18 Days in CHINA

11/09/2024 – 11/26/2024

THE ITINERARY

11/09/24 Depart MSP to LAX
11/10/24 Depart LAX to Hon Kong
11/11/24 Embark on the Viking Yi Dun
11/12/24 Shenzhen, China
11/13/24 Sail the South China Sea
11/14/24 Xiam, China
11/15/24 Pingtan, China
11/16/24 Dongtou, China
11/17/24 Zhoushan, China
11/18/24 Sail the East China Sea
11/19/24 Shanghai, China
11/20/24 Disembark in Shanghai
11/21/24
11/22/24 Arrive Beijing, China
11/23/24 Tiananmen Square & The Forbidden City
11/25/24 The Great Wall of China

Originally, I was all set to hop on a Southwest flight from MSP to Denver at 11:20 AM, with a seamless connection to LAX that would land me in sunny California by 4:15 PM. But then, a potential weather delay in Denver threw a curveball into my carefully planned itinerary. What’s a traveler to do? Pivot, of course! I quickly switched to an earlier flight at 9:45 AM, knowing it would mean arriving at LAX later—around 5:10 PM. It felt like a small price to pay for peace of mind. And guess what? Both flights went off without a hitch, perfectly on time!

This trip had a special twist—it wasn’t just about the destination but also about the company. My travel buddy, Brooks, was the mastermind behind the adventure. He was the one who discovered the Viking cruise that set everything in motion. Asia wasn’t originally on my radar, mainly because of the language barrier and my limited international travel experience. But when Brooks asked if I wanted to join him, I didn’t hesitate. With his wealth of travel knowledge, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Looking back, I can’t express how grateful I was to have Brooks by my side. His experience and confidence in navigating unfamiliar places made all the difference. As our adventure unfolded, I realized just how much I had to learn—and how much fun it was to share the journey with someone who truly knew the ropes.

From Minneapolis to Hong Kong: A Marathon Travel Day

With our flight to Hong Kong scheduled for 11:00 AM the next day, we opted for a convenient stay at the Hyatt near the airport. A clean and comfortable haven with a bar (a must for us!) and a free shuttle service—it was the perfect choice to kick off our journey.

Fast forward to Sunday, November 10th, and we were boarding United Flight 801 for a 16-hour trek to Hong Kong. This was only my second international flight, and wow, what a difference compared to my first-class Delta experience to Spain. Let’s just say, if you’re debating whether to splurge on First or Business Class for a long-haul flight, here’s your sign: do it.

The coach seats on United were, simply put, a test of endurance. They barely reclined, offered almost no back support, and made sleep a near impossibility. The meals didn’t help either. Dinner was pasta in a bland red pepper sauce that didn’t quite hit the mark, followed by breakfast featuring scrambled eggs that tasted oddly un-eggy, paired with potatoes and a mystery cheese sauce. Let’s just say, it wasn’t a culinary highlight.

After what felt like an eternity, we touched down in Hong Kong just after 7 PM—but our adventure didn’t stop there. Navigating customs in Hong Kong, connecting with our Viking guides, going through Chinese customs, and finally boarding the ship took another two and a half hours. By the time we stepped on board after 9 PM, we were utterly spent.

Thankfully, Viking was ready to welcome us. Though the ship’s restaurants were closed, they saved the day with complimentary food and free room service in our cabin. With a drink in hand and a moment to unwind, we finally started to feel the excitement of what lay ahead.

Travel days like this may test your patience, but they also make the first moments of your adventure that much sweeter.

11/12/24 Our first day onboard was spent in the port city of Shenzhen, where we took advantage of the included complimentary boat excursion, “Shenzhen by the Sea.” The views from the water were absolutely stunning; the skyline and vibrant life along the coast created a picturesque setting. During the tour, we connected with another couple and ended up sitting with them for the entirety of the excursion.

The only downside to this particular tour was the lack of commentary explaining what we were seeing; it would have been nice to learn more about the landmarks and history of the area. Additionally, the experience felt a bit “kitschy,” featuring a magic show and a dance party that seemed somewhat out of place. Regardless, we made the most of our time, enjoying the opportunity to get to know our fellow travelers and sharing stories and laughter as we soaked in the beautiful scenery around us.

Shenzhen, China, has a relatively modern history that began as a small fishing village before the late 20th century. In 1980, it was designated as China’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a bold experiment in economic reform and open-door policy initiated by Deng Xiaoping. This designation spurred rapid industrialization and urbanization, transforming Shenzhen into a bustling metropolis known for its thriving technology sector and financial services. The city’s population grew exponentially, attracting migrants from across the country seeking opportunities in this burgeoning economic hub. Today, Shenzhen is recognized not only as a major economic powerhouse but also as a global center for innovation and technology, often referred to as “China’s Silicon Valley.”

The Ship

I have only been on two other cruises in my life: my first was in the 1990s on the Holland America line’s Van Dam, during its inaugural season, followed by a four-day cruise on Carnival, which felt like a stark contrast to the sophistication of Holland America.

This time, I sailed on the Yi Dun, which also marks its inaugural season. While China has technically welcomed tourists for decades, this cruise represents a significant milestone as it introduces a new dimension of cruising in the region. The Yi Dun is a partnership between several renowned cruise lines and local Chinese tourism authorities, aiming to create a unique travel experience tailored to China’s rich cultural heritage.

Dedicated specifically to exploring various destinations within China, our award-winning, all-veranda small ship accommodates just 930 guests, allowing us to dock in places where larger vessels cannot, thus enhancing our onshore exploration and ensuring an intimate travel experience that perfectly complements the adventures awaiting us ashore.

Only 930 guests
Length: 745 feet
Beam: 94 feet
Class: small ships
Year built: 2017

11/13/24 Day two of our adventure was spent on ship sailing the South China Sea. This was also the day that I began to feel a little off. I assumed that this was the result of the travel for me from MSP to LAX and then on to Hong Kong.

We spent our day becoming familiar with the ship and our itinerary of tours for the duration of our trip.

11/14/24 Day three brought us to Xiam, China

Xi’an^[a] is the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong plain,^[4] the city is the third-most populous city in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populous city in Northwestern China.^[5] Its total population was 12.95 million as of the 2020 census, including an urban population of 9.28 million.^[6]

11/15/24 Day four found us in Pingtan, China where we would visit Haitan City. A half hour ride from the port, the city was designed as a replica of an ancient Chinese City but is actually only twenty years old. Much of the area surrounding the city has yet to be completed. With the onset of COVID and a real estate bubble, many buildings sit unfinished. (Add comments about the tour guide and her experienc of how China has changed since she was born in the 80’s.

11/16/24 Our next port of call was Dongtou, China. Here, we visited the Middle Putuo Temple. This temple was built in 1999 in the traditional Chinese style and is an active Temple with resident monks and nuns. This was one of the best-included tours we took. The temple was beautiful and our guide made the experience so enriching.

Huiji Temple (simplified Chinese: 慧济寺; traditional Chinese: 慧濟寺; pinyin: Huìjì Sì) is a Buddhist temple located on Mount Putuo, in Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China. Huiji Temple is commonly called the temple on the Buddha Summit and it is the third largest Buddhist temple on Mount Putuo, after Puji Temple and Fayu Temple. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

11/17/24 On to Zhoushan, China and an exciting performance …

Zhoushan^[a] is an urbanized archipelago with the administrative status of a prefecture-level city in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang.^[b] It consists of an archipelago of islands at the southern mouth of Hangzhou Bay off the mainland city of Ningbo.

11/18/24 Sailing the East China Sea.

11/19/24 Shanghai, China we spent the day in the city with a tour of Shanghai highlights. The city is known for it’s dynamic architecture and lighting. Our best experience of the city and it’s vibrant lights at night came from our ship where we were able to get panoramic views of the city from both sides.

11/20/24 Disembark in Shanghai – Xian’s City Walls. This was another included tour and it was amazing. Not only did we get to see the wall and walk on the wall, but we got to go inside the wall to see and learn how it was constructed. This inner wall to the city managed to survive intact while the outer wall had long been dismantled. The shear size of the wall was impressive given the time it was built and the construction technology of it’s day.

11/21/24 We scheduled two tours this day, the first being a visit to the Terra Cotta Warriors. We had watched the multiple documentaries provided on the ship but you can not begin to comprehend the enormity of the sites unless you are physically there. At the site, there are three “pits” where the Warriors have and are being excavated. The first and largest pit is also the oldest with the most recovered pieces. While it was amazing to see this in person, the crowds made it very uncomfortable and hard to see things. It was literally shoulder to shoulder with people jockeying to get the best view and picture.

Tang Dynasty Dinner & Performance. We were not impressed with this excursion for a number of reasons. First was the amount of time it took to get the the dinner and performance. Second was the dinner itself. While it was multi-course, it felt very rushed with them bringing one dish after another. In fact, the waiter kept trying to take away the fish dish from one of our table companions not just once, but multiple times before he was done. The performance, while interesting, was no where near the level of performance we watched on the 17th with the Impression of Putuo Performance. Unfortunately, this was one of the tours we paid for.

11/22/24 Beijing, China

We took a flight from Xuan to Beijing where we checked into the Kerry Hotel.

11/23/24 Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square

11/24/24 Great Wall & Ming Tombs