CHAU TRAN, born 1949 in southern Vietnam as a son of south-chinese parents from the province Canton, China.
chinese name Chen Ying Yi 陳英義, pseudonym QING LIAN 青濂.

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"A journey of a thousand li begins from beneath your feet" (Laotse)

China - Journey 2010

In 1996 I went on a great journey to China with my friend for the first time. On this journey we also witnessed a great Yangtze cruise. At that time, the great Yangtze River in China caused annual floods and inundations in populated areas. It was decided by the Chinese government to build a large dam. In this construction project, the Chinese government could foresee that some cultural assets could not be relocated and rescued and would remain below water level forever. The construction was also very controversial in the international media. Particularly because of the resettlement of people from the flooded areas, the international media interfered in China's internal affairs and criticized the Chinese government. After it became known that an international consortium of companies was involved in the construction, (from Brazil, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain and the USA) the media criticism was suddenly silenced. When the "Three Gorges Large Dam" (三峡大坝) was completed in May 2006, we wanted to see it for ourselves on site. In 2010 we set out on our journey, at the same time we were able to visit the World Expo in Shanghai.

Shanghai - Expo Shanghai - Yangtze-Cruise - Huangshan-Mountains - Chongqing - Hongkong

19.9. - 27.9.2010, Yangtze-Cruise:

The Yangtze (扬子) is a big river, it flows across China, therefore it is also called Changjiang (长江/ Long River). The three gorges - Xiling Gorge (西陵峡), Wu Gorge (巫峡) and Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡) - are a wonder of nature's creation, unique, majestic and beautiful. The three gorges of the Yangtze are therefore world-famous. The Yangtze River and its area are also strongly influenced by culture and historical stories since ancient China. Where the heroes measure their talents in the war against the enemies or in the fight against the floods. Where the literati were impressed and released their feelings into words. The poems, literary works are admired by the people to this day. Where there is also an area of China occupied by the war criminal Nazi Japan and a dense spy network from both sides.
The excursion programme is the decisive criterion for this Yangtze cruise, which is supposed to be different from the one in 1996, with the exception of Nanjing: the mausoleum and at the same time memorial place of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925), we would like to once again.

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - As self-organised travellers we are already on board in the early afternoon and enjoy the peace and quiet on the deck of the cruise ship before the package tour tourists arrive - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Our ship departs at exactly seventeen o'clock, leaves the "Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal" and sails towards Chongqing - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The Yangtze is not only long, but also very wide, especially before it flows into the sea at Shanghai - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - First stop: Nanjing. Visit to the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925). (See also Zhong Shan Park in Shantou, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Guangzhou) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Visit to the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. On the plaque of the entrance gate of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) is written: "博愛 bó ài/ charity". Engraved after his original handwriting - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Visit to the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Visit to the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925). On the gate, engraved according to his original handwriting: "天下為公 Tian xia wei gong / Everything under the heaven is common property", this is also his political direction - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Visit to the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Visit to the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925). On the plaque: "China's '國民黨Kuomintang/People's Party' buries Premier Sun here. Republic of China in the year eighteen, in the sixth month, day one" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Stairs to the main building of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. We take a short break before climbing the long staircase - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. The main building of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Visit to the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation. Here we take a look back into the valley - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. We have almost reached our destination, the main building of the mausoleum/memorial - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. A gigantic view into the valley from the main building of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. "天地正氣 tiāndì zhengqi/ the justice of heaven and earth" is written on the plaque of the main building of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. The entrance gate of the mausoleum/memorial is already so far away in the valley that it can no longer be seen from up here - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. "三民主義 san min zhuyi/ Three People's Principles" A famous policy line, national ideology for the Republic of China by Father of the Nation, Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925). First principle: "民權Mínquán/ People's Rights" for democracy/people's right - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. "三民主義 san min zhuyi/ Three People's Principles" A famous policy line, national ideology for the Republic of China by Father of the Nation, Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925). Second principle: "民生Mínshēng/ People's Life" for State Socialism/ People's Welfare - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. "三民主義 san min zhuyi/ Three People's Principles" A famous policy line, national ideology for the Republic of China by Father of the Nation, Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925). Third Principle: "民族 Mínzú/ Nationality" for Community of Nationalities - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Marble statue of China's Father of the Nation - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. In the hall with the marble statue of the Father of the Nation of China. On the ceiling, a coat of arms of the Republic of China "青天白日 / blue sky, white sun". It consists of a blue surface in which there is a white sun. Twelve rays emanate from this sun. Symbol of the twelve months of the year and the twelve traditional Chinese hours of the day. The sun is supposed to represent freedom - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Each visitor honours the Father of the Nation with a flower - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. One of the obelisks in the mausoleum/memorial complex of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. An obelisk and the main building (view from the side) of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. The main building of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation. View from the side - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. The main building of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation. View from the front - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Ancient trees in the grounds of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Once again we enjoy the unlimited free view to the endless horizon - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. The queue to visit the inner hall of the main building - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. One more look back at the main building before we leave the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. One of the "鼎 Ding / Bronze Ritual Vessel" in the grounds of the mausoleum/memorial of China's Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Zhong-shan (Sun Yat-sen, 1866-1925) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. The Old Town with Dragon Wall and Boats for Sightseeing Tours - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. The Old Town with modern skyscrapers in the background and the Qinhuai River flowing into the Yangtze - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Another view from the beautiful Old Town on the Qinhuai River - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Old Town with traditional residential houses of the area along the Qinhuai River - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing Old Town.
依依情
醉心戀人双双岸上去留下小船绿水依依情.
Affection
The heart-drunk loving couples move up onto the shore.
What remains are the small boats, the jade-green water and the feeling of affection - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Nanjing. Entrance gate to the former imperial examination venue in the Old Town, where Confucius is also honoured to this day - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - It is already evening, we are on our way back to the ship after the day trip to the Huangshan Mountains - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - When we arrive at the ship, it is already dark outside. The dinner service staff is already waiting for us at the table - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - On the river journey to Wuhan. We remember our Yangtze River cruise in 1996. On this bank, the only thing that could be seen was the complex with the traditional building several storeys high, the hundreds of years old pagoda and the green trees along the bank. Today the huge modern skyscrapers dominate the shore landscape - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - On the river journey to Wuhan. Near Jiangxi Province the town of Jiujiang, behind the seawall, the traditional three-storey red building: "浔阳楼 Xun yang Lou / Xun Yang more storey building" was mentioned in the classic novel "水浒传 Shuihuzhuan / Water Margin/The Robbers of Liang Shan Moor": From the 39th chapter: "Xunyang Lou, Song Jiang chants anti-poem, . .". This has made "浔阳楼 Xun yang Lou" even more famous.
"水浒传 Shuihuzhuan" is one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature. In 1996, the red building dominated the river landscape. Today it stands in the shadow of the modern skyscrapers - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Seen on the river journey to Wuhan, a fairly tall obelisk - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Landscape on the river journey to Wuhan. On this bank, the still reddish hue of the sky at sunrise shines through the gap in the clouds - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A cosy place on the ship that we always have to ourselves, relaxation and enjoyment at the same time - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - On the river journey to Wuhan, you often see trees along the bank like everywhere in China - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - On the river journey to Wuhan. With the current, the water carries the Yangtze sand grains from the river bottom, these have a similar colour to the earth of the shore - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - On the river journey to Wuhan. The colour of the Yangtze's water changes constantly according to the striking light of the sky. Here on this stretch, at the moment, the light from the sky is reflecting off the water in a golden hue. A beautiful phenomenon of nature - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - River landscape on the journey to Wuhan. Behind the trees along the bank, the blue mountains on the horizon shimmer like a precious silk veil - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Green riverside landscape on the river journey to Wuhan - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - On the river journey to Wuhan. Passing "西塞山 xi sai zhan/ Western Mountain Fortress" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - On the river journey to Wuhan. On the "西塞山 xi sai zhan/ Western Mountain Fortress". On the mountain, according to Chinese traditional culture "man in harmony with nature", there is a pavilion as a viewpoint of the landscape and lookout point for the people - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Often seen on the river journey to Wuhan: Modern high-rise buildings for resettlers who come from the flooded areas because of the annual natural disasters (floods and inundations in the populated areas) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Seen on the river journey to Wuhan, a tower on a mountain - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Seen on the river journey to Wuhan. It is not just a tower, but a complex on the mountain in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝 Tángcháo - 618-907 AD) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Wuhan. A visit to the "Yellow Crane Tower" (黄鹤楼 Huánghèlóu) is a must when you are in Wuhan and you should take a day for it. The tower and its complex are one of the cultural focal points in China, which we already visited in 1996. Due to time constraints, this time we will do a city tour and visit the "武汉天人合一奇石博物馆 Wuhan tian ren he yi qishi bowuguan / Wuhan, Harmony of Man and Nature - Rare Stones Museum" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Wuhan. Visit to the "Rare Stones Museum". It covers an area of 6,700 square metres. Only in the eight exhibition halls of the museum more than 1,300 stone pieces are exhibited - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - After leaving Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, the ship sails under overcast skies towards Yichang, via Yueyang and Jingzhou - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - River landscape on the journey from Wuhan to Yichang - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - We see these interesting constructions for us on the shore - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A full day of river cruising with no excursions. An opportunity to linger in the ship, enjoy a relaxing time with varied Yangtze river scenery - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The Yangtze is not only long, but also very wide. I can only see the banks here in the photo with maximum camera zoom - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The paddy field on the shore reaches to the horizon - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - We get a free feeling when we look at this river landscape. It is endless - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - It looks like reeds or a maize field on the river bank - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Many farmers use the time outside the harvest to fish with a small boat or look for a part-time job in the city - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Harmonious, calming riverside landscape on the journey to Yichang - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A small fishing boat and a man on the shore fishing - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Time to play mahjong. A passenger attendant of the ship (far right) is there to explain the rules of the game to the beginners. In addition, each player also gets a Mahjong explanation sheet - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Mahjong is a traditional Chinese parlour game for four people - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Mahjong in chinese 麻將 (májiàng) / Ma (family name) general. In Southchina in cantonese 麻雀 (máquè) / sparrow - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - We often allow ourselves a quiet hour on the cruise for tea and coffee away from the tourist gossip - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - There is not only the advanced modernity but also another side to admire in China - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A house in the middle of the endless yellow plant field . . . . . . . Like a painting . . . . . It's so romantic - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - River landscape on the way to Yichang. House with red roof in the middle of a green field, rich in contrast - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The river landscape passes by like life in a quiet phase - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The rays of dawn are still visible on this side of the sky. We see many cars on the shore road in front of a huge building - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Free feeling on the huge Yangtze . . . . . . just straight ahead . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . then . . . . . . . turn left . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . Ahead of us slowly appears . . . . . a small harbour. The barges are being loaded with goods for transport - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - We learn from the ship's staff that our ship is just passing Jingzhou (荆州). Jingzhou is a Chinese city in the south of Hubei province (湖北). Jingzhou was a turning point in China's historical story in the Three Kingdoms (三国 - sanguo, 220 - 280 AD) period. Jingzhou is a very famous city in China, especially after Luo Guanzhong's (罗贯中, ca. 1330 - 1400) narration of the historical story of the Three Kingdoms period. It is a pity that we do not have a visit to Jingzhou (荆州) as well as Yueyang (岳阳) in our programme. Maybe on the next trip to China - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - One of our two table service people on the cruise ship. The ship's staff are very friendly and well educated - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Our ship reaches Yichang. In front of us the Yichang Bridge - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A cargo port in the city of Yichang on the Yangtze River - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The flat shoreline landscape quickly changes to a high rock face on the river - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - We see a multi-storey traditional building right on the rock face of the river. In the background on the mountain, one of the new resettlement areas with new houses built in the style of the area that we had not yet seen in 1996 - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - One of the farmers' passionate occupations outside harvest time: fishing - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A city appears . . . . . . a housing estate on the horizon as our ship sails around the corner - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - After a day of continuous travel without excursion stops, our ship docks for the night in Yichang. In the morning after breakfast we wait to experience the passage through the Gezhou Dam (葛洲坝) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The city of Yichang (宜昌), Hubei (湖北) Province on the bank of the Yangtze (扬子) River, a beautiful green riverside promenade with "镇川门 (Zhèn chuān mén) / Gate of the River Calm" on the left of the photo. A church on the right. The two tallest buildings at that time are now dominated by modern high-risers - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - "镇川门 (Zhèn chuān mén) / Gate of the River Calm" with four floors is one of the most important traditional architecture, a landmark in Yichang - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Lively scene on the shore. People are playing music, singing in the promenade park, the others are fishing on the waterfront - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Green waterfront of Yichang, park with flower trees - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The lock gate of the Gezhou Dam is just opening for the entrance of our ship - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - View back to the lock gate through which our ship entered . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . Another cruise ship behind us is just entering the lock - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Many passengers do not want to miss this rare opportunity - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - To see well, it is better to be on the upper deck of the ship! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - In China, power lines are stretched from mountain to mountain, across large rivers and valleys, as here across the great Yangtze River. A great achievement - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . A small peninsula on the river . . . . . . beautiful as in the Chinese fairytale world - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Our ship sails the stretch of the Yangtze River where the three world famous gorges can be admired. The first gorge in the direction of travel from Nanjing to Chongqing: the Xiling Gorge. At the beginning of the Xiling Gorge "西陵峡 (Xiling xia)" at the Sanyou Cave "三游洞 (Sanyou dong) / Three-Travelling Cave" near the city of Yichang (宜昌), the statue "张飞擂鼓台 (Zhang fei lei gu tai) / Zhang Fei on the Drum Platform" is located on the rock face. Zhang Fei (张飞) was one of the most famous generals of China's Three Kingdoms (三国-sanguo, 220 - 280 AD) period. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Inscriptions in the rock face "三峡天下壮请君乘船游 (Sanxia tienxia zhuang qian jun chengchuan you) / The Three Gorges are World Great. Welcome gentlemen on the boat trip" . We see that the water level has not changed compared to 1996, only the inscriptions are partly covered with plants. Above the inscriptions on the rock face, a wall path leads to the entrance of Sanyou Cave "三游洞 (Sanyou dong) / Three Travelling Cave" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - There are not only private villas on the mountain, at the top you can see a large hotel complex, the "龙泉山庄 (longquan shanzhuang) / Dragon Source courtyard" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The Xiling Gorge (西陵峡) is clouded by light fog, for me it seems in a very romantic mood - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The Xiling Gorge (西陵峡) is the longest (41 miles=66 km) and the deepest of the Three Gorges - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The rock faces are very high - seen from the ship - as if they grow up to the sky - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - They only look like it, but in reality they are very high, the cliffs on the Yangtze River - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - On the Yangtze cruise in 1996, an employee of the ship's staff who we know well told us: "长江(扬子江)除了著名的三峡还有小三峡, 小小三峡, 小小小三峡 / In besides the famous Three Gorges, the Yangtze also has the Little Three Gorges, the more Little Three Gorges and the Smallest Little Three Gorges". This is where most domestic and foreign Chinese tourists visit - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The rock faces are very high, have a unique structure and hue - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - We feel here that the water level is already higher than in 1996 - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Despite the higher water level, some parts of the gorge are still narrow and you can see the rock faces up close - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - One feels that the rocks could detach themselves from the cliff face and fall down - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The rock walls in the Xiling Gorge have a beautiful hue - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - With beautiful hue, the rock face In the Xiling Gorge - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Told by the ship's guides, we learn that there are small gorges deep in the tributaries of the Yangtze, some are very long but narrow and can only be rowed through by barge - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - In the midst of beautiful nature for a life of seclusion and for us, perhaps no wish remains - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Some parts of the three gorges are very narrow and we have the feeling that the ship is being crushed by the rock face - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Experience the gigantic rock face of the Yangtze at first hand - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A housing estate appears in front of us . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The fog is lifting, the sky is clear and the last rays of morning red appear. A beautiful mood, even if only briefly - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Up high . . . . . . . The rock face on the bank of the Yangtze - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - At the "观音渡口 (Guanyin dukou) / Guanyin ferry pier" at the "胡金滩 (Hujin Tan) / Hujin sandbank" with an exceptionally beautiful harbour hall on the Yangtze River, adapting the harmony of nature - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - An eagle hunting for fish. We often saw eagles in this area during the last Yangtze cruise in 1996 - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - For the onward journey, the ship has only one option . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Where there is no car road in the mountains, there are other means of transport - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A viewpoint with a pavilion. It must be exciting to look at the landscape from above, especially the Yangtze River and its gorges - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The old castle in the mountain village has become a tourist attraction - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A hiking trail along the cliff face of the Yangtze River - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The hiking trail along the cliff face of the Yangtze River - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - This cliffside hiking trail along the Yangtze River is several kilometres long. It connects from place to place, from worth seeing natural, unique landscape deep into the mountains and there you can also admire the small gorges - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - You can get to the "龙进溪码头 (Longjin Xi Matou) / Quay at the Dragon Entering River" from either direction of the Rock Wall Hiking Trail - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The "龙进溪码头 (Longjin Xi Matou) / Quay at the Dragon Entering River" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Sailboat on the Yangtze at the "龙进溪码头 (Longjin Xi Matou) / Quay at the Dragon Entering River" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - With the Rock Wall Hiking Trail (on the left in the picture), you walk up to the pavilion (on the rock in the picture), then you can continue through the Rock Wall Hiking Trail along the Dragon Entry River deep into the mountains or walk down to the "龙进溪码头 (Longjin Xi Matou) / Quay at the Dragon Entering River" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The "Quay at the Dragon Entering River" is the starting point to the "三峡人家 (Sanxia renjia) / Three Gorges Family" area, an exceptionally picturesque natural landscape area deep in the mountains at the Xiling Gorge . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . A "AAAAA"-class national tourist attraction in China, namely a scenic spot of the highest standard - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - At the mouth of the Dragon Entering River to the Yangtze is the "龙进溪码头 (Longjin Xi Matou) / Quay at the Dragon Entering River" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - The "Dragon Entering River" is a small tributary of the Yangtze River where travellers can take small boats into the exceptionally picturesque natural landscape area deep in the mountains. In the photo: a small sailing boat waits for travellers at the mouth of the river - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . A heavenly peaceful mood . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Houses are being built with a modern interior design. The unhygienic old houses are being demolished - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Life for the farmers along the Yangtze outside the harvest season: fishing - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Here, a bridge is being built for the car road along the rock face of the Yangtze River - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A rainbow! No, a bridge! . . . . . . . . How was it built? - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - This cruise ship was behind ours in the lock of the Gezhou Dam (葛洲坝 Gezhouba) near the city of Yichang (宜昌市 Yichang Shi), now it has almost reached us in the Xiling Gorge (西陵峡 Xiling xia) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Roads and bridges along the mountain banks in the mountains connect the residential areas on the Yangtze, as everywhere in China - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - An interesting light beam effect on the top of the mountain in the far distance - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . row . . . . . . . . row . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . row . . . . . . . . . . row . . . . . . . . . . rowing in your own world . . . . . . . away from the great current of life . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A small shipyard on the banks of the Yangtze River - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Living directly on the banks of the Yangtze, the longest river in the People's Republic of China - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - Life in the mountains, a mountain village almost in seclusion - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . Endless green mountains in layers . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - A view to the shore, to the mountains, we see smoke and terraced plantations. A large building (on the right in the photo), an agricultural product processing plant? . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . Beautiful and magnificent riverside scenery of China's longest current, the Yangtze River . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - At the pier near the "黄陵庙 (Huang ling miao) / Huangling Temple" of the city of Yichang, our ship waits like the others for the mooring place . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

© CHAU TRAN (QING LIAN)
2010, Yangtze-Cruise - . . . . . . . then we and the other travellers can disembark . . . . . . . . we then take a bus to the "Great Three Gorges Dam" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

will be continued . . .

Shanghai - Expo Shanghai - Yangtze-Cruise - Huangshan-Mountains - Chongqing - Hongkong

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