Every summer vacation, it is customary to spend time with my grandson who is in elementary school. My child is about to enter fourth grade and I think we can take him on a trip during this summer vacation. After coming up with this idea, we began to compare and choose different gameplay plans. The omniscient internet provided countless' feasibility reports', and it was eventually discovered that taking a Yangtze River cruise to visit the Three Gorges was a good idea: upstream, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Three Gorges; And taking a cruise ship eliminates the burden of travel, making it particularly suitable for traveling with children. It didn't take much effort to choose which cruise ship to choose specifically, as we directly searched for the largest and newest among the dozens of cruise ships currently on the Yangtze River - the * * * *. The largest and latest ship, the ticket is definitely the largest, but the quality is satisfactory and definitely worth the price. The tickets we booked were packed by the travel company, departing from our hometown by train to Yichang and boarding the ship. We will disembark in Chongqing for four nights and three days, then take a one-day trip to Chongqing, and finally take the train home. Shipping tickets can also be booked separately. After calculating at the time, the cost of both options was basically the same, so we chose a bundled ticket. After we finished the entire journey, we found that it might be more appropriate to buy a separate ticket for the ship ourselves. So I booked the tickets early, just waiting for the start of summer vacation. As summer vacation approached, another classmate wanted to take their granddaughter on a trip together. They quickly inquired about available tickets and booked two more. So, the two elders and two children embarked on the journey together.

The "Harmony" was speeding across the Central Plains, and the little sister and little brother, whom they had never met before, quickly became good friends who lived in harmony.

In the continuous drizzle, the train arrived at Yichang East Station. This should be the starting point of our "tour group". Our simple idea is that as long as we find the tour guide outside the station, we don't need to worry about anything ourselves. But that's not how the story unfolds. Sure enough, there was a young man holding a small flag picking us up at the station, and he asked us to queue up and get our tickets to the cruise terminal ourselves. However, no corresponding service was provided during the process. Some passengers inquired about whether dinner was served on the cruise ship, but they were unsure after a few questions! This treatment is no different from buying a boat ticket alone, because the place to pick up the transfer ticket can be found immediately by anyone who can read and write at the station! Yichang is the city where most Yangtze River cruise ships board and disembark, and the transportation seems to be in place, but there is still room for improvement? The most important thing is to write specific safety notices in the ticket or travel contract, so that tourists do not feel like a group of goats, knowing to follow the leader but not knowing where they are going?

The transfer vehicle is fully loaded and drives towards the dock, carrying tourists from different cruise ships. We could only buy some instant noodles and bread at the station and then get on the train and set off. The bus meandered out of Yichang city and returned south of the Yangtze River, entering the territory of Zigui. Looking out from the car window, it was only after reaching the upstream of the Three Gorges Dam that it stopped by the river. A few small tables and a few waiters represent several cruise ships. We found the registration table of the * * * ship, filled out the relevant epidemic prevention forms, and walked towards the riverbank where the cruise ships were anchored. There's actually a cable car going up and down here, otherwise it wouldn't be fun carrying luggage and children.

Our footsteps crossed the ship's rail, and only a five-star cruise ship showed its five-star appearance. The suitcase, which was not too heavy, was taken over by the waiter and warmly led us to the self-service restaurant on board to rest. Hot towels and lemon tea have also been delivered to your doorstep, giving you a feeling of "grandpa". The waiter will help you complete all the boarding and room opening procedures, and then escort you to your room. At the buffet restaurant, we found that dinner was served on the ship and the price was not expensive. I don't know if all Yangtze River cruise ships are like this. The departure notice doesn't specify it, but you should try to listen carefully because boarding is always at dinner time. No matter what mode of transportation arrives in Yichang, the whole day is tough. Sitting down and having dinner slowly can also relieve fatigue. (This price is halved for children)

The room we booked has a balcony facing the outside, which we imagined would be a great viewing platform. However, in reality, the cruise ship has been sailing in the canyon, surrounded by clouds and fog, and has to go ashore for activities during the day. The role of this viewing balcony is not very significant, unlike cruise ships in the ocean.

Entering the room, the TV screen had already displayed a welcome screen, making people feel particularly warm! I've been on a cruise for four days and haven't taken a panoramic photo of the ship, so let's just forget about this one!

The itinerary of the cruise ship includes daily shore trips to attractions along the route from Yichang to Chongqing. Some of these attractions are not included in the ticket and need to be purchased separately. We came out with our children to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the Three Gorges, so why not give up? After dinner, I booked all the self funded projects along the way. I attended the boarding briefing on the ship later and went back to my room to rest after it ended.

The night's rest was very good, and the boat itself also 'rested' very well. Cruise ships with large displacement will dock upstream of the Three Gorges Dam and will not actually travel from Yichang to Chongqing, probably to avoid the ship lock fees of crossing the dam. This morning's itinerary is to visit a family in the Three Gorges. After breakfast, according to the arrangement, we went ashore and set off. The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, from east to west, are Xiling Gorge, Wuxia Gorge, and Qutang Gorge. The Three Gorges Dam is located at the location of Xiling Gorge, so half of Xiling Gorge is located downstream with relatively low water levels. The Three Gorges Renjia Scenic Area is located here. The dam truck drove us along the south bank of the Yangtze River to the scenic area. In the drizzling rain, we followed the boardwalk into a fairyland like canyon.

Misty rain, distant mountains as black as jade; The stream flows gently, with emerald green surrounding the mountains; Green leaves obstruct the view, and the boat is winding. The beautiful canyon scenery constantly delays the footsteps of tourists. The rain has soaked their shoulders and feet, but it cannot dispel the joyful mood. The child also kept trying to use the small lens on his watch to capture this beautiful scenery.

The scenic area also arranged folk performances to showcase the wedding etiquette of local villagers to guests who came from afar, attracting tourists from the inner and outer floors to watch eagerly.

The morning itinerary ended hastily with unfinished business. In the afternoon, we departed from the cruise ship again and took a bus towards the downstream of the Three Gorges Dam. This time, our destination was the Three Gorges Dam itself. The observation deck of the dam is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and the escalator can easily and conveniently transport visitors to the top of the observation deck. I only found out here that no matter how high I climb or where I go, I can only see the silhouette of the Three Gorges Dam and the fifth level ship lock.

I took my child around and couldn't see the majestic appearance of the dam from the best angle, which left me with regret.

After descending from the observation deck, we returned to the riverbank to board a smaller cruise ship and head towards the Three Gorges Dam. This time, we will take the ship through the famous Three Gorges Dam ship lift - the most meaningful self funded project. The small yacht sailed downstream towards the dam, and we thought we could see the front of the dam this time. However, the boat avoided the centerline of the Yangtze River and directly entered the ship lift channel from a northerly position. At the beginning of the Three Gorges Dam's operation, ships passed through the five level ship lock, which may have been inefficient. Later, ship lifts were built, allowing ships under 3000 tons to "climb" over the dam and increase their speed by many times.

The cruise ship slowly entered the guidance channel of the ship lift, and tourists tried to occupy a good position on the deck to see the entire process of the ship lift most clearly.

After the ship enters the container, the rear sealing plate of the container is closed. Later, the tremendous power will lift the ship, along with the lifting box and the water inside it that meets the requirements for the ship to float, up to the height of the water level line upstream of the dam. On the deck, no less than a hundred steel cables can be clearly seen, which are the counterweight facilities that play a balancing role, as well as the four most critical sets of synchronous gear rack transmission devices.

Amidst a faint rumble, the ship's lift box began to steadily ascend, feeling as if we had reached the upstream of the dam at lightning speed. On that day, the upstream water level was not high, so we climbed about 60-70 meters in this giant "elevator".

After the ship lift, the small yacht is going to take us back to our 'mother ship'. The one-day itinerary is coming to an end. At this moment, we suddenly realized that we were on the front and back of the Three Gorges Dam - we couldn't see it from the front, but our backs were even more graceful! This is another benefit of visiting the ship lift. Without this voyage, we would never have been able to reach this location, and the panoramic view of the dam would never have been seen.

There was a captain's welcome party held on the ship in the evening, and we politely attended for a while before resting early. The cruise ship, also in the darkness, is heading upstream towards the (finally) great river.

Upstream of the Three Gorges Dam, due to water storage, the water level has risen, and it is said that the magnificent scenery can no longer be reproduced. However, the numerous tributaries in the canyon still retain their charming charm. This morning we transferred to a small boat again and turned into the Shennu River in Wuxia to experience the steep and beautiful scenery of the canyon.

Sitting on a yacht, gazing at the rugged mountains from afar, with steep cliffs and layers of peaks; Up close, the turbid and yellow rushing river water appears straight, meandering, and majestic. We drove along the stream towards the depths of the canyon, every time the road turned and the scenery emerged step by step, what a beautiful painting of ink and blue! Imagine what it would be like if the water level here drops another 80 meters! The yacht turned back and headed outward, suddenly looking up. The Goddess Peak showed a hint of beauty in the clouds and mist:

Returning to the 'mother ship' for lunch, the ship continued to move forward and entered the Qutang Gorge area. On the right-hand side, you can already see the White Emperor City built along the mountain.

The White Emperor City is well-known to later generations due to Liu Bei's defeat in the Three Kingdoms period, but the White Emperor Temple we are going to visit is located on a mountain on the north bank of the Yangtze River. According to legend, the White Emperor Temple dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. Originally, it required climbing high mountain slopes, but now it saves a lot of foot pressure due to the increase in water level.

Following in the footsteps of the wind chasing boys, we quickly arrived at the mountaintop. In addition to enshrining the "White Emperor" Gongsun Shu, the White Emperor Temple also has many historical figures set in the Three Kingdoms period.

There is a check-in spot on the mountaintop, where you can overlook the famous Kuimen scenery - the background picture of the former third edition of the ten yuan RMB. We all took photos and witnessed the 'visit here'.

Turning down the hill and looking up, I saw a "Hanging Coffin Museum". It turned out that many hanging coffins had been found on cliffs along the river, but now they may have been damaged. Therefore, a museum was built to record the existence of such relics.

Similarly, the scenic area has also arranged some cultural performances to allow visitors to experience the local customs and traditions more.

The road down the mountain is gentle and cool. Looking at the cheerful grandchildren, the old man is also very pleased.

The Yangtze River cruise ship we have chosen is worthy of the reputation of "quality enjoyment". The buffet menu is varied every day, with flavors catering to all directions. Children choose three meals a day according to their own preferences, which gives them the opportunity to taste all kinds of delicious food from around the world. We also feel that the catering and environment of this Yangtze River cruise ship are not inferior to many international brands of cruise ships near the coast before the epidemic!

The food was good, and the performance that night was even more stunning. Before the performance even started, the luxurious performance hall was already fully booked.

The staff of various positions on the cruise ship have transformed into well-trained actors! A program that covers traditional, modern, red and many other elements, leaving viewers dazzled and mesmerized. The enthusiastic applause of the audience lasted for a long time, as a gift to these girls and boys who have worked hard all day and have to sing and dance at night!

It's amazing to be able to select a group of talented young people in the cruise industry to perfectly serve as crew members and actors in both cross-border jobs!

The cruise ship quietly moved forward amidst the excited applause of the tourists and has entered the Chongqing border. The next morning, we were going to a slightly mysterious place - Fengdu Ghost City. I thought this was also a historical site, but when I arrived at the mountain, I found that it was filled with newly built "another plane" scenes. Several local tour guides enthusiastically told the story of the "Yin Yang world", guiding tourists who had only partial knowledge to experience the afterlife (ghost life). Amidst the vast expanse of the universe, how can there be gusts of gloomy winds! We deliberately stayed away from this atmosphere and enjoyed the scenery along the mountain road before descending early. The tourist commercial area at the foot of the mountain is also sluggish in business, and many storefronts are now empty.

The cruise ship continues to head towards the city center of Chongqing, and our journey on the Yangtze River is also coming to an end. The Wushan Mountains are nestled in the blue sky, and the Ba River flows like a shimmer. In these short three days, the children sailed thousands of miles, enjoying the beauty of Jingchu on the Yangtze River and the dangers of Bashu on the Yangtze River; I have experienced the magnificent beauty of the Three Gorges and felt the grandeur of the dam. A wonderful summer trip with abundant rewards, I believe that in a few years, I will still remember this extraordinary July 2021!

The cruise ship is docked at Chaotianmen Port in Chongqing, where the original uphill steps are non-negotiable, and we can only hire porters to help us carry our luggage to the roadside. Our one-day trip to Chongqing also began here. The bus was filled with tourists who arrived in Chongqing through various means, and the tour guide first took us to Liberation Square. The Monument to the people's Liberation, once the landmark of Chongqing, is surrounded by skyscrapers, which makes people sigh for the changes of the times! Here, we are going to climb up to the tallest building in this area, the Global Financial Center, and have a bird's-eye view of Chongqing from the sky.

Chongqing on rainy days is even more blurry than Chongqing in fog, and no matter how high you climb, you cannot see further.

At an altitude of 590 meters (relative to 339 meters), looking through the rain soaked glass at the hazy "densely planted" buildings, one cannot help but marvel at the immense size of this mountain city. Of course, on sunny days with gentle winds or nights with clear moon and sparse stars, this place is definitely the best choice for overlooking Chongqing······

Hongyadong and Ciqikou were initially thought to be scenic areas, but upon arrival, it was discovered that they were commercial markets. Hongya Cave is renowned for its unique mountain city features, built along the mountainside; Ciqikou exudes the charm of an old street, crowded with local specialty shops and people coming in and out of these shops.

These landscapes and markets are not very attractive to us. After taking a quick look around, we can still be considered to have taken a break. I saw several ear picking shops on the roadside, which are not common in my hometown. Looking at the signs of those shops: 'With a loud bang and a loud noise, it feels so comfortable and tender.' Chongqing people really enjoy it!

The houses in Chongqing are built along the mountains and densely packed; The roads in Chongqing go around the mountains and are narrow and winding. Due to transportation issues, we were unable to visit some of the planned attractions, but a car tour of Chongqing allows us to experience the unique features of this mountain city. Subway stations can also be built within floors, which is probably unique in the world.

In the afternoon, we arrived at the Bai Mansion, which was the most important place we wanted to go with our children on this trip. When I arrived here, I realized that it was also crowded, so crowded that you couldn't even take a photo. We had to follow the crowd with our children to see various places, allowing them to experience the cruel scenes of the reactionary persecution of revolutionary martyrs in the past; The strong will and noble sentiments of the martyrs who fearlessly fought against the enemy without fear of violence. A poem engraved on bricks and stones by a martyr using bamboo chopsticks is the best portrayal of their lofty ideals:

After visiting the Bai Mansion, our one-day trip to Chongqing is coming to an end. The hotel we stayed at that night happened to be located on the edge of Danzizi Old Street. As you walked out of the hotel's entrance (located on the fourth floor), there was an escalator that allowed you to easily shuttle through commercial districts of varying heights. At dinner, we directly chose a Chongqing hotpot restaurant, but the ones we ordered were all non spicy (%&*...... ￥ #).

After dinner, take a walk and enjoy the famous night view of the mountain city.

The cobblestone old street is scattered up and down, with about five floors (the five floors of the road rather than the houses), crowded with people leisurely shopping in the evening. The prosperity and bustle of the metropolis complement the leisurely lifestyle of its residents, leaving us with an extraordinary impression of Chongqing.

The next morning, it started pouring rain in Chongqing, and a taxi took us to Chongqing South Station early. Here, we are about to embark on our journey back home. The children seem to have not played enough yet, the outside world is always more exciting. Looking forward to the coming year, heading towards a better distant place!