Greetings from Shanghai - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

R Leo · #1 09-27-2006, 09:16 PM

Hi all!
Well, our trip is coming to an end. We're in Shanghai for the next couple of days after which we head to Hong Kong and then home.

Since I last corresponded, we've made a three day river cruise down the Yangtze, through the three gorges; actually, through 2 1/2 gorges since constructon and maintenance on ship locks at the Three Gorges dam project prohibited river travel downstream through the lower part of the third gorge to Wuhan.

One of the highlights of the river cruise was a tour on traditional sampan-like wooden boats that a group of men called "trackers" pulled upstream, by hand, through rapids. The water in the Yangtze is muddy brown like the Mississippi but the water in these feeder streams where the trackers work is crystal clear and the canyon walls showed absolutely no sign of habitation. It was there where I experienced what I like to think of as the enigma that is China: we were in the middle of nowhere and men wearing little more than traditional hand-tied sandals were pulling our ancient wood boat with a hand woven, bamboo rope in a manner that hasn't changed since well before westerners arrived here...when we reached the upper most part of the tour and began to retrace our path, our captain pulled out a cell phone and called to make sure that no other boats were heading upstream. To me, that is China.

As far as Mercedes go, there aren't many MBZ diesels here and NO 123s. You do however see a lot of 126s and later model S600s. Yesterday, I spotted a stretch 140 called a Dynasty 1000...the M100 minivan is big here too.

Since we're traveling as individuals, we spend a lot of time touring in Chinese-built Hundai minivans called JAC. They're all diesels with 5-speed manual trannies. The one we had in Xi'an was turbocharged and intercooled but the driver insisted on shifting to the highest gear as soon a s possible. I don't think the poor thing ever saw the high side of 1800 RPM.

That's all for now,
RL

kerry · #2 09-27-2006, 10:25 PM

Dammit man, just have a good time and quit telling us about it. We're just getting jealous.

t walgamuth · #3 09-27-2006, 10:33 PM

no dont stop.

it sounds wonderful.

my oldest daughter went over when she was between junior and senior high school with her carmel indiana cross country team. (i didnt pay for the trip). when she came back all she seemed to want to talk about was the awful food!

kids!

tom w

Fuzzball · #4 09-28-2006, 02:23 AM

Randy, it sounds like a great trip...sure beats sittin around lookin for the last straw and all....

Have a great rest of the trip!

andersbenz · #5 09-28-2006, 10:12 AM

Randy,

What an awesome trip. The only problem with travel is that it wets the appetite for more travel.

Hopefully you will post some photos?

Jeremy5848 · #6 09-28-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

....when we reached the upper most part of the tour and began to retrace our path, our captain pulled out a cell phone and called to make sure that no other boats were heading upstream. To me, that is China.....

LOL....great tale! Reminds me of my time in Algeria....

Dee8go · #7 09-28-2006, 11:41 AM

I wondered where you had been, Randy. Sounds great. Hope you're having a terrific time.

hawthorne90250 · #8 09-28-2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

Hi all!
Well, our trip is coming to an end. We're in Shanghai for the next couple of days after which we head to Hong Kong and then home.

Since I last corresponded, we've made a three day river cruise down the Yangtze, through the three gorges; actually, through 2 1/2 gorges since constructon and maintenance on ship locks at the Three Gorges dam project prohibited river travel downstream through the lower part of the third gorge to Wuhan.

One of the highlights of the river cruise was a tour on traditional sampan-like wooden boats that a group of men called "trackers" pulled upstream, by hand, through rapids. The water in the Yangtze is muddy brown like the Mississippi but the water in these feeder streams where the trackers work is crystal clear and the canyon walls showed absolutely no sign of habitation. It was there where I experienced what I like to think of as the enigma that is China: we were in the middle of nowhere and men wearing little more than traditional hand-tied sandals were pulling our ancient wood boat with a hand woven, bamboo rope in a manner that hasn't changed since well before westerners arrived here...when we reached the upper most part of the tour and began to retrace our path, our captain pulled out a cell phone and called to make sure that no other boats were heading upstream. To me, that is China.

As far as Mercedes go, there aren't many MBZ diesels here and NO 123s. You do however see a lot of 126s and later model S600s. Yesterday, I spotted a stretch 140 called a Dynasty 1000...the M100 minivan is big here too.

Since we're traveling as individuals, we spend a lot of time touring in Chinese-built Hundai minivans called JAC. They're all diesels with 5-speed manual trannies. The one we had in Xi'an was turbocharged and intercooled but the driver insisted on shifting to the highest gear as soon a s possible. I don't think the poor thing ever saw the high side of 1800 RPM.

That's all for now,
RL

Hi
I took a tour like that last May (05), though my final city was Shanghai, reminded me of a Euopean city. Its amazing seeing the ship building along the banks of the river, Did you go to Chongking (sorry for the spelling).
I would love to go back to Shanghai, Did'nt care much for Bejing except for the Hu tongs (spelling again).

diametricalbenz · #9 09-28-2006, 04:35 PM

I went in Decmber and I too saw M100 vans and W126's but they all had the flying saucer wheels. There were no W123's in Beijing. One W123 limo but it was a 280E. Shanghai did have a Roller Phantom in one of the mall showrooms and a nice Audi showcase. They even had one of the Quattro rally cars on display.

I noticed too that the drivers like to upshift to 5th or whatever the highest gear is causing the car to shudder violently. They must go through crank bearings like there's no tomorrow.