China is famed for its inland lakes, gorges and great rivers such as the majestic Yellow River, the spellbinding Yangtze river, the awesome Guilin. How about a Viking style vacation in China by cruising these famed waterways and rivers?
China dominates a vast portion of the Eurasian continent, encompassing the Earth's highest mountains, biggest desert and third longest river in the world. Amazing China is the home of the oldest civilization with the world's largest population.
With its wild and rugged landscapes, Imperial palaces, ancient villages where water buffalo still plow hand-planted fields and thriving cities with modern Western influences like Starbucks and magnificent buildings. A country that is so diverse that promises you a exhilirating vacation of a lifetime.
When you travel to China on your next vacation, you owe it to yourself to discover this fascinating country from her imperial roots to her very lifeblood - the mighty Yangtze River. How? By taking a river cruise of course. One of the more reliable cruise operator is the Viking River Cruises. Overseeing all aspects of your cruise tour, you can explore China up close and in comfort.
Each Yangtze River cruise itinerary offer a deluxe multi-night river cruise along the legendary Yangtze on either Viking Century Sky or Viking Century Star, brand new, all-balcony cruise ships. While enjoying the splendor and unparalleled scenery as you sail along the mighty Yangtze River, you will discover the magnitude of the Great Wall, built at a cost of thousands of lives, to protect China from northern invaders and then witness Xian's amazing terracotta warriors, one of the world's archeological wonders.
When travelling in China, a Yangtze river cruise must not be missed. China's Yangtze river dolphins are one of the world's most endangered dolphin species with less than 300 dolphins in the Yangtze River. They are on the verge of extinction.
The Yagtze river's dolphins are very shy and usually in pairs. They face many threats, such as damming the river and its tributaries, river travel traffic, over fishing and habitat destruction by humans and natural causes. The yangtze river dolphins, known in Chinese as "baiji" is listed as critically endangered on the internationally recognised Red List of Threatened Species.
Officials are introducing the river dolphins to other habitats in attempts to save them. Boats are needed to catch the dolphins, helicopters to transfer them to Tian-e-Zhou. Holding pens need to be constructed, veterinary staff provided, and an inventory made of fish stocks.
The long-term plan would be to re-introduce these river dolphinsback to the Yangtze river, but only when the prospects of them thriving in Yangtze river improves substantially.
There are many Yangtze cruise tours for tourists to sight the river dolphins but few of these dolphins are ever seen as they are almost extinct with some sources even saying that there are less than two dozens of them left in the wild.
The author of this article is Chris Chew. To read more of his articles visit his blog: Asia Travel Best.
