China, Yangtze River, Shanghai, Beijing, terracotta soldiers

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Nice start to the festive season. Admiring decorations at Singapore airport.

Fantastic view from our room in Shangri-La Pudong hotel, Shanghai

Pavilions in the Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai

Two lions guard the entry in the Yuyuan Garden

It is called garden Yuyuan because yu in Chinese means peace and health - a place of peace and comfort in the heart of busy Shanghai.

Yuyuan Garden is the best rockery garden in Southern China.

Elegant entry and intricate walkways in the garden.

Enjoying peaceful atmosphere in the garden.

Yuyuan Garden, established as a private garden in central Shanghai, is one of the finest well-preserved ancient gardens in China.

There are many decorative rocks in Yuyuan Garden.

Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden with lovely pagodas, rockeries and fountains located in Anren Jie, Shanghai.

Princess Diana's portrait next to the Chairman Mao, silk embroidery, featuring exquisite craftsmanship and immaculate execution.

We visited Chinese Embroidery Gallery. It could take up to 2 years to finish one project.

Enjoying Chinese lunch at the local restaurant.

Beautiful Chinese painting on silk.

We visited Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art. This is child-shaped pillow with black design on a white ground, Jin Dynasty, A.D. 1115-1234

Glazed pottery figurine.

Elegant porcelain vase.

Blue glazed vase with golden and silvery design of peaches, Qing Dynasty.

Vase with Fencai design of a hundred deers, 18th century.

Visit to a local silk carpet workshop. Our bus was much heavier afterwards but we had a few smiling faces.

Snow bunny (real snow!) on the grounds of the Wuhan museum.

Enjoying musical performance of the museum's noted collection of chimes and bells.

Charming performance by children from the Yueyang, school, sponsored by Viking River Cruises.

Happy kids, loved to be photographed.

There is no heating in the classroom. There could be 40 or more children in the class. But they are learning fast.

We were celebrity and could not leave school without signing autographs.

We are saying goodbye to children. It was a moving experience.

Viking Century Sun, our 5-star floating hotel for the next 6 days.

Enjoying sunny day on sundeck.

Gates are opening...

... and we continue our sailing along the Yangtze River.

Enjoying sunset from the balcony of our cabin.

We are on our way to the lookout point to take in China's largest construction project, the colossal Three Gorges Dam. You can see in and out locks with up to 8 ships getting through in either direction.

On top of the world.

Our local guide explains the immence scope of the project to be fully operational by 2011.

Scenic cruising through Wu (Witches) Gorge.

Cruising the Yangtze River into the exquisite Three Gorges.

Qutang Gorge, the uppermost of the famed three gorges of the Yangtze.

New suspension bridge connecting two villages.

Dramatic sunset on Yangtze River.

On board of the sightseeing vessel for a cruise on the Daning River.

In the morning we spotted lonely swimmer in the Yangtze River.

Sailing the Yangtze River.

Watching how Chinese worker chisels concrete blocks.

We are on our way to visit Shibaozhai Pagoda.

Posing next to the largest bonsai tree.

Walking wabbly suspension bridge to get to the pagoda.

Shibaozhai Pagoda, a red pavilion that hugs the side of the rock.

The creation of the pagoda is attributed to the goddess Nuwo, who caused a rock slide while she was redecorating the sky after a fierce battle between two warring dukes.

Yellow entrance gate decorated with lions and dragons and etched with an inscription inviting visitors to climb the ladder and ascend to the top.

The temple at the top of the rock.

Panoramic view of the river down below the temple.

We enjoyed sumptuous Chinese farewell dinner and for a moment we forgot that this was our last night aboard deluxe Viking Century Sun.

Our waitress at the restaurant.

People exercising Tai Chi in the Chongqing Zoo.

Special outfits for Tai Chi exercise.

Going through the Tai Chi routine oblivious to the people around him.

Mother and baby statue in the zoo.

Red Panda too shy to see us.

The Giant Panda Bear in the Chongqing Zoo.

Lazy panda lying on its back and enjoying bamboo.

Chinese girl watching panda.

Enjoying breakfast and excellent living condition

Proud owner of 2 Panda's bags!

Learning about Chinese art.

Painting inside the glass urn. Price tag NZ$760.

None of us dared to taste.

Newly weds offering male guests cigarettes and sweets to children. Different cultures, different traditions and values.

New tenement buildings all over the country.

An army of clay warriors.

Each warrior's face is different.

Warriors with horses.

Full size terracotta warrior.

Full size terracotta archer.

High ranking general in the Terracotta Army.

Smiling faces, we are heading to have lunch at a local restaurant.

Proud ownner of a stunning six-panel screen decorated with jade and other stones. She was very happy with the price, including shipping and insurance.

Special dinner prepared for us by Chief Chef in Shangri-La hotel, Beijing. We run out of time to change for the occasion. Everyone said that they tested the best dishes ever. Presentation was 5 star plus. A truly memorable experience!