Chongquing is a surprising city - one of four areas the Chinese Government has decreed as a special economic growth area. Very expensive until you know where to go.

Our guide took us to lunch on the fourth floor of a building not to far from our hotel and we enjoyed the food so much went back there for dinner. Then wandered through some markets.

Found one of the great site seeing attractions also within walking distance - a lovely old Buddhist Temple with rock carvings and 500 carved wooden statutes of deities who had reached enlightenment. Interestingly, there were no women amongst them!!

Up again early to leave the hotel by 7:30am to board our boat - a big Victoria Cruiseliner. We are on the top deck (5th floor) with a nice cabin and little balcony.

Our guide said it was a nice day for sailing but the fog/smog rolled in this morning and by 9:30am it was hard to see across the river and the mountains and some taller buildings disappeared altogether. Rather depressing as yesterday at the zoo, the sun and a tiny patch of blue skies appeared for five minutes and everyone celebrated. Oh for the Longreach big skies!

Our schedule for the day is to sail at 10:30am (but it already 10:45am) and call in at Fengdu where we have to climb some 800steps to see an ancient village and temple. What is it with all these steps in Asia???