China
Our trip to China was definitely awe-some and a trip of a lifetime!
Hong Kong
After over 14 hours of flying, we landed in Hong Kong in the early morning. We drove through the city as the sun came up and arrived to our hotel at dawn. The Ritz-Carlton is the perfect location to view Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island. After morning naps, we set out to see the city. Our first stop was to the delicious dim sum at Lin Heung Lau in Tsim Sha Tsui. Then we went touring to Nan Lian Garden and Wong Tai Sin Temple. We had dinner on property at their Italian restaurant Tosca di Angelo, which had exemplary service. Nona declared it the most amazing hotel experience of her lifetime.
Shenzhen, mainland China
We enjoyed a leisurely morning at the hotel and included in their delicious breakfast with many bites of dim sum. In the early afternoon, our car picked us up to take us to the cruise terminal, and where we officially enter China. It was more of a process than I had expected with the entry card, fingerprinting, and face photos. My passport got pulled for review as I have a few unofficial stamps from Antarctica. My heart was racing like crazy as I remembered reading a blog post where someone did not gain entry into China for unofficial stamps in their passport. After the longest 5 minutes of my recent life, they gave me back my passport and allowed my entry. Nona declared that she would not have gone without me. ***Reminder, do not put anything into your passport just for fun! Viking made the Shenzhen embarkation very easy and we settled into our staterooms. I toured the ship in the afternoon and it will be a lovely place to spend our adventure.
First Time Outrunning a Typhoon
Due to a Typhoon, our morning activity was cancelled. So we toured the ship, enjoyed the seafood BBQ launch lunch with oysters, clams and smoked mackerel, and set sail. In the afternoon, we attended the China Worldview & Values lecture. Then the seas became a wee bit rough for me and I got dizzy. I tried to weather through, but during the first few courses of dinner, I could barely eat. So I decided it was best for me to get horizontal and calm my spinning head.
Xiamen
We arrived early into Xiamen, with calm seas, and had successfully out ran the Typhoon. Nona and I went into Xiamen to walk around a fun shipping area near the ferry. We learned it was China’s Autumn Festival, and it was a treat to be in China during their national holiday. The streets were full of happy people celebrating and enjoying the sunshine.
We had an excursion to the Huihe Stone Cultural Park to view its exquisite stone carvings amid serene surroundings. We embarked on a scenic drive along Xiamen’s picturesque coastline and caught a glimpse of Gulangyu Island and its gleaming modern architecture. Upon arrival at the park, we took a stroll down the Cultural Corridor of Chinese Stones, featuring replica carvings showcasing Chinese stone culture. We walked through the park’s landscaped gardens along winding pathways and view peaceful ponds. We admired the works ranging from delicate and intricate figurines to large stone monuments depicting mythological, historical and cultural themes.
Pingtan Island
Today we visited the Haitan Coastal Defense Museum in Haitan Ancient Town on Pingtan Island. Located along the beautiful coastline of Tannan Bay, Haitan Ancient Town is a themed town that showcases the region’s culture and architecture, featuring authentic replicas of historic-style buildings and a fascinating museum. We followed our guide as we wandered narrow, cobblestone streets to the Haitan Coastal Defense Museum, where we had an opportunity to explore maritime exhibits, including a replica Chinese warship. Afterward, we took a stroll to view the buildings of Haitan Ancient Town and learn the fascinating stories of the Ming and Qing Dynasties that shaped China’s history, culture and society for centuries. We opted out of the museum tour early and watched the lady drummers. Then Papa had the great idea of a morning beer, so we found a cafe, negotiated the rate of two beers, and enjoyed our time watching the world go by. We learned from fellow passengers that this was indeed Viking’s last sailing of the South China Sea for the unforeseen future. It has been a dream trip for Papa and we are so happy to be onboard!
Dongtou
We started our day of touring with a visit to a local restaurant to enjoy a delicious seafood lunch. Afterwards, we admired sweeping sea views from the Wanghai Tower, a historic landmark. This centuries-old, five-story structure reaching 118 feet into the sky is a window into Dongtou’s past. Upon arrival, we walked through the scenic poetry corridor and pavilions to arrive at the renovated main building of Wanghai. Here, we toured some of its exhibition halls, where artifacts document the city’s development, folk heritage and fishing village customs. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the grounds at your leisure or you can choose to take the stairs up to the observation deck on the top floor.
Zhoushan
We arrived in Zhoushan and visited the Guanyin Altar an architectural masterpiece dedicated to Buddhist Representation of Mercy -- We reveled in the beauty and architectural wonder of the stunning Guanyin Altar. It is set against a majestic backdrop of low mountains and fronted by a tranquil lake, this monumental shrine to the Chinese Buddhist representation of mercy is the centerpiece of the Guanyin Culture Park—the world’s largest Buddhist cultural project. We admired the shrine’s white facade, decorated with gold ornamentation and accents, as our guide described the building’s historic, spiritual and architectural importance. Inside, we marveled at the magnificent wooden sculptures and statues from different dynasties. At the centerpiece is the immense dome, decorated with hundreds of statues set in coffered recesses reaching to its crown. We took our time to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful gardens.
Stunning Shanghai!
Our ship docked at the precipice of the Bund and the Shanghai Tower, the perfect balance of old and new. It was a glimpse of the city’s rich past and vibrant present. We embarked on a panoramic journey through dynamic Shanghai and basked in the tranquility of an urban oasis. We drove along the famous Bund—colonial-era Shanghai’s financial center—and viewed the inviting promenade along the Huangpu River. Old and new Shanghai are on full display, with colonial architecture towering over the Bund and the futuristic cityscape of the Pudong district gleaming across the river. We continued to the enchanting Yuyuan Garden—the only classical Chinese garden in Shanghai. Commissioned by a Ming Dynasty mandarin, the garden is five acres of pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters. We enjoyed an opportunity to stroll through this perfect gem of landscaping and architecture, admiring sights such as its 400-year-old ginkgo tree and bamboo groves, before returning toyour ship. And after our tour, we found the perfect perch at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant for a beer with the perfect view of the charming town and gardens.
Today we ascended an imposing megastructure and admire world-class art. We discovered Shanghai’s architectural evolution at China’s tallest building and admired Chinese art. We embarked on a scenic drive to Shanghai Tower; looming more than 2,000 feet high, this mega tall skyscraper holds the distinction of being modern-day Shanghai’s tallest structure and having the world’s highest observation deck. The Shanghai Tower's elevators are the world's fastest, reaching speeds of up to 67 ft/second, or 46 mph. This allows the elevator to travel up 118 stories in about 55 seconds. In less than a minute, we arrived to the more than 1,800-foot-high deck to admire sweeping views of the surrounding skyline and gained insight into the tower’s construction, along with other mega projects from around the world. Afterward, we visited the Shanghai Museum to admire the vast repository of Chinese art; its comprehensive collection includes a number of items that are regarded as national treasures. We especially enjoyed the jade and porcelain halls.
Qingdao, the Green Island
Today we toured the former “German Hong Kong” and enjoyed Tsingtao beers. We experienced the clear air, sweeping sea views and European influences of Qingdao during an orientation tour. Once a colony of both Germany and Japan, Qingdao straddles Jiaozhou Bay and boasts Asia’s longest beach. Proximal to Korea and Japan, it is also one of China’s most important trade centers. During a scenic city drive with our guide, we viewed half-timbered European houses and admired a colorful canvas of red roofs, green parks, blue sea and azure skies. We traveled through the Eight Great Passes and Old Town, past St. Michael’s Cathedral and the old city hall See Wusi Square (May Fourth Square), with its stunning May Wind sculpture. At the waterfront, we admired the Zhanqiao Pier and its golden pavilion, and enjoyed free time to explore. It was a fun day of learning about modern life and the booming maritime economy of Qingdao, known as China’s “Blue Silicon Valley” due to its marine technology industry.
A market tour today.
DAIIAN
We visited the largest martial arts-themed museum in China, Dalian Wushu Culture Museum for insight into Chinese Martial Arts, and enjoyed a performance of this ancient craft. Wushu, often referred to as kung fu, is a full-contact combat sport. This art form focuses on health and well-being as a primary goal while maintaining Chinese traditions and culture. Today, it is practiced worldwide and enjoyed by millions across the globe. We admired precious collections of ancient weaponry as we learned more about the philosophy of martial art forms, and watched a fascinating performance that showcased its spirit and values. We heard more about the various forms of Wushu and enjoyed a demonstration featuring acrobatics and combat skills during an inspiring exploration of Chinese culture.
Beijing
Our final stop was to China’s capital Beijing and I was able to achieve a life long goal of visiting the Great Wall of China!
