England and China: Armchair Travel Series

The Hagers embark on a 16 day whirlwind guided tour to China, visiting major cities and sites. In Beijing visited Tiananmen Square, largest square in the world, and the Imperial Palace (Forbidden City). The never ending Great Wall of China was awesome. In Xian they viewed the Terracotta Armored Warriors, buried in pits with their Emperor. Cruised the Yangtze River Gorge and inspected the Three Gorges Dam Site, and continuing on the Yangtze to Fengdu, a Ghost City. Along the way, other unique and interesting cities were visited, ending their tour in the seaport city of Shanghai, the busiest container port in the world. Mode of travel was bus, airplane, sampan, rickshaw, river cruise, sailing through locks and canals. Pauline narrates her impressions, accompanied by her photos. In England they rented a car and motored British style (left side of road) on narrow, winding roads for two weeks, enjoying the beautiful English countryside. Visited the Cotswold, a hilly, rural region and visited historic Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucester County, Sudley Castle, and on to William Shakespeare's home in Stratford-upon-Avon. In the city of Bourton-on-the Water they spent hours at the Cotswold Motor Museum, inspecting pre-World War II sport cars. Continued north, on to the scenic Lake District in Cumbria County. Boarded a car ferry on Lake Windermere to the village of Hawshead and happened on the home of Beatrix Potter, author of "The Tales of Peter Rabbit." Then north to picture postcard Grasmere Village and the home and museum of famed Romantic Poet William Wordsworth. Further north at Ravenglass, they rode the Ravenglass and Eskdale miniature railway. Turning south, last stop was the fortified, historic city of York noted for The National Railway Museum, housing England's largest collection of steam engines, the famous York Cathedral, and also noted for its turbulent history. An exciting and historic tour, ending all too soon.