On the Mark We just returned from the Viking 10 day tour Beijing, Xian, Yangtze, Shanghai. Read your blog before going. It was a great reassurance and totally on the mark. Other than my wife falling in the Forbidden City and getting a knot on her forhead and an enormous black eye, we had a great time. Food was great (especially the filet on Century Sky) and Viking guide, Jamie, was exceptional. We were stressed with walking and lots upon lots of steps. Admire the way you found time to do your daily journal on top of everything else. Thanks.
Thanks for your kind comments. Having a laptop with me certainly helped as I don't know that I could have captured as much detail if I had to hand write it. I hope that you enjoy your trip to China as much as we did.
Thanks for your info What an excellent (and erudite) account of your tour. All of us who are considering a trip are interested in the nuts and bolts of the experience, because that is really a major part of the deal. I am reassured from your account that Viking does a good job--since my mom and I love Chinese meals, I think that one part of the tour that you found questionable will be ok for us. We are not going to Tibet (the altitude would be too much for my mom, and I have been known to suffer from altitude sickness as well), but I am thinking that the extended river trip would be fun. A lot of stuff that one finds on the web borders on illiterate, and I really appreciate your expressive account.
Reply to Al That would be a difficult question for me to answer since my experience is only in one direction...however, if I was to repeat the trip I think I would do it in the same direction - Beijing to Shanghai. I found Shanghai to feel somewhat less crowded and more of a "vacation city" than Beijing. Also, Shanghai came after the relaxing trip on the river that renewed our vigor after lots of touring. We stayed over an extra two days and found that Shanghai was an easy place in which to get around and probably had more to do for an independant tourist. The differences are not that dramatic so I would think that either direction would not disappoint.
We did not have any trouble with our laptop while in Tibet. Also used the computers at the hotel in order to connect with the Internet as they had no in-room connections. I am sure that you will have a wonderful time. The Tibetan people are very friendly as are the Chinese.
Laptop Terrific Blog! Thank you for taking the time to post it! We are planning to take the same tour next year. I heard that computer hard drive are prone to crashing at high altitudes. Did you have any problems with your laptop in Lhasa?
In the hutongs you won't find names of restaurants written in English. In fact, you won't find menus written in English! Fortunately we were with friends who live in Beijing who speak and read the language. I would not recommend visiting this restaurant without being accompanied by someone who speaks and reads Chinese as I am sure that the staff knows no English whatsoever! Although, the menu does have a photo of each dish and I suspect that pointing might work. If you REALLY want to know the name I can email to Beijing and get it for you. If so, email me at ClarenceThomas3@hotmail.com. BTW, you cannot take a taxi to an address inside of the hutong. You will need to use a pedicab of which there is no shortage! But then you will need the address written in Chinese characters!
The museum was a stop on the bus tour of the entire dam site. I, for one, could have skipped the museum but others enjoyed it. However, if you are on the tour there is no way to skip it other than to remain on the bus. The remainder of the bus tour of the dam area was certainly worthwhile. Thinking back, there was little that could be done to change things as this occurred after disembarkation and eventually got us to the airport for the flight to Shanghai!
Thank you! This is the best detail I have seen about a Viking trip, and especially appreciated the photos of the hotels and cabins. I marvel at your commitment to notes. Thank you very much!
Howdy Clarence! Hey there! Great Blog!! I just joined here and am enjoying it thus far! Nice trip you two made! How exciting! I've always wanted to travel to China. Nice to see ya here! :-))
Thanks for your report My wife and I are leaving tomorrow for a Viking River Tour trip to China. Our trip will be the reverse of yours, that is we are starting in Shanghai and winding up in Beijing. Prior to that, we are going to Hong Kong and Guilin.
Your report has alleviated some of our anxieties and has increased our anticipation.
Thanks for your report My wife and I are leaving tomorrow for a Viking River Tour trip to China. We are going first to Hong Kong and then on the reverse of your trip, Shanghai, cruise and ending in Beijing. Your report has alleviated any anxieties that we may have had, and increased the anticipation. Thankds
Thanks for posting this! I've only had a chance to read bits and pieces so far but am really enjoying your trip blog. So glad to hear you went to Tibet. As you say, it's a place you'll always remember.
Great review Thomas--
Your review is fabulous! So well written, and just enough details. Perhaps you've missed your calling in life!
Shirley B
Cruises...and more
Bldgs A, B & C All three buildings are connected as one but have separate outside entrnces so you don't have to walk from Bldg. A every time if your room is in Bldg. C as was ours. Bldg. A is the main reception, restaurant and convention center. I presume that there are rooms upstairs but I did not look. Bldg. B has a large meeting room right off of the downstairs lobby and Bldg. C has some small shops off of the lobby. It was not a burdensome walk to get from Bldg. C to the restaurants in Bldg. A. I have no idea what the other guest rooms looked like but ours was large, comfortable and well equipped.
Have a great trip! We hope the rest of your trip continues as smoothly as it began! Looking forward to updates when you can "blog" some more!
Have fun!
We are a retired American couple in our early 70's who enjoy traveling the world and seeing new and exciting cultures. We have visited all 7 continents and about 75 countries. We live in Maryland during the summer and Florida (snowbirds!) during the winter. Unfortunately, due to a heart attack on Christmas morning of 2007 our desires to be locked into a long aluminum tube for hours on end has waned. It looks like our days of international travel have come to an end. We are so happy that we had the opportunity to see so much when we were able. Now we will sit back and enjoy the blogs of o... full info
Rick Charles
non-member comment
On the Mark
We just returned from the Viking 10 day tour Beijing, Xian, Yangtze, Shanghai. Read your blog before going. It was a great reassurance and totally on the mark. Other than my wife falling in the Forbidden City and getting a knot on her forhead and an enormous black eye, we had a great time. Food was great (especially the filet on Century Sky) and Viking guide, Jamie, was exceptional. We were stressed with walking and lots upon lots of steps. Admire the way you found time to do your daily journal on top of everything else. Thanks.