Enjoy Northern China Cultural Trip and Summer Cruise with Bestie

What it feels like to spend some leisure days on a comfortable cruise, waking up with the river scene out of your window, feeling the breeze on the balcony, and meeting some new friends while travelling with your old ones? I think Sandee can answer this question since she just finished such a trip with her friend in August, 2019.

Actually, the trip is more than that. At first, Sandee just contacted me for a Yangtze River Cruise trip. But later, she added 2 day trips to Xian and Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng when it was close to the departure date. Though in a tight schedule, I managed to make it happen. So in these days, Sandee and her friend not only experienced the relaxing cruise, but also had a better understanding of Chinese history and Kung Fu culture.

Sandee and her friend enjoyed all three trips a lot and she wrote a review on Trip Advisor afterwards:

Review of Sandee on Trip Advisor

Three tours with this great company!

Tracy deserves a huge thank you. She went Kurt if her way to help us organize a tour and did so at the last minute for both day tours, even finding us English guides!

I began by organizing a three day Yangtze River Cruise with her and ended up sending messages for Zhengzhou (Shaolin Temple) and Xi’an (Terra Cotta Warriors) private’s tours as well. The staff spoke English well, were informative, happy to accommodate changes to our itinerary and were very good at their job. Johnson was our guide at the Shaolin Temple and Joanna in Xi’an and they were awesome!

We are just finishing our three day Yangtze River tour and I highly recommend it as well. There are three day trips included plus al meals and a lovely room with a balcony and there are three optional tours you can pay for. We did 5/6 and they were well worth it.

This company is reasonably priced and work with local guides who are professional and knowledgeable!

Terracotta Warriors in Xian, Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, and Shennv Stream on Yangtze River, Photo Shared by Sandee

Sandee's Facebook Posts about Three China Trips

Apart from the review, Sandee shared her feelings and some photos during the trip through Facebook and now let’s have a look together:

August 2:Zhengzhou, China... wandered some streets, checked out the graffiti and line dancing and ate noodles, of course.... oh, and checked out a marching band of elderly, off key makjorettes in hot red boots!

Streets, Graffiti, and Marching Band of Elderly in Zhengzhou, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 2: More Xhengzhou, China....the antique market.

Zhengzhou Antique Market, Photo Shared by Sandee

Old Books, Portraits, Writing Brushes and Other Gadgets Sold in Zhengzhou Antique Market, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 3: Shaolin Temple day.... 8:30-6:30pm.... awesome day! Cable car up the mountain, hour long hike, Pagoda Park, Shaolin Temple and the Kung fu performance by young lads training at the centre.

Sandee and Kathleen Traveled to Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, Photo Shared by Sandee

Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 3: Kung Fu performances...

Kung Fu Performance in Shaolin Temple, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 10: Xi’an.... managed to get in the train yesterday after another bout from this virus or whatever has grabbed me... thanks to gravel, slept all the way to Xi’an and was ready to go! Found a night market, walked for hours and then came to the Terra Cotta Warriors today....holy moly! The crowds!!! I have no words...

Busy Yongxingfang in Xian, Photo Shared by Sandee

Terracotta Warriors in Xian, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 10: Some interesting videos of Xi’an.... making candy, folks music, opera, puppet show and a local band. Lots of variety at this night market and all for a 10 yuan cup of tea! ( about $1.80 Canadian)

Candy Making, Folk Music, Opera, Puppet Show, and Local Band at Yongxingfang in Xian, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 10: Xi’an.... land of the terra cotta warriors, humongous crowds, the Big Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Market... another fabulous day. Feeling incredibly blessed.

Terracotta Warriors in Xian, Photo Shared by Sandee

Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian, Photo Shared by Sandee

Muslim Quarter in Xian, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 12: Yangtze River Cruise (well....mini-cruise).... great group at our table, weird evening entertainment, fantastic view from our cabin and a hike to a Pagoda on the Gorge today!

Sandee and Kathleen Enjoyed Their Yangtze River Cruise, Photo Shared by Sandee

Visiting Shibaozhai Pagoda Along Yangtze River, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 13: Yangtze River — White Emperor Palace, Samoan boat ride to one of the original communities.... who now, since the three river gorge opened in 2004, in the mountain to their homes....it takes 2-3 hours.

Visiting White Emperor City During Yangtze River Cruise, Photo Shared by Sandee

Shennv Stream on Yangtze River Cruise, Photo Shared by Sandee

August 15: Typical Canadians....Katie and I arrived at the airport 2 hrs early for our 10:20flight....9 hours later, we are still waiting. It has yet to be cancelled.... still in ‘delayed’ status on the board, but we have booked an early am train to Shanghai just in case since our Shanghai to Doha flight leaves in 30 hours! Hoping the two families we met on the river boat cruise had better luck!

Sandee and Kathleen at Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian and Two Families They Met on the Cruise, Photo Shared by Sandee

At last Sandee and her friend Kathleen made it to Shanghai in time and put a happy ending to this China trip. Now looking back, I am really glad that I helped to arrange these 3 trips for Sandee and Kathleen, especially the ones in Xian and Zhengzhou so that they can visit the historical sites they wanted to go and had un unregretful China trip.