Viking Cruises

48 | Viking Explorer Society News Viking makes a historic return to China, where Qin Xie enjoys a new itinerary that calls on some of the country's lesser‑known coastal cities and includes fascinating shore excursions. Revealing CHINA'S COAST My journey on board the Viking Yi Dun began in our embarkation port of Shanghai, a financial powerhouse on China's east coast. Rather than being relegated to the city's other port, which was miles away from anything you would actually want to see, we were docked right in the heart of the city. But then that's the joy of small ship travel with Viking. We admired vibrant art installations and bustling restaurants in a leafy park on the port side, and the starboard view opened to a panoramic view of Shanghai's iconic skyline you have likely seen before on postcards—the one featuring the Oriental Pearl TV Tower glowing against a backdrop of skyscrapers. Even the Bund, the waterfront promenade lined by European architecture that dates to when the city was under foreign occupation, was within walking distance of our ship. It's all so close that the first included excursion, with visits to see the traditional architecture of Yu Garden and the shopping haven of Nanjing Road, was just a stone's throw away. My China Discovery itinerary is one of several China voyages from Viking, designed to take you to the heart of this fascinating country as you sail along its picturesque coastline. Only Viking has access to these coastal ports, making these first-of-their-kind voyages. My 10 -day itinerary called on six ports, including iconic cities, such as Shanghai and Hong Kong, and lesser-known ports like Pingtan. Other itineraries range from 15 to 22 days and offer guests the opportunity to explore more of China's coastline and beyond. Some of these enticing destinations include historic Tianjin, with access to the Chinese capital, Beijing; the one-time British colony of Dalian; the former German colony of Qingdao; spiritual Lhasa in Tibet; and lively Osaka, the largest city of Japan's Kansai region. Much of China's coastline is as unknown to international visitors as it is to the Chinese citizens who live further inland. However, there is plenty to see and do, especially if you book the optional excursions. We enjoyed two overnights in Shanghai at the start of our itinerary. This gave us time for individual exploration of places like the French Concession, with its leafy boulevards and relaxed cafes. We also visited Xintiandi to admire 19th-century Shikumen houses that combine Eastern and Western architecture. One evening we had the chance to watch an exhilarating acrobatic show. Our included excursion was to see Impression Putuo, a stunning Buddhism-themed light show and performance from the same creative team that staged the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I also had the chance to visit Guanyin Altar, a spectacular nine-story temple built in tribute to the goddess of mercy. It's a recent addition to the area, having only been completed in 2020, but it's already become a modern-day pilgrimage site. In Dongtou, a smaller archipelago further south that is known for its fishing and seaweed industry, we signed up for a half-day excursion. Most of the ship headed to Wanghai Tower, a cultural centre and lookout point, but I signed up for the Sea Mud Pottery Experience. Our excursion started with a scenic drive past quaint little villages populated with stone houses that were a welcome contrast to China's ubiquitous skyscrapers. One of the workshop's owners explained the sea mud pottery process during a tour of his workshop. We were also given time to paint our own mugs to take home —a perfect souvenir. "Zhoushan, an archipelago of some 1,400 islands where Chinese religions and philosophies including Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, all have an influential role."

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