We also did the Xian excursion last year and enjoyed it very much. In addition to seeing the warriors, there was a stop at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Park, the city walls, and a park that was both the home of one of the Four Beauties of China and where Chiang Kai Shek was hiding out in the 1930s.

The ship broadcast a TV documentary about the Mao Tse Tung era that helped put the China visit in context. I think the "The Last Emperor" was broadcast, too.

If you're in Hong Kong for their Mid-Year Autumn festival, you're in for a treat. See if you can find the evening dragon dance and the lantern festival near the waterfront. They were both on Hong Kong Island.

A traditional gift at this time of year are moon cakes. They are a heavy pastry filled with bean paste and egg yolks. A newer version is filled with ground nuts. We also found them lurking on the buffet in Xian for dessert.

Cheers, Anne