20070829_0490 Chongqing, viewed from the "Three Kingdoms" Liner. All those buildings are apartment blocks, I wonder how the residents sleep at night with all those flights flashing on and off!

20070829_0492 VIctoria Cruises vessel, docked at Chongqing, viewed from "Three Kingdoms" cruise liner. Mostly foreigners on board that vessel. By contrast, our "Three Kingdoms" vessel, although marketed as the same class and price as Victoria Cruises, had only three people on board who could not speak at least one dialect of Chinese (I was one of them).

20070829_0493 The Victoria Cruises ship starts her voyage. They start on the night of embarkation. Although we embarked at the same time, our vessel does not start until early the next morning, so we just get to sleep overnight in dock! Victoria Cruises also gets treated with a laser light show and loudspeaker music played from the shore when they set sail. I don't know why they are so special...

20070829_0501 Small pleasure boat on the Yangtze at Chongqing.

20070830_0502 The "Dragon" cruise ship tries to find some room between "Princess Elaine" and a cargo ship. Our cruise ship is about to set sail...

20070830_0506 Is that the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background?

20070830_0508 Chongqing

20070830_0512 Lots of bridges are being constructed across the Yangtze

20070830_0513 Bridge construction next to Chongqing (same bridge as in 0506 and 0512)

20070830_0515 This is a common bridge design across the Yangtze.

20070830_0523 A modern shrine, built across the river from New Fengdu. The head is a likeness of one of the Kings of Heaven (or perhaps of Hell), and is not far from Fengdu's Ghost City. The head is also the front edifice of a multi-storey hotel, the construction of which has been suspended for years!

20070830_0528 Ghost City, Fengdu. This is the second of three tests in order to go to heaven. The aim is the climb all these steps (the number of steps is the same as the Daoist number of heavens) in a single breath. DIdn't pass this test, myself, but then ....

20070830_0537 I still faced up to this guy, who listens to various advocates and accusers in determining who goes to heave. "Before the Throne of God Above, I have a strong, a perfect plea..."

20070830_0545 New Fengdu, on the opposite side of the river to the Ghost City. Old Fengdu used to be on the same side of the river as the Ghost City, but needed to be relocated because of the rising dam waters after the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Perhaps this is the opportunity for them to know a Great High Priest, whose name is Love.

20070830_0532 Another god-type figure in the Ghost City, just above the steps shown before. If you fail the 'climb the steps in one breath' test, there is an alternative test here, which involves trying to untangle characters which have been carved on top of each other on a stone.

20070830_0534 In the 'underworld' portion of the Ghost City, there is an avenue of multiple devil statues, representing various temptations. This one drinks too much!

20070830_0542 This is a new temple, still under construction. Temple to what? The tourist guide only told me that it was for tourists...

20070830_0543 The avenue of temptation demons. The other 'tests' in the Ghost City involved walking over a bridge with the correct number of steps (and placing either the left or right foot first, depending on whether you are a man or a woman), and balancing on a slippery stone for a few seconds.

20070830_0551 Somehow, this reminds me of the toaster next to the Sydney Opera House.

20070830_0553 There are not only bridges across the Yangtze, there are lots of new bridges built alongside the Yangtze as well. I guess there is a nice new road alongside both sides of the Yangtze, which makes me wish I could ride a motorbike...

20070830_0556 Coal ship on the Yangtze

20070830_0563 Dusk on the Yangtze. I think what used to be called the "Little Three Gorges" extends to the right of this photo.

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20070831_0572 Entering the first of the Three Gorges

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20070831_0575 Temple at the entrance of the first of the Three Gorges

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20070831_0589 Leaving the first of the Three Gorges

20070831_0590 Vehicle ferry on the Yangtze

20070831_0596 Looking over the stern of the "Three Kingdoms"

20070831_0599 Hydrofoils go up and down the Yangtze

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20070831_0615 The second of the Three Gorges

20070831_0617 Some part of this hill is supposed to resemble the Goddess of Mercy.

20070831_0632 Our cruise ship, the Three Kingdoms. We stayed on the top deck, right hand side. A really great spot! We virtually had a private sitting room at the rear of the boat, where we could view the Yangtze. I took photo 0599 from the sitting room.

20070831_0633 Badong bridge, next to Shennong stream

20070831_0638 Shennong Stream

20070831_0640 One of the relocated villages of Shennong Stream. As can be seen on the re-inforced embankment, the dam water is expected to rise further.

20070831_0642 The men of the Shennong Stream make their way along the Stream.

20070831_0647 A temple on the Shennong Stream. I think the guide said it was Buddhist, but it took a lot of repeated questioning (perhaps harassment) to get that answer from her...

20070831_0651 Shennong Stream

20070831_0655 Shennong Stream. One of the famous 'hanging coffins' is in a crevasse...

20070831_0657 The trackers of the Shennong Stream row the boat. The guide, partially obscured, can be seen facing the passengers. She has a fine singing voice! She sang two songs. One was a (slightly) audience participation song, the other was an alternating duet with the captain at the back of the boat.