Fengdu and Shi Bao Zhai

All day temples! And steps!

But, first things first. The boat had a laundry package, not a per item price list, so, yes for 128RMB or $20.31, clean clothes!

The cruise included three tours with two optional tours. It's not like we'll be back soon so we booked the other two as well.

Fengdu, the Ghost City,  is like the theme park of the underworld and not at all unlike the one part of the temple in Xi'an at Daxingsham. It was only 200 steps to the top but no one had any problems getting there. On one set of steps, people under the age of thirty-three were supposed to race up the last thirty-three steps according to custom. Our local guide beat me but I did win my age group and finished second. Last, too.

The next few pictures are all from Fengdu, and the ones that make Facebook later will give a much better picture. Buddhism, like Christianity, is concerned with the afterlife, and many of the statues and demons depict the things that happen to those who lead the wrong life.

The temple at Fengdu.

The emperor.

First of the three Buddhas.

Second of three Buddhas side by side.

Buddha on an elephant.

This is the bridge to Shi Bao Zhai and the start of a walk and climb tour. The boat was rafted off of several other Yangtze cruise ships and we walked through them to reach the gangplank and shore. The Three Gorges Dam project has raised the level of the river by 150 meters. We walked uphill from the new docks through the new city to reach the bridge in the photo. The city was built in 1996 to house those displaced by the dam. Each family was given 5,000RMB to buy a home but speculators beat them to the punch and the local economy collapsed. (There is a lot of wealth in China but not everyone shares in the prosperity.) Many parents have left the area, leaving their children with the grandparents, to seek prosperity elsewhere and send money home.

Bridge to Shi Bao Zhai.

The pagoda, which often flooded naturally before the dam project, had had a levee/dike built around it to keep the water at bay. Restoration was still going on and workers were carry large stone slabs by an ingenious array of bamboo poles, singing a workman's song as they passed. Even the rests were choreographed by resting the bamboo on lengths of rebar while they gathered strength for the next leg. Yes, they crossed the same bridge we did. LFW.

The eight levels of the pagoda as seen from the levee. They did not raise the pagoda, only the river and the levees to keep it dry.

One of the towers of the pagoda.

The Yangtze from the top level of the pagoda.

Again, the pictures tell it better but we climbed all eight levels and had a leisurely walk down the back side. Just like the Forbidden City, one does not exit by the same way that they entered. In and out required us to run the gauntlet of vendors and beggars. Debbie bought a small bowl for 20RMB that was originally priced at 120RMB. Everybody was happy with that transaction.

Dinner was good, and served on the traditional Lazy Susan. More than enough for everybody. Tomorrow is the White Emperor City and a very important piece of vacation gear will give up the ghost in a totally unexpected and inopportune moment.