Yangtze (Day 8 - part 1)

After docking at Wanxian overnight, we took a tour of the city during the day. Bruce was our guide. We visited a museum, a local market, and a relocated family.


Parked outside of Wanxian


Swimmers in the river


The orange floats presumably make them visible to river traffic.


Local vendors bring fresh fruit for the cruise ship.

Wanxian is known as a relocation village, but with a population of almost 600,000, it's hardly a village in the traditional sense. The city has been the destination of countless numbers who have lost their homes as a result of the Three Gorges Dam.

The city received its present name during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - l644). Wan means 10,000 and Xian means county... as Wanxian used to have tens of thousands of merchants gather here to conduct business. Its port is one of the 10 largest ports along the Yangtze River.

Funicular

Once the dam is complete, the funicular will no longer be needed to bring people up from the boats since the water level will basically be even with the top.


Going up


The view from the top


The Princess Sheena is docked in the distance.

the old waterfront

All of the buildings closest to the river are being torn down to create a new and impressive waterfront.


Eventually many of these buildings will be under the new waterline.


Eventually these old grey buildings will be torn down as well, leaving the tall modern high-rises behind them to create a new city face.


An old way of life will soon be disappearing.


The city was full of construction activity.


Working in the gardens

city scenes


These handy counters tell you how long you have left to wait (or go) at a light.


The stadium is popular for badminton and basketball.


The area next to the stadium was filled with various exercise machines.


The Bell Tower was built in 1930 in Xishan Park (West Hill Park).


15 years ago, this entire area was farmland.


A funeral wreath indicates that someone in the area has passed away.


A heavily-laden bicycle


This man has two roosters on his handlebars.


Small shops

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