Yangtze (Day 5 - part 1)

When we awoke in the morning, we were well on our way up the river. There were many activities aboard the ship to keep us entertained. In the evening, we had the captain's welcoming party as well as a show put on by the crew.

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world (after the Nile and the Amazon) with a length of 3,915 miles. It originates from a glacier in the Tibetan plateau and empties into the East China Sea just north of Shanghai.

The river actually has many names during its course to the sea. At its source, it is called Dangqu (marsh river). Downstream, it is Tuotuo River and then Tongtian River (river passing through heaven). Another section is known as Jinsha River (golden sands river). The Tibetan name for it is Drichu (river of the female yak).


Yangtze

As a whole, it is referred to as its modern Chinese name, Chang Jiang (meaning Long River). So why do we call it the Yangtze? In the beginning of the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618), Yangzi Jiang was the name for the river in its lower reaches (specifically the stretch between Yangzhou and Zhenjiang). Because this was the name first heard by missionaries and traders, this name was applied in English to the whole river.

Morning on the cruise ship

We were currently cruising through the flat part of the river.


Mist coats the cool river.


The Chinese flag waves proudly.


The river continues to the right. The left path (hard to see through the mist behind the boat) leads to Dongting Lake.

Along with river tributaries, the Yangtze receives water from thousands of lakes. The largest of these is Dongting Lake, located on the border of Hunan and Hubei Provinces.

Shipping

The river is a major transportation artery, connecting the interior with the coast.


Transporting cars

On land


Simple homes


A farmer herds his water buffalo.

The Yangtze basin contributes nearly half of China’s crop production, including over two-thirds of the total volume of rice. Among the other crops grown are cotton, wheat, barley, corn, beans and hemp. The soil is extremely fertile and the climatic conditions are highly favorable to agriculture. In the lower basin and delta, the growing period ranges from 8 to 11 months, and in some areas, two or three crops can be harvested annually.


The cut crops are piled up and left to dry.


A closer view


Large barges then pull up to shore...


... and are loaded up...


... and up!


Eventually all that is left is a beaten down path to where the boat once sat.

Time onboard

There were many ways to pass the hours on the cruise ship.

Food & beverage:


Hot morning tea.


No tea leavings


Welcome to the dining room!


The buffet


Cherry's (in the center) Chinese name is Dongching. Most of the people who work in the tourist trade have taken an English name to make it easier for us.


A nice refreshing beer

Tour the bridge:

We were allowed to visit the bridge in small groups. This is the largest one on the river.


The crew keeps a sharp eye on the river. The navigator keeps his binoculors close by.


The log keeper constantly keeps track of where we are.

The ship is run by 4 to 5 crew members. It takes 6 years experience to be a second mate; 10 years to be a first mate; and 20 years to be a captain.


Modern tracking systems help as well. The ship also has three radar systems to help with night or heavy fog.


A complex control panel


Much of the equipment is only in Russian. The ship was originally built for the Volga River.

The ship has a maximum speed of 12 knots (about 13 miles per hour). It runs on three deisel engines.


Other items have been labelled in Chinese.


A combination of Chinese and Russian


An emergency telephone with its own power


A switchboard of the fire alarms


Mao maintains a steady watch as well.

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