I was truly breathless when I stood on the Great Wall - and not just from climbing the steps to reach the top of the wall! It looked like a gigantic dragon winding its way through the green mountains. Beijing's other important sites didn't fail to amaze me: the Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square and the Summer Palace, the largest imperial garden in the world. Beijing has plenty to show the world when it hosts the 2008 Olympics.
Another highlight was our visit to the terracotta warriors who silent guard the Tomb of the Emperors in Xian. What an amazing archeological treasure-trove; imagine it was accidentally found by farmers in the 1970s. And Shanghai was a lovely blend of a modern, bustling city and important historic sites. Another remarkable experience was simply watching the local monks carry on in their daily lives throughout Tibet. I was humbled observing the simple way they live.
My fellow travelers and I fully took advantage of shopping for bargains throughout China. We also enjoyed trying all of the native foods offered to us on our many included meals.
Cruising along the Yangtze River was a mystical experience. Our ship and onboard accommodations were more than comfortable. There were plenty of gathering places on board to relax with new friends. Watching the scenery pass by from the deck was a great way to spend some free time; we also had the opportunity to choose from a handful of shore excursions. The meals and wine onboard were excellent!
On this tour and river cruise, I learned more about this region of Asia than I ever could have imagined; seeing, touching, smelling and hearing the sights up close is so much more rewarding than learning about them in books or photographs. It was a trip that was truly unforgettable.
