Day 17-Gorge-ous part 2

We are supposed to assemble at 6.30am for our breakfast .Thereafter, we meet at 7am to board the cruise.

Tour guide is telling us about the plan for that day.
Our first stop for the day is 白帝城. We took our bus ticket and off we go to 白帝城. Zoom....

The Bus Interchange.Here is the bus interchange having all the bus that goes to白帝城only.
A group photo with 白帝城in the background.
The guang yin is located at the mouth of the 白帝城.
In order to reach白帝城, we need to climb up the flights of stairs. Eventually, when everybody reaches the top, we were all panting heavily.Some of the local who are lazy to climb the stairs, took the sedan which is being carried by two people each 40rmb up and 20 rmb down.This creates job opportunities for others as well.
This way to 白帝城.
Finally ,we reached 白帝城.Here is a group photo. We have until 9.20am of free and easy time before the boat leaves, thus we need to catch the last bus back to the bus interchange in order to get ready for boarding. Our next stop is the three gorges. The cruise ship will first pass by the third gorge than the second gorge than finally the first gorge. The three gorges is located along the Yangtze river with a length of approximate 120km, having the first gorge as the longest gorge.
Third Gorge
Second Gorge

This is the first gorge.Thereafter viewing the gorge, we assemble at 12pm to have our lunch before proceeding back to rest.Our lunch.I was awaken by the horning of the cruise to signal the arrival to another place which is called 神农溪。It is a river with two vertical limestone cliffs beside it.

Due to the construction of the 长江三峡大坝, the water level have risen thus the boat rower could not reach the ground to pull the boat up the steam. They can only row to a certain place and then turn around to row back. For every trip the go, they can earn each 25rmb.After this trip, we were send back to the cruise to rest while waiting for the dinner to served. After having our yummy dinner, our next activity starts at 10pm which is the sightseeing of the长江三峡大坝.

10.00pm:We all gathered at the deck of the cruise to watch the cruise entering the dam ship lift.The ship lift is designed to lift 3,000tons up with the water levels varied by 12 meters on the lower side, and 30 meters on the other side. It needs to take about 4 to 5 hours(heard from the captain)to get through the main locks.Afterthat the ship have entered the dam, it will lock the back gate before the water is being release to the same amount as the down stream water. Took this photo at 11.50pm. with the dam at the back.this picture marks the end of today.

Reflection:This was a fabulous trip that I really enjoyed .It was relaxing, interesting, and slow- paced. On the cruise , I get to see this part of China that have undergone dramatic changes during these years.

Poem of the day:

朝辭白帝彩雲間， 千里江陵一日還。

兩岸猿聲啼不住， 輕舟已過萬重山。

For my friends who couldn't understand Chinese,there is a translation below:

To Jiangling by night-fall is three hundred miles, Yet monkeys are still calling on both banks behind me To my boat these ten thousand mountains away.

In the poem, it stated Li Bai's joyful mood at that moment; he was really relieved and couldn't wait to get back. I could really feel what Li Bai was trying to express. It was so relaxing, with the breeze and the scenery, it gave me a "nothing really matters" feeling.