Chongqing to Yichang Yangtze River Cruise 2024/2025

• ♦ Chaotianmen Dock, at the junction of the Yangtze River and Jialing River, serves all Yangtze River cruise ships. Here, you can appreciate the gorgeous night view of the modern buildings, crossing roads and bridges, including Qiansimen Bridge, Hongya Cave, Chongqing Grand Theatre, etc., and the sightseeing cruise ships shining with colorful sparkling lights. Chaotianmen Dock details >>
• ♦ Do leave a day or two to explore the “8D” “Cyberpunk” city - Chongqing, which exploded the social media with its unique cityscape and the hustle and bustle of local culture. This city is built on the mountain landform. You can enjoy unexpected transportation experiences, such as the cable car across the Yangtze River, light rail through the building…… In addition, authentic spicy delicacies, such as hot pot, stir-fried spicy chicken, spicy chicken and many worthwhile sites like Eling Park, Hongya Cave, Baixiangju, Longmenhao Old Street, Three Gorges Museum, etc., are waiting for your conquering!
• ♦ On the embarkation day, Century Cruises, Yangtze Gold Cruises, Changjiang Cruises, and Yangtze Explorer serve dinner for free (usually around 18:00~20:00). Guests taking other cruises are advised to arrange their dinner before boarding the ship.
• ♦ Notice: Influenced by the river conditions (typically during March, April, July, and August), the port and departure time of the cruise ships may change. Guests will be notified 1-2 days before the trip. Please keep in touch with your consultant.

Day 1 Chongqing Embarkation

• ♦ There are two cultural shore excursion sites usually chosen by Yangtze River cruises on the second day: Fengdu Ghost City and Shuanggui Mountain, all located in the old town of Fengdu County. The 1,900-year-old Fengdu Ghost City is an interesting and meaningful place to learn Chinese culture, telling the traditional Chinese belief that pure spirits would be rewarded and sinful ones would be subject to severe punishments with many statues and scenes in the conventional architecture. In comparison, Mount Shuanggui is a serene park where landscape and architecture merge into a continuous stroll, telling a fascinating encounter of Su Shi(苏轼), a well-known writer in the Northern Song Dynasty, and his family with this place.
• ♦ In 2024, the President Cruises will be the only one offering a shore excursion to Shibaozhai in Zhongxian. Shibaozhai Pagoda is reputed as the “Pearl on the Yangtze River” and one of the world 8 strange structures by the Discovery Channel in America. Constructed entirely with wood, the 12-story red pagoda leans against the mountain. It is ideal for climbing and offers breathtaking views.
• ♦ The large scale, novel setting, and meaty chapters make Feng Yan San Guo Show an unmissable performance. It tells a story regarding the brilliant historical culture of the Three Kingdoms Period about over 1,800 years ago and the spirit of loyalty of great military officer Guan Yu(屈原).

Day 2 Chongqing | Fengdu County - Zhongxian

Today’s Highlights & Tips:

• ♦ The Three Gorges, consisting of Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge, offer stunning natural views of towering hills and calm waters throughout the world-class canyon. Among these three gorges, Qutang Gorge is featured with the rapid rolling water at the narrow riverway, which makes it majestic and precipitous. Wu Gorge is famous for its elegant and serene sightseeing, and its towering mountains surrounded by clouds and mists, deep gorge, etc., make it full of poetic romance.
• ♦ Small boating experience through elegant tributaries of the Wu Gorge: Shennv Stream, Lesser Three Gorges, and Shennong Stream (riding a local “peapod” boat).
• ♦ White Emperor City, a famous ancient “Poem City”, tells the touching story of Liu Bei entrusting his son to his prime minister, Zhuge Liang. It’s also the best place to appreciate the iconic view of Kui Gate, the landscape printed on the back of a 10 yuan note. More about White Emperor City >>
• ♦ Newly-developed viewing platforms/sites for overlooking the meandering streams and graceful mountains rolled away: Three Gorges Summit, Goddess Sky Road

Day 3 Three Gorges | Fengjie - Wushan

• ♦ The Three Gorges Dam is the largest and most complicated hydropower project worldwide, which was designed and built for the benefits of navigation, flood control, river shipping, tourism, etc. It is a viral site for human projects and natural sightseeing.
• ♦ Observing a massive machine lift the small-tonnage ship you’re standing on from the deck is an experience unlike any other. Don’t miss the opportunity!

Note:

1. Different Yangtze River cruise ships have unique itineraries and maps, including detailed information about the sites and times from Chongqing to Yichang. Please check your specific favorite ship to see the detailed info.

2. In addition to each day’s shore excursions, Yangtze River cruise companies also arrange diverse and colorful events and activities onboard, including a welcome party, morning Taichi exercises and the cruise’s talented show, etc. Please check details at Yangtze River Cruise onboard experience, 2024 updated>>

3. Except for the shore excursions arranged by the cruise company, tourists are not allowed to leave the ship personally or go on independent journeys during the docking periods. We urge our guests to be aware of this rule of the Yangtze River cruise line and to comply with it. Thank you!

4. About Ship Lift: During the peak season, the Ship Lift activity has been in full swing. Demand exceeds supply. So, a large crowd of people from different ships will be on the boat. In more extreme cases, you may not be able to get a seat but stand. It is recommended to carefully consider joining the program if you are concerned about the impact of a large number of tourists on your experience.

Day 4 Three Gorges Dam | Yichang Disembarkation

— Chongqing(重庆) is known as the most essential starting point for a classic Yangtze River cruise. The city has gained international recognition in recent years for its unique tridimensional cityscape, 8D transportation system, and cyberpunk-style buildings and architecture, which have attracted a growing number of tourists to the city. Usually, a leisure landscape tour in Chongqing city requires 2~3 days. It’s recommended that you extend your journey to the surrounding UNESCO heritage sites like Wulong - the famous Karst Landscape in blockbuster Transformers (1-2 days) and Dazu - the last monumental works in the history of world grottoes art (1 day).

☛ 4 Days Chongqing Essence Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

Useful Links: 1~3 Days Chongqing Tours 2024 | How to Plan a Chongqing Tour >>

— Chengdu(成都), a 1~1.5-hour high-speed train from Chongqing, is known as the hometown of the Giant Pandas and  UNESCO’s City of Gastronomy. Take 1~2 days to meet these cuties and keep yourself in the “laid-back” living pace like a local while wandering around parks, museums, ancient pedestrian streets, and temples in the downtown area, you will probably understand why people say Chengdu is a city you don't want to leave. Moreover, Chengdu is the gateway to so many UNESCO world heritage sites, including Jiuzhaigou (3 days), Mount Emei (2 days), Leshan Giant Buddha (1 day), Dujiangyan (0.5-1 day), etc., and astonishing hidden plateau - Western Sichuan (3~7 days).

☛ 8 Days Best of Sichuan with Yangtze Cruise Tour (with Chengdu/Emeishan/Leshan)
☛ 8 Days Beauty Tour to Jiuzhaigou & Yangtze River

Useful Links: 1~7 Days Chengdu Tours 2024 | Top Sichuan Tours 2024 | How to Plan a Chengdu Tour >>

— Zhangjiajie(张家界), a 4.5-hour two-train transfer from Yichang, offers the most distinct and iconic landscape of the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar. Let along adrenalin-pumping Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and frightening skywalks and sharp zigzag driving roads at Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, the uncanny natural wonders in Zhangjiajie (3~5 Days) attracting countless adventurers and travel addicts from all over the world!

☛ 7 Days Nature Tour to Yangtze River & Zhangjiajie

Useful Links: 3~5 Days Zhangjiajie Tours 2024 | How to Plan a Zhangjiajie Tour >>

— Guilin(桂林), located 4-5 hours away by high-speed train from Chongqing, is renowned for its breathtaking scenery, making it a must-visit destination in China. Generally, Li River, Yangshuo County, and Longji Rice Terraces are the three most popular and separate destinations.  For most travelers to Guilin, 3-5 days is enough to cover the highlights by using a private car. 

☛ 7 Days Idyllic Guilin & Yangtze River Cruise Tour

Useful Links: 3~5 Days Guilin Tours 2024 | How to Plan a Guilin Tour >>

Guests who are visiting China for the first time probably would choose Beijing (the capital of China, recommended travel days: 3~4 days), Shanghai (the largest and most developed and populated city of China, recommended travel days: 2~4 days), Guangzhou (the third biggest city in China, recommended travel days: 2~3 days) or Hong Kong (a convenient transit hub with mainland China, recommended travel days: 2~3 days) as their first stop, as all these four destinations process excellent infrastructure and multi-dimensional transportation networks connecting the whole of China. How to arrange your travel route? Our top-pick China Yangtze Tour itineraries may bring you some inspiration!

☛ (Beijing/Xian/Chongqing/Yangtze Cruise/Yichang/Shanghai) 11 Days China Golden Triangle Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

☛ (Beijing/Xian/Chengdu/Yangtze Cruise/Zhangjiajie/Shanghai) 15 Days China Best Treasure Tour with Yangtze Cruise & Zhangjiajie Landscape

☛ (Hong Kong/Guilin/Chengdu/Chongqing/Yangtze Cruise/Yichang/Shanghai) 12 Days China Splendid Tour from Hong Kong

☛ (Shanghai/Yichang/Yangtze Cruise/Chongqing/Chengdu/Lhasa/Xian/Beijing) 17 Days China Yangtze Tour with Tibet & Giant Panda Visit

☛ (Hong Kong/Guilin/Chengdu/Yangtze Cruise/Zhangjiajie/Shanghai/Xian/Beijing) 21 Days China Holiday with Yangtze River Cruise Tour

Useful Links: Yangtze River Cruise Tour from Beijing | Yangtze River Cruise Tour from Shanghai | Yangtze River Cruise Tour from Hong Kong >>

Check more details about 2024 Top China Yangtze Tours >>