Stephanie Kendall, a senior public relations major from Singapore, took part in the Baylor in China program this summer. In the eighth in a series of blog posts, Stephanie describes the three-day cruise she and other Baylor students took down the Yangtze River to see the amazing Three Gorges Dam.
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After leaving Xi’an and the Terracotta Army we took a short flight to Chongqing, where we visited the house where American General Joseph W. Stilwell lived while in China during World War II. Afterward we went to the Flying Tigers Museum, which pays tribute to the first American Volunteer Group (AVG) that helped the Chinese Air Force in the war. After this short tour of some of Chongqing’s landmarks we boarded our ship and headed on a three-day cruise down the Yangtze River to see the Three Gorges Dam.
Throughout the duration of the cruise we took short island excursions to visit different places along the Yangtze River. One of our first adventures was visiting a small village called Ghost City in Fengdu. This area is one of the most famous places to visit along the Yangtze River, due to its famous temples and architectural design that resembles heaven and hell.
During our tour we participated in various tasks designed to show our strength and determination to the gods to one day reach heaven. Some of these tasks included stepping over a bridge with exactly seven steps and balancing on a rock for a few seconds. I’m happy to say that all of us passed these tests!!
The following day we departed from our main cruise ship and took an hour-long boat ride to a rather small-looking floating house. To my dismay it was actually a small shop. On the other side there were a few bamboo boats, which we would take on a short boat ride through a narrow stream along the main river.
At the beginning of our trip our tour guide spoke in broken English and said he was sorry for not being the best, as he had only had a year to teach himself English. He began by telling us the history of his village and about how important this stream is to them. He told us that most of the locals walk up to six hours a day in hand-woven shoes to barely make enough money to provide for their families. Some of the men rowing were as old as 80, and others were as young as 18.
During this entire boat ride I was in complete awe and amazement at how driven the locals were. Their dedication, drive and strength really encouraged me to be grateful for the smallest of things I have in my life.
The night before our tour of the dam we all gathered on the top deck to see and experience the five different ship locks, which allow ships to move up and down the river past the dam. It was incredible sight to witness something that not many have seen.
The following day we explored the site of the Three Gorges Dam and learned about the construction and how it works. After the tour we boarded the cruise for a last destination before catching our flight to Shanghai for the end of our study abroad program.
PHOTO INFORMATION:
Top photo: Ghost City
Second photo: China’s Yangtze River
Third photo: One of the five ship locks on the river
Bottom photo: The Three Gorges Dam