For our trip up the stream we had to transfer into two different boats. The first of which was a fairly large boat that carried a number of groups including ours.
As we travelled along the stream we saw some of the best scenery that the Xiling gorge had to offer. The main sight was the hanging coffins, these were coffins that had been lodged in crevices in the gorge walls and that date back two thousand years. Many of the coffins have been removed ready for the dam flooding next year.
At the top of the stream we changed into a much smaller boat that only accommodated our group. These boats were paddled upstream by a five strong crew until the river got shallow enough for them to jump out and pull the boats. Traditionally the crew would have dragged the boats in the buff to prevent chaffing but thankfully due to tourists influence our guys were fully clothed, also some other crew only wore pants and shirts.
We had a ready nice guide would spoke very good english and told us all about the Tujia minority people and the stream. On the way back she sung for us and tried to sell us her local CD of songs.
After getting off the boat there was a small market where we pick up some small pressies and in line with my mission to pay less than other people, we did managed to pay less than Becs one of our fellow travellers (however a couple days later Paul got some cheaper, doh).
Back on the cruise boat we had a really nice lunch before our afternoon of chilling out.
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