In nautical history, "shanghaied" meant being forcibly recruited or kidnapped to serve as a sailor on a ship, often through trickery, intoxication, threats, or violence. Shanghai, China, was a common destination for some of these voyages, which is how the term originated. But we're okay. We're just touring in Shanghai, China as I write this. But first...

Travel Log for July 23rd to July 29th, 2026

Xi'an, China

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 - Michael, our guide, met us right at the train station. With the crowds pouring through the exits, it was a relief to have a local guide, car, and driver waiting. No stress, no confusion, just an easy transition out of the station. We were tired from the trip, so we headed straight to our hotel. Another great choice: comfortable, quiet, and exactly what we needed. Connie and I spent the afternoon unwinding, catching up on this blog, and sorting through the hundreds of photos we've already taken. We've been moving nonstop, and if I don't jot things down as we go, the days start to blur together.

Photos of the Terracotta Warrior Museum

Most of those colors have faded with time, of course. What surprised me was learning that the Terracotta Army was deliberately destroyed around 206 BC by the rebel warlord Xiang Yu. That's why so many of the figures were found in fragments and why archaeologists are still painstakingly piecing them back together. The museum was packed—shoulder‑to‑shoulder at times, which made viewing difficult, but every so often the crowds thinned and we had clear, breathtaking views of the warriors.

The heat and humidity were in full force again, and with all the walking we'd been doing, we were grateful for any chance to pause. We ducked into a tearoom for a tea‑tasting break, sampling several varieties. Connie found one she really liked and bought a small bag to take home. 

From there, we tried our hand at making our own miniature terracotta warriors. Ours were the simplified, tourist‑friendly version using molds, but it was still a fun experience. The little clay soldiers actually turned out pretty cute. Unfortunately, they never made it past the hotel room. We just didn't have the luggage space to bring them along.

Our next stop was the Great Tang All Day Mall and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda is one of Xi'an's most important Buddhist landmarks, a 1,300‑year‑old tower built to protect sacred scriptures brought from India. We wandered around for a bit, but the heat finally caught up with us, and we decided lunch sounded far more appealing than more walking. 

Friday, July 24th, 2026 - Today was a much more relaxed day. We wandered through City Wall Park, where the local community was out enjoying the morning, exercising, dancing, and practicing tai chi. Most of the participants were seniors, and the whole atmosphere felt peaceful and calming. From there, we walked over to the Xi'an City Wall, one of the oldest, largest, and best‑preserved city fortifications in China. This massive Ming‑dynasty structure still completely surrounds the historic center of Xi'an.

Along the way, we watched several women dressed in elaborate traditional costumes posing for "glamour" photos. Shops nearby rented authentic outfits, and it was fun to see the creativity and enthusiasm. We climbed up to the top of the wall and were rewarded with wonderful views of the city. At one point we stopped for a cool, refreshing drink and continued people‑watching as more costumed ladies arrived for photo sessions. 

Photos of the Xi'an City Wall

Next, we headed to the nearby Great Mosque and the bustling Muslim Bazaar. The area was lively and crowded, full of energy. The Great Mosque itself is fascinating, a beautiful blend of Islamic faith and traditional Chinese architecture dating back more than 1,200 years. It looks nothing like the Middle Eastern mosques we're familiar with. Even the minaret has a completely different, distinctly Chinese design. Exploring the grounds was a highlight, and the contrast between cultures was truly striking.

This afternoon we boarded another high‑speed train, this time bound for Chengdu. Just like before, the ride was fast, comfortable, and impressively efficient. When we arrived, we met our next guide, Claire, along with our driver, who welcomed us and drove us to our hotel. We settled in, took a much‑needed nap, and let the day unwind. Another exciting chapter of our China adventure complete. 

Photos of the Great Mosque

Saturday, July 25th, 2026 - Today was probably the highlight of the entire trip, at least according to Connie. We met Claire early in the morning and headed to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Like everyone else in Chengdu, it seemed, we made our way through the crowds, boarded a shuttle bus, and rode up the hill to see the park's newest stars: two baby pandas.

By 9:00 a.m., I was already exhausted. The combination of the heat, humidity, and crowds was relentless. Temperatures climbed to around 104°F, making even short walks feel like a workout. Still, the baby pandas were undeniably adorable. They were at that awkward stage where they were still learning to walk, stumbling around with all the grace you would expect from a young panda. Getting a good view, however, was another challenge entirely. Thankfully, the staff managed the crowds well, allowing only about fifteen people at a time into the viewing area for a brief five-minute visit before ushering in the next group. 

Because of the extreme summer heat, all of the pandas were indoors. Pandas prefer much cooler temperatures, around 65°F, and we were nowhere near that. The air-conditioned enclosures provided comfort for the animals, but they also concentrated the crowds into the same viewing spaces. Some exhibits were packed shoulder-to-shoulder, while others were easier to navigate. Fortunately, there were plenty of pandas to see, and most visitors eventually got a decent look. The pandas themselves seemed largely unbothered by the excitement, spending most of their time stretched out and napping.

Once Connie had her fill of panda watching, we made our way out of the park, which involved even more walking through the sweltering heat. 

After leaving the Panda Base, Claire took us to the Xiaojiahe community, a neighborhood known for its old Chengdu character, bustling local markets, traditional teahouses, and family-run restaurants. For lunch, she led us to a popular local restaurant where we ended up waiting nearly an hour for a table. That alone was a good sign, and the meal confirmed it. Like so many meals we have enjoyed on this trip, it was absolutely outstanding.

After lunch, we wandered through the neighborhood streets before settling into a local teahouse. Over several cups of tea, Claire explained some of the subtle, unwritten customs surrounding Chinese tea culture. Even the placement of a tea cup, saucer, or lid can communicate a message. China seems to have a rich layer of symbolism woven into everyday activities, and drinking tea is no exception. 

By this point, Connie and I were thoroughly overheated and running low on energy. We were ready to call it a day, much to Claire's mild disappointment. She still seemed eager to show us more, but we headed back to the hotel for some much-needed rest.

We ended up skipping dinner altogether. Later that evening, once the temperatures finally became bearable, we took a leisurely walk to the nearby river and bridges. We had heard they were beautifully illuminated after dark, and the rumors were true. The cooler air, shimmering lights, and peaceful riverside paths provided the perfect ending to an otherwise hot and crowded day. It was a relaxing close to one of the most memorable days of our trip. 

Shanghai, China

Sunday, July 26th, 2026 - The next morning, we were picked up early at the hotel and driven to the airport for our flight to Shanghai. Navigating the airport turned out to be easier than expected. Getting through security and finding our China Eastern Airlines flight was straightforward, and before long we were on our way to the next stop on our adventure.

The flight itself was smooth and uneventful, though the in-flight meal was surprisingly good. By this point in the trip, we had learned not to underestimate the quality of food in China—even airline food seemed a cut above what we were used to back home. 

We were also becoming accustomed to a pleasant routine: landing in a new city and being greeted by a local guide and driver. In Shanghai, our guide was Run (yes, that really is his name). After meeting him at the airport, we began the drive into the city.

Shanghai is enormous, and despite wanting to take in our first impressions of the city, Connie and I were exhausted. We promptly fell asleep for most of the drive. At one point, Run suggested a visit to the Shanghai Museum, but we decided to save our sightseeing energy for another day and head directly to the hotel instead. 

The hotel, like the others on this trip was excellent, and we took the rest of the afternoon to get settled into our new surroundings. Later that evening, Connie and I ventured out for a short walk to a nearby shopping mall in search of a light dinner. In what might seem like an odd choice while visiting China, we ended up eating at Taco Bell. While it felt a little strange passing on local cuisine for a familiar favorite, even Taco Bell has its own Chinese twist. The menu was different enough to remind us that we were still very far from home.

Monday, July 27th, 2026 - By the eighth day of our trip, the tour company clearly understood that most of us were running low on energy. After more than a week of nonstop sightseeing, the pace finally slowed as we made our way to Shanghai for the final leg of the tour. With many of the city's attractions located close together, the schedule included more downtime to relax and recharge. We were especially grateful for this change of pace, having started to feel both travel-weary and drained by the summer heat.

For once, we were able to enjoy a bit of a sleep-in, with our hotel pickup not scheduled until 9:30 a.m. From there, it was about a 45-minute drive to Tongli Ancient Town, often referred to as the "Oriental Venice" With its winding canals, graceful stone bridges, and traditional architecture, the town feels like a step back in time. Dating back more than 1,000 years, Tongli is one of the region's best-preserved ancient water towns and a beautiful introduction to Shanghai's historic side.

Photos of Tongli Ancient Town

Tongli was a fascinating place to explore. While it has become a popular tourist destination, it still retains much of the charm and character of an ancient water town. We embraced our role as tourists and climbed aboard a traditional wooden boat for a leisurely cruise through the town's narrow canals. As our boatman skillfully paddled us along the waterways by hand, we were treated to a unique perspective of the historic village.

Not content with seeing the town from the water alone, we next hopped into a rickshaw and were pedaled through the winding streets. Both experiences offered wonderful views of the centuries-old buildings, picturesque canals, and graceful stone bridges that make Zhujiajiao so special. It was a relaxing and enjoyable way to experience the town, and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it

That wrapped up our sightseeing for the day, so we headed back toward the hotel earlier than usual. Along the way, we asked our driver to make a quick detour to a shopping mall near our hotel. Connie and I were on a mission to find a new pair of shorts for me, as one of my trusty pairs had finally reached the end of its useful life.

While there, we wandered through the mall and discovered a fascinating dining area. An entire section had been designed to resemble an old Chinese town, complete with traditional-style buildings and streets, but instead of residences, it was filled with restaurants and food vendors. With so many tempting options, choosing a place for dinner was no easy task.

Eventually, we settled on a restaurant and let Connie take charge of ordering. In China, meals are often served family-style, with dishes ordered individually rather than as complete entrées. By now, we had grown accustomed to this approach, and Connie selected five different dishes for us to share. Everything was delicious, but she may have been a little too enthusiastic with her selections. Four dishes would have been more than enough, and we simply couldn't finish it all.

The prices made it hard to resist trying a little extra. Even with more food than we could eat, our entire dinner bill came to just $18 for the two of us, making it one of the best dining values of the trip.

 Tuesday, July 28th, 2026 - We enjoyed another relaxed morning with a 9:30 a.m. pickup before heading to one of Shanghai's most famous attractions, Yuyuan Garden and the adjacent Yuyuan Bazaar.

After spending time among Shanghai's gleaming skyscrapers and modern neighborhoods, Yuyuan Garden felt like stepping into another era. Hidden behind ancient walls in the heart of the city, the 400-year-old garden is a peaceful retreat filled with tranquil ponds, elegant pavilions, intricate rock formations, and winding pathways that showcase the beauty of traditional Chinese landscape design.

Just outside the garden gates, the atmosphere changes dramatically. The Yuyuan Bazaar is a lively maze of shops, restaurants, and market stalls packed with visitors searching for souvenirs and local treats. While it was certainly interesting to see, Connie and I decided not to spend much time browsing the crowded marketplace. Our guide had a better option in mind.

Photos of the Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar

One of the highlights of our time in Shanghai was visiting the observation deck of Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China. After stepping into one of the world's fastest elevators, we shot upward to the 118th floor in less than a minute. When the doors opened, we found ourselves more than 500 meters above the city, looking out over an incredible 360-degree panorama.

From this lofty perch, Shanghai seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The Huangpu River snaked through the city below, separating the historic Bund from the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong. We could look down on famous landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center, which suddenly appeared much smaller from our vantage point high above them.

The view provided a remarkable perspective on Shanghai's size and modernity. Looking out across the endless sea of buildings, it was easy to appreciate why Shanghai is considered one of the world's great cities. It was an unforgettable experience and one of the best views of our entire trip.

To end the day, our guide suggested a visit to Shanghai's Former French Concession. Established in 1849 and administered by France until 1943, this historic district offers a fascinating blend of Chinese and European influences. Tree-lined streets, elegant villas, and historic buildings create a completely different atmosphere from the traditional Chinese architecture we had been seeing throughout our trip.

After wandering the neighborhood for a while, we decided it was the perfect place to stop for lunch. Since we weren't surrounded by Chinese-style buildings for a change, we opted for something completely different and ordered pizza at an Italian restaurant, in the French Concession, in Shanghai China. It may not have been the most traditional meal of our China adventure, but it was a welcome change of pace and surprisingly good. 

Formally ending our time with "Run", our tour guide, we said goodbye. That evening, we experienced one of Shanghai's most memorable attractions: a night cruise on the Huangpu River. We booked this on our own as it wasn't part of our packaged tour. As our boat pulled away from the dock, we were treated to an incredible view of the city from the water. On one side stood the historic buildings of The Bund, beautifully illuminated and reflecting Shanghai's colonial past. On the other side rose the futuristic skyline of Pudong, with its towering skyscrapers glowing in a dazzling display of lights.

As darkness settled over the city, the reflections danced across the river, creating a scene that felt almost unreal. The cruise offered the perfect vantage point to appreciate Shanghai's unique blend of history and modernity. Seeing the city's iconic skyline from the water was a fitting finale to our time in Shanghai and one of the most impressive night views of our entire trip.

Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 - After 11 wonderful days of exploring China, it was finally time to begin the next chapter of our adventure and fly to Japan. We headed to Shanghai Airport for our flight to Hiroshima, with a connection through Tokyo.

As expected, the most challenging part of the journey was figuring out where our airline's check-in counter was located. After a bit of searching and a few moments of confusion, we found the correct station and got ourselves checked in. From that point on, everything went smoothly. Immigration and customs were efficient, and before long we were relaxing at the gate waiting to board.

The flight to Tokyo was uneventful and comfortable, giving us some time to reflect on the incredible experiences we had enjoyed throughout China. One of the highlights of the journey was being served our first Japanese meal while in the air, offering an early taste of the country we were about to visit.

Tokyo was just a change of planes, as Hiroshima was the destination. We had a 3½ hour layover in Tokyo, thinking this was plenty of time. Oops! We didn't think that we would have to go through immigration and customs in Tokyo. We had to wait in a long line for immigration, go pickup our luggage and go through customs. Of course, we also had to fill out forms for both check points. Then we could re-check our luggage back in for the "domestic" flight to Hiroshima. However, we also had to wait for a shuttle bus to take us to the domestic flight terminal. Of course, our departure gate was on the far end of the terminal.

This all went fairly smoothly, although it took almost 3-hours. We got to our departure gate with about 10-minutes to spare. We were very glad our plane from Shanghai arrived on time, and that our flight from Tokyo to Hiroshima was also leaving 20-minutes late. Although this second flight of the day was only about 90-minutes long, they still served us another meal. We're not used to getting in-flight meals, as these have mostly been removed from flights in the USA.

With our organized tour now behind us, we were on our own for the first time in nearly two weeks. That meant no tour guide waiting at the airport and no arranged transportation to our hotel. Unfortunately, I had neglected to plan ahead for how we would get into Hiroshima, a mistake I've made on previous trips and apparently hadn't fully learned from.

Faced with the uncertainty of navigating public transportation after a long travel day, we opted for the easy solution and grabbed a taxi. Another big "oops!" Although the ride to our hotel took only about 45 minutes, the fare came to more than 20,000 yen, or roughly $122 USD. It was an expensive reminder that a little advance planning can save a lot of money. Hopefully, this is a lesson I'll finally remember on future travels.

Despite the costly taxi ride, we arrived at a beautiful hotel conveniently located near downtown Hiroshima. After checking in and getting settled, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the hotel and took the opportunity to relax after a long day of travel.

Tomorrow we'll spend the day exploring Hiroshima before heading back to the airport once again. From there, we'll begin making our way toward our final destination: rejoining the Odyssey cruise ship and starting the journey home.