full on for us...  So off we went....  We docked in walking distance to the Temple and of course it was wet...  But what may have put a spring in us girls step was that there markets in-between...

Following our guide we walked through the streets making a mental note of which stalls we wanted to return to.

This was part of a series of Gates that led us to the Pagoda.  This street was lined on either side with shops and stalls.

We had to cross a suspension bridge that did have a bit of a wobble to it as more and more pedestrians walked over.  The 12 storey bright red painted pagoda is built onto the side of the cliff face and looked quite impressive.

Probably should have made the climb to the top with the others, but those stalls were calling our name and that money was burning a hole our pockets.

So we three girls took our obligatory photos that helped ease our conscious and started heading back. Promising our guide we knew which way to go and promising to be back before all on board time we made our way back.

With our best bartering boots on we shopped our way back, buying  kimono's, kites and probably lots of other useless trinkets.  I think we just got caught up in the thrill of the shop  and the challenge of the best price .

26 Lesser Three Gorges

It was advertised in the daily newsletter that there would be some scenic cruising this morning at around 6.45am.  Remember this is winter, so the days high was suppose to be 13 deg C.   I braved it along with a few others, Australian I am sure.








Sailing through the Wu Gorge was quite dramatic, the steep mountains rose out of the river as far as the eye could see.  just like sailing through a Nordic Fjord, a New Zealand sound or an Alaskan passage.

With a backdrop of misty skies threatening rain, striking were the red bridges that spanned across one side of the river to the other. 

I will insert a couple of photos that not only show the gorge but the Ships decks.... this was the only time I ventured out as it was just too cold.

Out on the back deck, didn't look that inviting, looks like the water is straight out of the Yangtze

Glass panels that let light down into the Atrium.  That room that those people are coming out of is another room for VIP Diners.  

This mornings excursion was to the Lesser of three Gorges...

"It is very obvious that the river water of Daning River is emerald green compared to the light green of the Yangtze River. Mist–wreathed mountains along Daning River are covered with lush green flourishing vegetation, much of which is one of the specialties of Wushan County, called Cloud and Mist Tea. This kind of tea is required to be planted on cliffs in a cloudy and misty environment. There are often troops of monkeys appearing at the river bank and on the trees of the mountains.

Besides the natural beauty, there are many historical sites along the Lesser Three Gorges, among which the most notable ones are the Hanging Coffins and a plank road built along the cliff."

This a very apt description of where we visited today. After a very scenic sail in, our ship docked in Wushan, where we were transported and transferred in to ferry's that took us into the Daning River. 

This is the boat we were transferred to.  We were only allowed on the lower level.  You pay extra for each level up.

small village along the way

This photo is to give you some perspective.  That small orange boat is a bit bigger than a pilot boat

A drizzly morning soon turned into beautiful sunshine, first time for this trip.  The blue skies were a beautiful back drop to the towering mountains that sprung out of the water.. The colours of the autumn leaves sparkled in the sunlight.  It was lovely to be outside to feel the warmth...

This "Ancient Style Walk" went for miles hugging the mountainside.

In order for us to explore even further into the lesser gorges we were transferred into smaller wooden boats.

Once underway our hosts gave us a commentary how the locals used to live, which included a few theatrics. As we glided through the clear emerald waters we could hear singing from small boats strategically moored or people hidden away on ledges on the mountain.  

Bit of a showman this one!

Everyone had a turn

Here was a little deja vu

Here is one for my cruising buddies

If you look just at the front of the cave, you will see a very weathered box.... this is what is known as a "hanging coffin" well this one is not hanging but along the Yangtze there were coffins tucked away in crevices or crudely attached to the side of a cliff face. No one really knows why but some say that it made it easier for the souls to make their way to heaven.

Here is a close up

We returned to ferry, which in turn returned us to the Yangtze Gold 6, in time for lunch and the sail to our next excursion.