Wake up call 7:00 am. Breakfast buffet 8:00 am. Leave tips for the crew in the gratuity box by the cashier at check out. Cruise host was Herbert. He provided on deck/ship narration, etc. His gratuity is in an envelope delivered personally to him. Complete evaluation form. Disembark our ship around 9:00 am. We are now in the mountain city of Chongqing. During WWII this city was China's wartime capital.
Christina will be our guide for the day in Chongqing. Our group of 7 is joined by a larger group whose China tour ends before ours. They have booked a shorter tour with China Spree. Our first stop is the Chongqing Zoo specifically to see the giant pandas. As we walk through the zoo we see a Tai Chi demonstration and lots of other animals-hippos, tigers, red panda.
Then we visit the General Stillwell Museum to see the "Flying Tigers" exhibit. The main building of the General Joseph W. Stillwell Museum is his former residence. The museum was founded in the memory of Joseph Stillwell, an American general who contributed a great deal to the Chinese people. In 1942 during WWII General Stillwell acted under orders to come to Chongqing. He worked as Chief of Staff in the China Theater of Operations and as the Commander-in-Chief of the American Army in the China Burma India Theater. He cemented a profound friendship with Chinese people fighting side by side. The Flying Tigers was the first American volunteer group of the Chinese Air Force. The Flying Tigers was composed of pilots from the US Army Air Corps, the US Navy, and the US Marine Corps. They were recruited under FDR's authority before Pearl Harbor and they were commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. Their mission was to bomb Japan and defend China. The group first saw combat on 12/20/1941.
We also get to walk through some of the city's narrow alleyways and streets. We see wash hanging on lines, outdoor stalls, a building when groups are playing mahjong, pass peppers being dried out. Then we're given a choice-free time to wander or a Chinese foot massage. I opted for the foot massage as did Frank. Boy, did that hurt! Then Frank and I met the others and while we were all walking spotted some from the other group having a bite at McDonald's!! I popped in and asked What?? They said they needed a break from Chinese food!
Our group of 7 then stops for dinner and then transfers to the airport for our flight to Guilin. Our Air China flight departs Chongqing at 8:55 pm. We are met in Guilin by our guide Peter. Taken to the Guilin Park Hotel where we have 3 nights. It is now late, I'm tired and tomorrow looks to be a busy day. Time for bed.
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| Ticket to the zoo |
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| Lan Xiang |
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| Tai Chi |
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| Red panda |
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| Looks like a cross between a fox and a raccoon |
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| South China tiger |
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| Statues |
Then we visit the General Stillwell Museum to see the "Flying Tigers" exhibit. The main building of the General Joseph W. Stillwell Museum is his former residence. The museum was founded in the memory of Joseph Stillwell, an American general who contributed a great deal to the Chinese people. In 1942 during WWII General Stillwell acted under orders to come to Chongqing. He worked as Chief of Staff in the China Theater of Operations and as the Commander-in-Chief of the American Army in the China Burma India Theater. He cemented a profound friendship with Chinese people fighting side by side. The Flying Tigers was the first American volunteer group of the Chinese Air Force. The Flying Tigers was composed of pilots from the US Army Air Corps, the US Navy, and the US Marine Corps. They were recruited under FDR's authority before Pearl Harbor and they were commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. Their mission was to bomb Japan and defend China. The group first saw combat on 12/20/1941.
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| View from the museum |
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We also get to walk through some of the city's narrow alleyways and streets. We see wash hanging on lines, outdoor stalls, a building when groups are playing mahjong, pass peppers being dried out. Then we're given a choice-free time to wander or a Chinese foot massage. I opted for the foot massage as did Frank. Boy, did that hurt! Then Frank and I met the others and while we were all walking spotted some from the other group having a bite at McDonald's!! I popped in and asked What?? They said they needed a break from Chinese food!
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| Getting a Chinese foot massage was painful! |
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| Square where we met up after our massage |
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| We were tired of Chinese food! |
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| Even in China there's McDonald's |
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Our group of 7 then stops for dinner and then transfers to the airport for our flight to Guilin. Our Air China flight departs Chongqing at 8:55 pm. We are met in Guilin by our guide Peter. Taken to the Guilin Park Hotel where we have 3 nights. It is now late, I'm tired and tomorrow looks to be a busy day. Time for bed.
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| Dinner |
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| Ticket-Air China #4385 Chongqing to Guilin |
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| Our hotel in Guilin |
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