Yangtze River Cruise

Alright so after Xi’an (shee-anne), we went to Chongqing (chong-ching) to board a cruise ship; but we got to look around the city for a bit before boarding.

Chongqing was the war capital of China during WWII (what they refer to as “the anti-japanese war”). Why’s this interesting? because you can still see bomb shelters built deep into the mountains of Chongqing – these are now being rented out by citizens from the government.  The population of this “small city” is 32 million. Yes, folks – the approx. population of Canada is “small” according to Chinese people.

We boarded President Cruises No. 6 Friday June 22, 2007.

Saturday June 23, 2007
We went to Ghost City in Feng Du (where I had to climb over 400 steps….goodness). This place consists of Taoism and Buddhism temples. Although it concentrates on the two major Chinese religions, it is believed that ghosts from all over the world, regardless of religion, race, and gender, come to Ghost City to be judged after their death. Those worthy go to Heaven (or a similar rewarding place depending on what they believed in) and those who were damned went to hell – which is believed to be Ghost City. Citizens of Feng Du believe that the ghosts wander the streets after midnight and so they stay home. There is a statue of the God of Hell (oxymoron?) which does NOT represent the devil. The God of Hell is just in charge of judgment and punishment. Punishment examples: cutting off your tongue for lying, cutting your body in half for bigamy.  All in all, it was an interesting place….whether or not you believe the stories.

Sunday June 24, 2007
I realized that this cruise was probably the most relaxing part of my trip so far. Even though I haven’t gotten up past 6am on any day, my cruise days have consisted a lot of sitting and relaxing with a book or just enjoying the view. The purpose of the Yangtze River cruise was to see the famous 3 Gorges and the huge Dam Project (which costs 23 billion US dollars and requires the displacement/relocation of 1.3 million citizens due to the rising water levels which submerge lower land!).  The Dam Project is supposed to be completed in 2009. 
The scenery of the 3 gorges is beautiful. All you see is mountain after mountain, cliff after cliff, and waterfalls trickling down the side of sheer mountain drops. Nature paints the perfect picture, as they say.  You can even see little farms and fields where people own and work on the hilly terrain.
A weird sight you have to know about: Hanging/Suspended Coffins. These are coffins made of special wood which are excellent for preserving bones for more than 130 years. These coffins are in little caves in the mountain walls. The mystery behind hanging coffins is that nobody knows how people put them there. Imagine a huge mountain wall with a random coffin in a hole – so far off the river and so far below the top that you can’t get to it. There are no steps or attachments to access them.

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In Chongqing, I bought a painting. A simple picture of flowers in bloom…painted by an artist with no arms.  Mr. Huang Guofu lost his arms at the age of 4 in an electrical accident. Growing up, he never had the chance at a proper education, so he decided to earn money by painting. He learned to paint with his feet and mouth. The paintings are nothing short of amazing. You’ve seen Chinese paintings – they are the same, except his are more awe-inspiring. Watching him paint with his mouth was unbelievable. He is an example of a strong individual who lives the phrase ‘you can do anything you put your mind to’. He paints and earns money for his family and gives his earnings to charity as well. A giving, remarkable man who faced and overcame difficult obstacles.
I bought the painting to remind me of my good fortune in life – how lucky I am. It also reminds me of one man’s strength, will, and determination. It reminds me that I have everything to be thankful for.