Wuhan (Day 4 - part 4)

We then boarded the cruise ship. Normally we were to set sail at 7 pm, but all boat traffic was delayed until 10 pm due to a grand firework display.


Walking down the long boarding dock


Kites are popular along the waterfront.


A traditional market

The Princess Sheena was to be home for the next five nights. It is one of three ships of the Yantze River Cruise fleet (the other two are the Princess Elaine and Princess Jeannie). The 5-star ship was built in 1992 in Germany and originally meant for Russia. A total of 34 ships were built but the Russians only paid for 31 of them, so China bought the remaining three. It holds 220 passengers and is staffed by 140 crew members. It started to cruise the river in 1993.


The welcoming band


The back deck


The front lounge


Room 426


Each room comes equipped with the latest fashionable life vests.


This fire alarm is in Russian, Chinese and English.

Fireworks celebrated the opening of Expo Central China 2008, the third exposition of its kind that promotes trade and investment for six provinces in Central China. We enjoyed the show from the deck.


The bright city lights of Wuhan

Fireworks were invented in China in the 12th century to scare away evil spirits. They were a follow-up to the invention of gunpowder, which was stumbled upon accidentally by monks or alchemists in the 9th century, who were searching for an elixir of immortality, and mixed charcoal, sulphur and saltpeter.


The fireworks were launched from a ship, that sometimes looked as if it were on fire!

As the cruise ship pulled out, we glided past an gorgeous array of lights.


The boarding dock


The Wuhan Radio Broadcast and Television Center Tower


Passing under a bridge

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