Angela Wilson

Angela Wilson Chasing a dream, one photo at a time ✨
Late starter. Big believer. Just seeing where this goes 🤍

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11/06/2026

🇨🇳 CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 12 🐼

Now we’re back in the UK and sitting waiting for our train home, it feels like the perfect time to share what was, without doubt, the highlight of the whole trip for me.

An early start was definitely worth it as we headed off to visit one of China’s most famous residents – the giant panda! 🐼

It was amazing watching the black and white pandas happily munching their way through bamboo and lounging around without a care in the world.

The absolute highlight was watching a baby panda playing with its mum. They were so entertaining to watch and impossible not to fall in love with.

This reel is just a small glimpse of our panda visit. My phone is packed with panda photos and videos, and there were far too many special moments to squeeze into one reel, so there will definitely be more pandas to come in the next post! 🐼❤️

Although this was my personal highlight, there is still so much more of our China adventure to share, and this series of posts will continue over the coming weeks.

As I sit here reflecting on the last couple of weeks, I’m also thinking about the wonderful people we’ve met along the way. To the friends we’ve made throughout this journey — people who started as strangers and became a huge part of the experience — thank you for sharing the memories, laughter and moments we’ll never forget. ❤️

I do find myself wondering where our next adventure will take us, but right now I can’t wait to see my girls, Alice and Mollie, and of course Pablo. As incredible as this trip has been, I’ve missed them all so much.

I’m grateful to have experienced an adventure like this, but even more grateful to have such a wonderful family waiting for me at home. 🥰😘😍

➡️ Next: More panda moments and more adventures from Chengdu.

🇨🇳 Follow along so you don’t miss the next part of our China adventure.




Gary Wilson
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne
Mercury Holidays
Angela Wilson

11/06/2026

CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 11

Today we said goodbye to our Yangtze River cruise and continued our journey through China.

After leaving the ship in Chongqing, we made the short journey to the train station and boarded the bullet train to Chengdu.

Before arriving in the city, we stopped to see the incredible Leshan Giant Buddha. Viewing it from the boat gave us a fantastic panoramic perspective and really showed the sheer scale of this remarkable landmark.

We then travelled to the Tibetan Hotel, where we were welcomed with traditional white scarves, a lovely introduction to local customs.

Once again, Mercury Holidays had chosen another stunning hotel. We have been so impressed with the variety and quality of the accommodation throughout this trip.

After dinner at a local restaurant, we enjoyed a wander around the evening market before heading back for an early night. We had an exciting morning ahead… 🐼

➡️ Next: One of the highlights of the trip – visiting China’s famous giant pandas.

🇨🇳 Follow for Part 12 and the next chapter of our China adventure.



Gary Wilson
Mercury Holidays
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne
Angela Wilson

10/06/2026

🇨🇳 CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 10

Our final full day on the Yangtze began with a private tour of the Captain’s Bridge, followed by a lesson in how to write our names in Chinese and a chance to try our hand at decorating a fan.

After lunch, we headed to Fengdu Ghost City. It involved a long walk from the ship, lots of steps and plenty of rain! By the time we arrived, our trainers and trousers were soaked, but thankfully the umbrellas provided on board helped keep the worst of it off us.

Despite the weather, it was fascinating to see the ancient Buddhas and explore the legends of the Underworld.

The day ended with a crew and guest talent show 🎤. With very little time to prepare, six of us performed a Grease medley with taking the lead role of Sandy and as Danny. Considering we were the only Western guests on board, we weren’t quite sure how it would go down, but the Chinese audience seemed to love it!

Unfortunately, our fellow travellers were too busy videoing us to capture the Chinese passengers recording us. For all we know, we could now be internet sensations on China’s version of TikTok… or starring in their version of You’ve Been Framed! 🤣🤣🤣

➡️ Next: Saying goodbye to our Yangtze cruise and boarding the bullet train to Chengdu.

🇨🇳 Follow for Part 11 and the next chapter of our China adventure.



Gary Wilson
Mercury Holidays
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne

10/06/2026

🇨🇳 CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 9

After lunch back on board, we headed out to visit White Emperor City.

The climb involved 375 steps, but the effort was well worth it. The views from the top were absolutely spectacular, with stunning scenery stretching across the Yangtze River and surrounding mountains.

Back on board, another lovely surprise was waiting for us. Our table had been decorated with balloons and we were presented with a beautiful cake to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.

It feels like we’ve been celebrating for weeks, but 30 years together is definitely something worth celebrating! ❤️

After another delicious evening meal, we spent the evening relaxing and reflecting on another unforgettable day on the Yangtze.

➡️ Next: A visit to the Captain’s Bridge, Chinese calligraphy, Fengdu Ghost City and a surprise performance in the crew talent show!

🇨🇳 Follow for Part 10 and the next chapter of our China adventure.



Gary Wilson
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne
Mercury Holidays

10/06/2026

🇨🇳 CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 8

We were up early to make the most of our journey through the Lesser Three Gorges. Passing through misty gorges and breathtaking scenery, we boarded a smaller boat which took us even deeper into the Emerald Gorge.

The weather was beautiful and the views were simply stunning. Every twist and turn revealed another picture-perfect scene.

After lunch back on board, we climbed 375 steps to visit White Emperor City. The climb was definitely worth it for the spectacular views waiting at the top.

Back on the ship, another anniversary surprise was waiting for us. Balloons decorated our table and we were presented with a beautiful cake to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.

It feels like we’ve stretched the celebrations out for weeks, but 30 years together is definitely worth celebrating! ❤️

➡️ Next: Captain’s Bridge, Chinese calligraphy, Fengdu Ghost City and a surprise talent show!

🇨🇳 Follow for Part 9 and the next chapter of our China adventure.



Gary Wilson
The Scarf Giraffe
Mercury Holidays
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne

09/06/2026

🇨🇳 CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 7

After returning to the ship for lunch, we headed back out to visit the Three Gorges Dam Project.

Wow 😮 The views from the top were spectacular! For someone who isn’t particularly interested in history, I found this visit really fascinating. Perhaps it was the combination of being outdoors, the beautiful weather and the sheer scale of the project, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

When we returned to our cabin, we had a lovely surprise waiting for us. The room had been decorated with balloons and lights to celebrate our wedding anniversary, which was such a thoughtful touch and made the day even more special.

After a quick change, it was time for another delicious evening meal on board and a chance to reflect on another fantastic day.

➡️ Next: Cruising through the breathtaking Three Gorges.

🇨🇳 Follow for Part 8 as we sail through one of China’s most spectacular landscapes and continue our unforgettable adventure.



Gary Wilson
Mercury Holidays
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne
The Scarf Giraffe

08/06/2026

🇨🇳 CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 6 🚢
Our first full day on the Yangtze River began with breakfast in the VIP restaurant. The 10 of us had decided to upgrade for just 495 yuan, and what a bargain it turned out to be! With delicious buffet breakfasts and a choice of both Chinese and Western dishes, we couldn’t understand why it wasn’t included as standard.
We had also booked the optional excursion to the Tribe of the Three Gorges, and we’re so glad we did. The scenery was absolutely stunning, with beautiful views around every corner and plenty of fantastic photo opportunities along the way.
One of the highlights was Monkey Mountain, set amongst some truly breathtaking landscapes. If you’re considering this cruise, this is definitely an excursion I would recommend.
A wonderful day and a great introduction to the natural beauty of the Yangtze region.

➡️ Next: The incredible Three Gorges Dam Project.

🇨🇳 Follow for Part 7 and the next chapter of our China adventure.



Gary Wilson
The Scarf Giraffe
Mercury Holidays
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne
Angela Wilson

08/06/2026

🇨🇳 CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 5

After a very early start and our flight from Shanghai, we arrived in Yichang ready for the next stage of our adventure.

Our morning began at Yichang Museum. I’ll be honest, museums aren’t really my thing! Gary enjoyed it more than I did, but it was interesting to learn a little about the local history.

Lunch was served at a beautiful wedding venue, with stunning wedding dresses on display and a gorgeous white and blue dining room.

The highlight of the day came during a walk along the riverbank when we were approached by a six-year-old boy called Ethan. Armed with a DJI microphone and camera, he interviewed us in amazing English, told us all about Big Ben, and even had us singing “London Bridge Is Falling Down”!

Before we left, Ethan gave us a panda bell charm and a traditional lucky charm – a lovely reminder of one of the most unexpected moments of our trip.

➡️ Next: Boarding our Yangtze River cruise and the start of an unforgettable journey along the Yangtze.

🇨🇳 Follow for Part 6 and the next chapter of our China adventure.

Gary Wilson
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne
Mercury Holidays

08/06/2026

🇨🇳 CHINA ADVENTURE – PART 4 🌃

Our day in Shanghai ended with a river cruise along The Bund, and what a way to finish!

The skyline was absolutely spectacular, with the buildings illuminated in every colour imaginable. Seeing Shanghai from the river gave us a completely different perspective of the city and was one of those moments that will stay with us for a very long time.

The photos really don’t do it justice. Looking back at them now, I think I need to improve my photography skills because nothing quite captured how incredible it looked in real life.

As we were taking in the views, our tour guide Jonathan dropped a bit of a bombshell – our flight to Yichang the next morning was leaving at 6.30am!

That meant bags packed, alarms set for 3.30am and being ready to leave the hotel by 4.30am. After such a fantastic day exploring Shanghai, it was definitely an early night for us.

➡️ Next: Yichang and the start of our Yangtze River adventure.

✨ Follow along so you don’t miss Part 5! 🇨🇳🚢



Gary Wilson
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne
Mercury Holidays

07/06/2026

➡️✨ PART 3 | Day 4 Continued | Traditional Shanghai 🏮

After lunch, we headed into Shanghai’s Old Town to visit Yu Garden, one of the city’s most famous attractions.

It was lovely wandering through the traditional gardens, with their ponds, bridges and beautiful Chinese architecture. It felt a world away from the modern skyline we’d been looking at from Shanghai Tower earlier in the day.

We also visited a local temple, where people were lighting incense and taking time for quiet reflection. It was interesting to see a different side of Chinese culture and daily life.

Of course, all that sightseeing meant it was time for an ice cream stop! 🍦

Later in the afternoon, we headed to the French Concession. The atmosphere here felt completely different from the rest of the city, with tree-lined streets, attractive buildings and a much more relaxed pace. It was nice to simply wander around and take it all in.

After another excellent meal, it was time to make our way to the river for our evening cruise.

As we boarded the boat and the daylight began to fade, we knew we were in for something special. Cameras at the ready, we set off along the Huangpu River to see Shanghai from a completely different perspective.

📍Yu Garden
📍Shanghai Old Town
📍French Concession
📍Huangpu River
📍Mercury Holidays



➡️ Coming up next…

Shanghai by night! 🌃✨

The lights of The Bund, the spectacular skyline from our Huangpu River cruise and an alarm clock set for 3:30am ready for our flight to Yichang.

✨ Follow along so you don’t miss Part 4! 🇨🇳🚢✈️

Gary Wilson
Mercury Holidays
GoCruise & Travel with Rich and Yvonne

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