however, Chongqing now has its own status as a special municipality but its heart remains Sichuan. By far the best
meals of our trip were in these two cities. Following the recommendation of the concierge at the Crown Plaza in
Chengdu, we took a taxi to the Gingko Restaurant where we had a wonderful meal in a beautiful place with
outstanding service--actually, quite refined and elegant. This is one of the few places that dressing appropriately was
important. The charming waitress helped us select our dishes and her suggestions were superb. Again, referring to my
notes; "It may have been the best Chinese food I have ever had." Later we were told that it is "the best" restaurant in
the city. As was the norm on this trip, whenever we deviated from the "tourist trail", we found ourselves to be the
only non-Chinese in sight. Our best experiences were at these times.
from here that the San Diego Zoo pandas come as well as the others within the
United States. There is an extensive nursery with several doctors in attendance taking
gentle care of the new pandas--particularly those who are motherless for any number
of reasons. The toddler, teen-age and adult pandas freely roam in large, open areas
separated from visitors by only dry moats and small fences. We were able to be very
close to them as they entertained with their playfulness and exercises. The base itself
is quite large as not only is the bamboo cultivated there, a separate area is home to
the rare red pandas--which look like red raccoons. They hide in the trees and so can
be difficult to spot. We did get to see them, fortunately.
the Wuhou Temple and the Du
Fu Thatched Cottage. Both of
these are set in beautiful, lush
gardens with lovely trees and
very luxurious, elegant and sophisticated, was an upscale department store which we wandered through. Just like at
home, prices were high and we saw no real bargains but it was interesting. With most Chinese citizens earning small
salaries, we wonder who the clientele is for such merchandise. We did not see people wearing such upscale clothes.
Yangtze cruise, we walked through the streets. Well-dressed men and women were
arriving for work in the office buildings and businesses. And, by now Yang Yang
knew our taste in food so she took us to another good place for lunch--not a tourist
place.
Chongqing has a very interesting Artists Village that somehow survived the Cultural
Revolution and is home of many artists whose works are displayed in world
museums. We had the opportunity to talk with one of the artists who had been there
for many years. He was interesting as he shared not only technique but experiences.
converge in Chongqing--the muddy Yangtze and the clear Jialing.
Unfortunately the fog and polluted haze was so thick the day we
were there that we could not see either river. This park was where
Chiang Kaishek had his summer home. There was a good museum
here which clearly showed the details of the Three Gorge Dam
project. Using large wall murals, it showed what the new water
levels are going to do to the towns and villages along the Yangtze
with the figures of the number of people who will be displaced and
relocated due to the flooding--probably over two million. In a couple
of places the river will rise so much that entire populations will be
relocated to distant places. In most towns, new towns are being built
higher up the mountain side or across the river.
Square and Hall--a small
Tiananmen Square with residents
walking the exhibits and park. The
hall is a large theater--seats 4000
people. Live performances and
major political meetings and events
are held here.
While people watching, we enjoyed
this grandfather lovingly taking care
of and playing with his little grand-
grandson--gave us a few minutes of
homesickness. It brought home once again
that, in truth, people are the same where ever
they life. Regardless of life styles and politics,
love and softness for a child is universal.
Elsewhere in the square we enjoyed the
scene of an older couple in their sixties
proudly posing for their wedding pcitures.
cruise ship before the big buses got there. On the drive down the
hill to the water, we went through a very poor section of town
where hundreds of people who have been impacted by the closing
of government industries live. These people have only small
retirement incomes--not enough to live on. As private enterprise
booms, the inefficiency of the government plants can not be
maintained so they just shut down. Many of these people set up
sidewalk businesses such as this woman with her sewing machine.
I couldn't help but contrast what I was seeing with the luxury I was
headed for onboard ship. Life doesn't seem to be too fair.
