YICHANG - CHINA

Yichang is the last port town on the lower Yangtzi before the Three Gorges Dam when going up stream. Some of the cruises on the middle Yangtzi to Chongquin start or end here. There are cruises that begin much futher down the river, but they take much longer. We will miss the interesting places between Yiuchang and Wuhan. Actually Yichang is down stream from the Gezhou dam built years ago. But in order to avoid passing through that lock the cruise ship port is a few miles from Yichang and above that dam. Yichang was already an important commercial town during the Han Dynasty. The town lies for several miles close to the northern river bank. There are good hotels in town. But we arrive just before supper and after a fine meal in a resort hotel restaurant we drive upstream around the Gezhou dam to board our cruise ship. We will be going upstream against the current so the journey takes 5 days instead of 3 coming down stream. Fine, all the better to see more.

We arrive at the surprisingly modern airport for such a small city as Yichang.

There wasn't another inbound flight arriving at the same time we arrived - so not much traffic this time.

The highway into town goes descends down a valley to the river level. The bus driver stopped so we could photograph the rice paddy.

The highway into town goes descends down a valley to the river level. The bus driver stopped so we could photograph the rice paddy.

The highway into town goes descends down a valley to the river level. The bus driver stopped so we could photograph the rice paddy.

The highway into town goes descends down a valley to the river level. The bus driver stopped so we could photograph the rice paddy.

The highway into town goes descends down a valley to the river level. The bus driver stopped so we could photograph the rice paddy.

A farmer on his way home from labor in the field.

We pass rapidly through part of Yichang by bus to a resort restaurant. We didn't see much of the city - only a section along the river.

We pass rapidly through part of Yichang by bus to a resort restaurant. We didn't see much of the city - only a section along the river.

The entrance building to the resort hotel - restaurant complex.

The dining room in the Yichang restaurant - it was all set up and waiting for us to enjoy this buffet table.

The first quarter moon is above Venus as we arrive at the Yangtze and board our Victoria Line cruise boat.

There is a local band waiting on the dock to give us a fine musical send off, despite it being late at night.

The adventure tour continues on boad the Victoria line cruise boat in the section on Yangtze river.