Getting away from dry land offers other possibilities for seeing China

Those who want to take in the natural beauty of China's cities most often make use of aircraft, buses, cars and feet. But there is another way, one that is more tried and tested than most of the others: boats. If you choose this means of transport to see China, you can be sure you will have a willing and ready traveling companion in the spirit of China's ancient poets, many of whom wrote paeans to nature as they journeyed across, down or up the country's lakes, rivers and canals.

It seems that the modern masses have finally begun to get the hint, and cruise lines are now focusing on China. Agencies specializing in cruise travel have sprung up across the country in recent years, and they are attracting droves of Chinese and foreigners alike. If you fancy doing something away from the beaten track, the following cruises may appeal to you.

1. Beijing-Hangzhou: the Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is the earliest and the longest canal in the world, dating back to the 5th century BC. The waterway, 1,794 kilometers long - about 11 times the length of the Suez Canal, and 22 times that of the Panama Canal - starts near Beijing and ends in Hangzhou.

It links Beijing, literally in Mandarin the "northern capital", with its magnificent imperial architecture, and Hangzhou, a southern city famous for its natural beauty, including its lake and nearby mountains.

The historical relics along the route that are waiting to be admired include museums, parks, squares, temples, bridges and local residences.

The most popular cruising section passes through Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. In addition to Hangzhou, it includes the cities of Wuxi, Suzhou, Yangzhou and Changzhou.

2. Shanghai: Huangpu River

The Huangpu is one of the biggest scenic drawcards in Shanghai. It strings together the city's other top tourist attractions, Nanjing East Road, the Bund and the Pudong business district that includes the landmark Oriental Pearl Tower.

Cruises on the Huangpu, available each day, are a staple of any tourist visit to Shanghai. The short route covers the main waterfront area between the Yangpu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge, and the long route covers 60 kilometers.

The spectacle that cruise patrons will be treated to includes the Yangpu and Nanpu bridges juxtaposed with the Oriental Pearl Tower, looking like two dragons playing with balls, and the splendid and varied architecture on the west bank that speaks loudly of the city's colonial past, contrasted with the glittering modern skyscrapers on the east bank that talk just as loudly about its present and future.

3. Tianjin: Haihe

Haihe ("Sea River") runs through Beijing and Tianjin, 120 kilometers southeast of the capital, before flowing into the Bohai Sea. Haihe is 1,329 kilometers long, measured from the longest tributary.

In Tianjin it connects the country's two greatest waterways, the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, by way of the Grand Canal.

There are several single-day cruise routes, including one from Haihe to Bohai Bay, offering views of Tianjin, notably some of its historical sites, such as Dagu Fort and Chaoyin Temple.

Another is a Haihe scenic cruise on which visitors can see both the old and the new Tianjin, and in another you will be treated to views of the city by night.

4. Guangzhou: Pearl River

Early this year, the Economist Intelligence Unit listed greater Guangzhou third after Beijing and Shanghai in the economic heft it enjoys among China's megalopolises. Just as the Huangpu River is a jewel in Shanghai's crown, the Pearl River, at 2,320 kilometers the third-longest river in the country, adds luster to sprawling Guangzhou. The name comes from an island in the river said to resemble a huge pearl, ceaselessly polished and preened by the passing waters.

In different historical eras since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), official lists called "Eight Sights of Guangzhou", have been published reflecting the relative aesthetic values that people ascribe to the city. The list last year included Zhushui Liuguang (Pearl River Shining and Flowing).

The river's many bridges and islands also stand out, including Shamian Island ("sandy surface"), which barely covers a third of a square kilometer, and on which Britain and France held concessions in the 19th century.

Cruises run during the day and in the evenings - the latter, when the moon is full and the sky is clear, should not be missed.

5. Chongqing: Yangtze River and Three Gorges Cruise

The Yangtze River or Chang Jiang is Asia's longest river and the world's third-longest after the Nile and the Amazon. It stretches about 6,400 kilometers from the sprawling Tibetan Plateau, wending its way through southwestern, central and eastern China before spilling out into the East China Sea.

The Three Gorges section of the Yangtze stretches over 190 kilometers. The gorges themselves - Qutang, Wu and Xiling - cover about three-fifths of that stretch, characterized by its soaring cliffs, emerald green vegetation and towering mountains.

The best seasons to enjoy a Yangtze River and Three Gorges cruise are spring and autumn. There are two typical cruise routes, from Chongqing to Wuhan and from Chongqing to Yichang. A cruise will normally take four or five days. One stop along the way is Fengdu town, which also glories in the name Ghost City, derived from Chinese classics.

The town, on the northern banks of the river 170 kilometers downstream from Chongqing, is dotted with dozens of Buddhist and Taoist temples and with shrines dedicated to the gods of the underworld. Be prepared to be confronted with some bloodcurdling names as you inspect the town's landmarks.

China Daily

(China Daily 11/09/2012 page23)