Explore More - 2017

80 VIKINGCRUISES.COM |

80 VIKINGCRUISES.COM | EXPLORE MORE 2017

JEWELS OF CHINA Clockwise, from left: The iconic Great Wall; a row of Chinese lanterns; stunning ancient Chinese architecture the great excitement of the day. David, our tour guide, kept us up to speed with our dynasties: the Shang, the Zhou, the Xin and the Tang—now it was the turn of the Ming and the Qing. A third regional flight took us to Beijing, China’s capital. During our three-night stay, we were privileged to meet the residents of a humble, single-story courtyard family home in the Hutong district and enjoy a traditional tea ceremony and a rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes. Another enormous thrill was climbing the Great Wall, with its astounding panoramic views. We were astonished when we left others behind and reached the Mongolian border in less than an hour. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also a treasured tourist destination of the Chinese. Shy requests for photos made us feel like film stars and we laughed when we discovered that their nickname for Westerners is “Big Noses.” Later, in Tiananmen Square, we whispered questions about the still very ANOTHER THRILL WAS CLIMBING THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA WITH ITS ASTOUNDING VIEWS delicate subject of the terrible events of 1989. Security is tight here—bags are searched and soldiers guard Mao’s mausoleum. It seemed everyone had arrived in the Forbidden City at once. Yet not even this could detract from the sheer majesty and grandeur of the gilded roofs, imperial gardens, pavilions and courtyards of the world’s largest surviving palace complex, once home to a long line of emperors. On a trip packed with so many incredible highlights, it’s hard to pick a favorite. Yet for me, cruising along the Yangtze River, dwarfed by the sheer-sided Three Gorges, was the most awe-inspiring part of our journey. Taking to a smaller river boat through the narrow Goddess Stream revealed a secret corner of China that has only recently been opened to visitors. Our local guide, who lived in a rural village that takes two hours to reach over a near-vertical mountain path, charmed us with her folklore tales and singing. The sweetness of her voice carried across the water, echoing around the limestone cliffs of that remote and pristine beauty spot, is one of the many special memories that we will now treasure forever. GETTING THERE: Viking offers a 13-day Imperial Jewels of China cruise, from Shanghai to Beijing, or in reverse. Go online: You can find out more about Viking Emerald and watch videos by visiting vikingcruises.com/videos EXPLORE MORE 2017 | VIKINGCRUISES.COM 81