| Cruising the Yangtze - A Charming Visit Through China. By Phyllis S. Waring |
My husband and I traveled to China in
March 2006 for our 15th wedding
anniversary and to celebrate my
retirement. The 17 day tour
(sponsored by Viking River Cruises)
included a four day cruise along the
Yangtze River and stays in 5 star
hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and
Chonquin, China. We have traveled
extensively and all over the world but
this was by far our most rewarding
vacation. The tour guide and the local
people treated us like celebrities! The
day we visited the Badaling section of
the Great Wall of China, it was only
19 degrees. Very cold! But the Great
Wall of China and the Terra Cotta
Soldiers are both awesome sites and
definitely not to be missed!
March 2006 for our 15th wedding
anniversary and to celebrate my
retirement. The 17 day tour
(sponsored by Viking River Cruises)
included a four day cruise along the
Yangtze River and stays in 5 star
hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and
Chonquin, China. We have traveled
extensively and all over the world but
this was by far our most rewarding
vacation. The tour guide and the local
people treated us like celebrities! The
day we visited the Badaling section of
the Great Wall of China, it was only
19 degrees. Very cold! But the Great
Wall of China and the Terra Cotta
Soldiers are both awesome sites and
definitely not to be missed!
We traveled in a tour group of 26 people. We booked the trip through RiverCruises.com who secured a very
substantial discount as he has often done for us on previous vacations. The Chinese people were excited and happy
to have African American visitors and went out of their way to welcome and please us---often approaching us to hug
us or ask to have their photos taken with us. Young children greeted us in English and with smiles in every city and
site that we visited. Our hotel stays included the Westin Hotel (voted by Conde Naste Traveler magazine as the best
hotel in the world), The Shangri La Hotel, and Xian Hilton. Not to mention the great shopping bargains to be had.
Surely the best in the world! Who could ask for more? I would strongly encourage every Black American to share
this same experience. My husband and I agree that we would visit China again and again. We were treated like
royalty in every site and City that we visited. The Chinese should recieve the gold star award for customer service.
Never did we feel either unsafe or threatened except perhaps by the atrocious traffic!
Plan a trip to China as soon as possible. You will not regret it. Before our visit we were concerned about the
sometimes negative images of Blacks that have been portrayed by the media in America and how these images of us
may impact our reception by the Chinese. What we found is that we were honored, accepted and respected
throughout our travels in China and greeted with hugs, kisses, handshakes by everyone from children to Chinese
elders with warmth and sincerity. We love China and cannot wait to return.
substantial discount as he has often done for us on previous vacations. The Chinese people were excited and happy
to have African American visitors and went out of their way to welcome and please us---often approaching us to hug
us or ask to have their photos taken with us. Young children greeted us in English and with smiles in every city and
site that we visited. Our hotel stays included the Westin Hotel (voted by Conde Naste Traveler magazine as the best
hotel in the world), The Shangri La Hotel, and Xian Hilton. Not to mention the great shopping bargains to be had.
Surely the best in the world! Who could ask for more? I would strongly encourage every Black American to share
this same experience. My husband and I agree that we would visit China again and again. We were treated like
royalty in every site and City that we visited. The Chinese should recieve the gold star award for customer service.
Never did we feel either unsafe or threatened except perhaps by the atrocious traffic!
Plan a trip to China as soon as possible. You will not regret it. Before our visit we were concerned about the
sometimes negative images of Blacks that have been portrayed by the media in America and how these images of us
may impact our reception by the Chinese. What we found is that we were honored, accepted and respected
throughout our travels in China and greeted with hugs, kisses, handshakes by everyone from children to Chinese
elders with warmth and sincerity. We love China and cannot wait to return.
| A photo of our tour group at the Badaling section of The Great Wall. |