Three Gorges Dam – World Larges Water Control Project

Once entering the scenic area, the first attraction you'll meet is Tangziling Ridge (坛子岭), which is the earliest developed attraction. It was opened since 1997, and due to the observation platform is like an upside-down jar, so it's named as Tanziling (Tanzi means jar in Chinese). With an altitude of 262.48m, Tangziling Ridge is the best place to observe Three Gorges Dam. Tourists can not only watch the magnificent dam, but also see the Three Gorges Dam Ship Locks – the five-level Ship Locks is the largest ship locks in the world.

Tanziling Ridge can be divided into three layers (connected by elevators) according to height from top to the bottom. Main attractions in Tangziling Ridge are Exhibition Hall, Observation Platform, Headstone of Three Gorges, etc.

185 Platform

185 Platform (185观景台) is located at the left side next to the dam crest of Three Gorges Dam. It's located at the same height of Three Gorges Dam, with an altitude of 185m, thus it's named 185 Platform. In here, tourists can see the water level of the upstream of Yangtze River, the entrance for the ship locks and the main architectures of the dam. Standing on the 185 Platform and look over, it's just like standing on the crest of the dam.

Commemorating Park

Among the three attractions, only the Commemorating Park (截流纪念园) is located at the south bank of Yangtze River. There is the downstream of Yangtze River, and tourists can look up to the Three Gorges Dam. In the Commemorating Park, there is an exhibition hall, where you can learn more detailed information of Three Gorges Dam Project. Besides, tourists can also see artificial hill made of interception stones and exhibitions of the large-scale construction machinery. Since it's located downstream, thus, there is the great place to take photo with the panoramic view of Three Gorges Dam.

Five-stage Ship locks

The five-stage Three Gorges Dam ship locks is the world larges ship lock at present, with an overall length of 6.4km, and the water level difference of it reaches to 113m, which means ships need to climb up and down 40 floor's height when they passing the ship locks. This has been selected as the world record. Travellers taking either upstream of downstream Yangtze River cruises can enjoy shipping through the five stage ship locks to see its working theory and marvel at the wisdom of human beings. Since the whole shipping would take about 3.5 hours, you could take your time to see the ship passing through from one stage to next. Moreover, when you visit the Tanziling Ridge, you can have a full view of that “World MOST” project.

The Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift was opened on 18th September in 2016. From then on, that is the world-class great ship elevator with the most complicated techniques and larges scales. Besides, that is the final construction item of the Three Gorges project. Ships now need only about 40 minutes now to pass the dam by the ship lift, compared to passing the ship locks, which makes great contribution for the efficiency of ships passing through the Three Gorges Dam. The ship lift is about 5,000 meters long in total, maximum elevation height is 113, and it can hold ships of 3,000 tons to pass the dam, so at present, only part of Yangtze River cruise ships of smaller weight can take the elevator at the dam. And in 2017, Victoria cruises is the only Yangtze River cruise company that provides the experience of the ship lift for free for travellers. Therefore, if you are very interested in this world advanced and complicated elevator at the Three Gorges Dam, you could book your ideal Victoria cruise ships from us.

Recent news: the Three Gorges Dam ship lift would not be operating from July 20, 2017 to the reopen date of the lift (around middle October 2017) due to its adjustments and improvements, therefore, Victoria cruises are not allowed to sail by the ship lift during that period. From then on, itineraries will have some changes and you can ask our Travel Consultant for details.

Three Gorges Dam is located in Sandouping Town, Yichang City, which is about 40km from the city center.

Ship: Tourists taking the cruise ship don't need to worry about the transportation, for the ship will pass the Three Gorges Dam and you'll have time to make a shore excursion to it. Except the upstream Yangtze Explorer, all luxury Yangtze River cruises between Chongqing and Yichang include a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam in 2025.

Car: If you drive from Yichang city, it would take about 1 hour and 15 minutes for about 45 kilometers. Book a private car service with us >>

Transportation in the Scenic Area

After arriving at the tourist center of the scenic area, tourists can take sightseeing bus to tour the whole scenic area. The sightseeing bus has two routes: A route (¥35/person) and B route (¥18/person). The sightseeing bus will transfer among Tangziling Ridge, 185 Platform and Commemorating Park (B route doesn't include the Commemorating Park), and it will depart every 20 minutes.

— 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 2025 | 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 2025 | Top Sichuan Tours 2025 | 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 2025 | 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

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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 2025 Top China Yangtze Tours >>