Day 154: Friday, April 30th, 2010. Chengdu to(plane)(train)(metro) Shanghai, China. Per Intrepid notes, "On day 12 we take a private transfer to Chengdu Airport (approx. 1 hr) for our flight to Shanghai (approx. 2.5 hrs). Upon arrival at Shanghai Pudong airport, we take the Maglev - the world's fastest train - and then the subway to our hotel (approx. 1 hr).

Blending 21st-century architecture with old-world character, Shanghai is the vibrant pulse of new China. In our time here we go on a walking tour of historical areas of the city, such as the Bund with its spectacular array of art-deco style buildings. Choose where you would like to explore next, perhaps go across the river to take in the sights of Pudong - the modern financial centre - with its amazing skyscrapers such as the iconic ... read more

Day 152: Wednesday, April 28th, 2010. Fengdu to(bus) Chongqing to(train) Chengdu, China. Per Intrepid notes, "Days 10-11 Chengdu: At the end of our Yangzi cruise we arrive at the port city of Fengdu in the morning of day 10 and from there transfer by bus to Chongqing (approx. 3 hrs). From here, we catch a day train to Chengdu (approx. 4 hrs) to arrive by early evening. After check in we will take a short orientation walk of the local area surrounding our hotel. 

It might be one of China's biggest cities but Chengdu has preserved plenty of its traditional flavour and visitors will still find famous tea houses set in the grounds of Wenshu Temple, numerous markets and some of the most interesting food in China. If you like it hot then this is the ... read more

Day 150: Monday, April 26th, 2010. Yangtze River Cruise: Badong, China. We are awoken 30 minutes before breakfast by gentle chinese music playing softly in the speakers in our room- kind of cool. Then, silence for 20 minutes before the music comes back along with a voice telling us its time for breakfast. Last night we met the mysterious voice, a girl named Coco who is studying English. Her studying has payed off- she speaks it well. Better than me- not saying much though. We went up to the Three Gorges Dam, took a bus to the top of it so we could look around. I don't get dams. I mean, I understand the purpose and all, but for some reason they don't impress me. I don't have the engineering mind so it doesn't sink in ... read more

Day 148 Saturday, April 24th, 2010. Yangshuo, China to overnight train (will arrive in Yichang, China on 4/25 and will start Yangtze River Cruise then). Per Intrepid notes, "On day 6 we travel to Liuzhou by public bus in the late afternoon (approx. 3.5 hrs) and board the most basic train of our trip for the overnight journey to Yichang (approx. 18 hrs)." We don't leave Yangshuo until later afternoon so myself, Paul, Sue, Bruce and Gloria signed up for a cooking class excursion. Our guide picked us up at the hotel around 9am and led us thru a park to the market that I had visited last time with Judy, Dick and Rita (the one where they sell dogs). The guide told us which area not to look at (unless we really wanted to) and ... read more

Day 146: Thursday, April 22nd, 2010. Yangshuo, China. Per Intrepid notes, "Arriving in Guilin early in the morning, we transfer by public bus to the small countryside town of Yangshuo (approx 1.5 hrs). 

After checking into our hotel in Yangshuo your leader will take you on an orientation walk around the town pointing out some of the things you need to know to help you get the most out of your time in here such as where to sample the best local noodles and some of the most interesting places to shop. Our hotel in Yangshuo is clean, twin-share and centrally located with laundry facilities available.

The countryside around Yangshuo is immortalised in many traditional Chinese paintings - picture immense limestone karsts dotting the rural landscape and towering spectacularly over rice paddies and the meandering Li River. ... read more