Finally back on dry land after 3 days and 3 nights on the Yangzi River. It was a good job we filled up on good food in Yangshou first as the food on the boat was pretty limited! Needless to say we are all pretty bored with Chinese food (my stomach definately is - don't wish to get that intimately involved with a cabin toilet again!!). The boat trip was great fun - mainly due to the colorful company and great scenery. Chang Jiang (Yangzi River) is China's longest river and at 6300km is the 3rd longest in the world (after Nile and Amazon). Originating in snow-covered Tanggula Shian it cuts its way through Tibet and 7 Chinese Provinices before emptying into the East China Sea just north of Shanghai. Between the towns of Fengjie and Yichang lie 3 great Gorges, regarded as one of the great scenic attractions of China. We took a Sampan (tiny wooded motorised boat) through these and into the lesser 3 gorges aswell. It was a long day but worth it as by 2009 when the mega Three Gorges Dam is completed, they will become a part of history. 1.5million people will have been dislocated and south-west china will never be the same again. We stopped off at several temples and at Ghost City on route down the river. It was odd to see the water levels marked up against buildings and even wierder to think that some towns are already under the water! We were fortunate enough to see it as it is now and getting through the locks of the Dam was interesting in itself. So am here now in Chung Du. Have just had the famous Sichuan Hot Pot - very nice (made even better by finishing with a fudge brownie he he!!). Head to Giant Buddah tomorrow then to the Giant Panda reserve on thursday - looking forward to that. Hope all is well in the UK xx