Last Day on the Yangtze River

One day short of half way. What seemed like a long trip will be half over tomorrow.

I practiced taking pictures with my iPod even though I will be using Bernie's camera again today. Somehow it doesn't seem right to use her pictures here.

Early morning, Yangtze River 1

Early morning, Yangtze River 2

Early morning, Yangtze River 3

The Three Gorges Dam Project is China's pride and joy. It produces 1.3 Gigawatts of power from thirty-two turbines. It is 1.4 miles long and raised the water level behind the dam by 150 meters. It displaced over a million people and almost as many acres of farmland. It required a five channel ship lock that can accommodate four ships in each lock at one time. The passage takes four hours and is free to all ships. It was clean, modern, and crowded.

River and dam

The Three Gorges Dam

The three Gorges Dam

One more gorge after the dam and the Yangtze will be finished. The last gorge was just like the Yangtze looked before the dam project.

Entering the final gorge.

Xiling Gorge

Rock formations in the gorge.

After a hurried lunch, the car was waiting and we were on our way to the airport by way of the Tung Vai, a displaced people who now earn their living selling their cultural art, and the Feng Shui Institute. Just like Chongqing, there was no need to get us to the airport too soon and there were ample opportunities to spend money.

Tung Vai craftswomen. The best can split a thread into sixteen parts.

Posing.

Debbie and Bernie bought her artwork.

We did see some sights in Yichang. This is the bell tower.

This is the Yangtze River as it passes through Yichang.

And the obligatory out the window shot.

Car and driver were waiting and we were at The Courtyard Mariott by Puxi in Shanghai in what is now the usual hour journey from the airport to the hotel. My alarm is set and tomorrow my first stop will be Nikon Repair. (I already know how that turns out.)