Yangtze River Maps 2024/2025: Location, Route, Ports, & Shore Excursions

Before your Yangtze River cruise in China, we highly recommended you to look at the latest maps of the Yangtze River to have a clearer understanding about its location, cruise route, port cities, transportation to ports, shore excursions to be visited, location of the Three Gorges and the Three Gorges Dam project, and so on, which would benefit your holiday a lot and ensure you a smoother trip. All the maps at below are downloadable, so you can use them freely.

Yangtze River Location

Yangtze River, as the World 3rd Longest River and the longest river in Asia, covers about 6,300 kilometers (3,988 miles) in total. This great runs from the western to the eastern part of central China, crossing 11 provinces and regions including Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shanghai. Since a large part of Chinese culture originated from this river, it is respected and reputed as one of the two Mother Rivers in China. Learn more about Yangtze River >

Yangtze River Cruise Ports & Transfer

Along the Yangtze River, there are numerous port cities for passengers and goods shipping. For your Yangtze River cruise needs, there are mainly two port cities for the ship dock, namely Chongqing and Yichang. You can check the map at below to find the locations of each city and way to get there.

Map of Yangtze River Port Cities

In Chongqing

There is only one port for your cruise embarkation and disembarkation, which is called Chaotianmen Dock (朝天门码头). This port is situated in the city downtown and consists of 13 subdivided docks for different cruise ships.

Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock and Transfer

Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock Map

In Yichang

Except Yangtze 1, which ports at Yichang No.9 Wharf, all other Three Gorges cruises (run the Chongqing - Yichang itinerary) embark and disembark at Maoping Port (茅坪港) in 2025. Maoping Port in Zigui County is about a 1-1.5 hour drive from downtown Yichang. Yangtze River cruise companies take responsibility for arranging complimentary shuttle buses from the Visitor Center of Three Gorges Tourist Resort and Yichang East Railway Station. Learn more about Yangtze River Cruise Ports >

Yichang Port Map and Transfer

Yangtze River Cruise Route & Shore Excursion Sites

The Yangtze River cruise route from Chognqing to Yichang (Upstream and Downstream) is the golden section of the river, which passes Fengdu, Zhongxian, Fengjie, Badong, and Zigui counties, etc. Along your Yangtze River cruise between the two cities, there are a series of interesting shore excursions, including Fengdu Ghost City, Shibaozhai Pagoda, White Emperor City, the Three Gorges, Shennv Stream, Shennong Stream, the Three Gorges Dam, and Tribe of Three Gorges, etc. Learn more about Shore Excursion Sites >. Check the detail location of each one at below.

Yangtze River Cruise Map of Route Map & Shore Excursions

Location of the Three Gorges

The Three Gorges, formed by the Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, is the real highlight along the Yangtze River cruise. located at the middle and downstream of Chongqing to Yichang section, it is reputed as the art gallery and wonderland in our nature, and people onboard the cruise can admire its primitive landscapes of high hills and flat water, historical stories, brilliant culture, special local folks and customs, mysterious hanging coffins, and so forth.

Map of Three Gorges

Three Gorges Dam Map

The Three Gorges Dam, world largest and most complicated hydropower project, of course is another shining point not to be missed in your Yangtze River cruise tour. A large number of travellers showed great expectation to see this great project and finally really marveled at its magnificent and unbelievable features, so you are also highly recommended to pay a visit there to see the flood discharge section, appreciate its panorama, watch the five stages ship locks and enjoy the natural sightseeing around. Constructed at Sandouping Town, about 40 kilometers away from Yichang city, you will be transferred to and from this site by the arranged buses of the cruise companies. Learn more about the Three Gorges Dam >

Three Gorges Dam Location Map

How to Plan a China Yangtze Tour?

Over 90% cruiser would choose the classic Chongqing-Yichang Three Gorges Itinerary, which only takes 4 to 5 days, as their first encounter with the Yangtze River. Then, they will leave some time to visit surrounding highlights or explore famous landing cities. So, a China Yangtze tour can extend from 4 days to a month, or even more.

To/From nearby Hot China Destinations (Chongqing, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Guilin…)

— 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 >>

Our Guests Take a Photo with Hongya Cave

— 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 >>

Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu

— 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 >>

Chona from Philippines visited Tianzi Mountain, Zhangjiajie

— 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 2025 | How to Plan a Guilin Tour >>

Claire from UK visited Yangshuo Countryside

From/To Classic China Destinations (Beijing/Shanghai/Xian/Hong Kong/Guangzhou…)

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 >>

Alexia visited Mutianyu Great Wall Terracotta Warriors, Shared by Chris Lujiazui, Shanghai

Travel Yangtze River with China Discovery

Have your own ideas of where and what to discover before, during and after the Yangtze River cruise tour? We China Discovery offers many popular and valuable private China tour packages with Yangtze River Cruise vacation taking you to enjoy wonderful exploration of the best highlights of Three Gorges, Chongqing, Yichang, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Xian, Guilin, Wuhan, etc. And our professional travel team with experienced travel expert, local English-speaking travel guide and driver and non-smoking comfortable licensed private vehicle will help you throughout the trip from the planning, navigation, hotel arrangement and scenic spot visiting. So you will have the much better travel experience on and around the extensive Yangtze River. You can check our tour packages to get some inspiration. All tours can be tailor-made according to your group size, time, physical condition, plan, interests, budget and any other special need! Please feel free to contact us to customize your own China Yangtze River Cruise trip or if you need any help!

See Our Delighted Customers on Their Yangtze Cruise Trips

Questions & Discussions

Following are latest questions and answers from our webusers and customers. You can learn many useful information from the discussion and cases. You can also join in the discussions or ask your own question. Our experts will help you ASAP.

Marilyn Elam

Chongquin port

When you arrive in Chongquin what's the procedure with our luggage is it loaded off the boat like an ocean cruise? Are there taxis waiting? We will be travelling with elderly people with mobility issues.

2018-07-17 23:48

Hello Marilyn,

Thank you for the message! Actually disembarking from the Yangtze River cruise ships is quite much simpler than that for an ocean cruise. Usually, you could put your luggage outside your room or at the hall on the 2rd floor after breakfast, and you could hire a local porter to carry your luggage off the cruise and to the road, and they usually charge 15-20RMB for each piece. Thus, to avoid walking the many steps up with your heavy luggage. And on the main road, there are some taxies in yellow available. However, due to many visitors disembarking in the morning sometimes, it may be a little hard to catch a vacant one. Therefore, to save more time and energy to find the complicated ways in Chongqing, you could choose our local transfer service to escort you from Chaotianmen Port to the train station/ airport with speed and comfort. Besides, if you are interested in a half day tour or more time in Chongqing, we also have professional tour guides to take you enjoy the highlights of this City of Mountain.

Wish you a wonderful Yangtze River cruise trip!

Carrie at China Discovery 2018-07-18 17:09