Day 14 Chongqing city tour, start of the cruise on the Yangtze River

This morning at 10 a.m. we were picked up by our tour guide Han. She explains something about Chongqing to us. It is a city state and covers a total of 84,000 km2, and has 32 million inhabitants. In the city center there are 10 million. Chongqing, also called oven or fog city, is located on a tributary of the Yangtze and stretches along both river banks. The houses were built in the last 30-40 years. Unbelievable that not so long ago there were still small old houses here.

We visit the old city also called porcelain harbor city. so many food stalls, small shops with all kinds of jewelry, clothes, bags, tea houses with and without animation and much, much, much more. Spice pastes for the hot pot are also made on site, sticky rice is mashed, wood is carved.

We found a roti stand, our teeth were already dripping. Banana with chocolate sauce, it was delicious. Sylvia really messed up her jacket. That’s how it has to be. And such a teahouse with a live show had to be. If tourist, then properly. The gentlemen could change their face masks at the speed of light. We liked it, oh and yes, the tea tasted good too.

We have been wondering all the time that we don’t actually see any old cars in China. Han explains to us that private individuals were only allowed to have a private car from 1979. That’s why there were so many bicycles in China. But then no one had money…. The first imported car was a Cadillac in 1987. That’s how private cars slowly came about. In the cities, you use public transport anyway.

With our driver we go to Eling Park, also called Ganspark. It was built from 1909-1911 and was privately owned. During the war with Japan there were 3 embassies here. At that time Chongqing was still the capital of China. Do you know what a Harmonie Hall is? Exactly, the toilet. A beautiful park with a brilliant view of a district of Chongqing. Around Chongqing is the largest production site for laptops and mobile phones and belongs to the new Silk Road. Of course we also take a look at the S-Bahn that runs through the house.

The Liziba station is full of people who want to see the spectacle. But we save ourselves the ride in the crowded train. It’s really nice that there are great rose bushes in the middle of the car lanes in the middle of green bushes. It’s a great picture.

Hung ya dong is the hanging village. It was built in 2006. The houses from the past were all broken. Again, there is a busy and noisy street with many people. We ate a delicious snack and then drove towards the ship.

Because today our Yangtze River trip begins. Here we go quite quickly with the check-in and we have arrived in our box. Pretty, compact, comfortable and with an outdoor balcony. What more could you want?

After a short tour of the ship we change and then we go to dinner. Yes, we treated ourselves to the VIP package. Nice big buffet restaurant with a huge selection and it tastes great. The noodles for the noodle soup are made very fresh. Markus probably has a new project and will certainly want to try the noodles himself and there was wheat beer from Germany…

After the security briefing we cast off and the captain’s reception follows immediately afterwards. The red building is the opera house, which was designed by a German, doesn’t make it any nicer now. the Twin Towers are almost a copy of Kuala Lumpur.

And then there was the drone show from the city, not from the ship. Beautiful pictures were “painted” in the sky. If you have seen it like this, you wonder why there is still a need for fireworks.

We are happy and looking forward to our pillows. Another eventful day is over.