Upstream Yangtze Cruise from Yichang to Chongqing

Rise early in the morning and begin your day with a cup of coffee accompanied by Tai Chi exercises. Let’s now explore the first highlight of the cruise, the Three Gorges Dam. Initially proposed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1919, the Three Gorges Project has long been a dream and a subject of exploration across generations, finally beginning implementation in 1994. Today, the Three Gorges Hydropower Station produces over 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, displacing 50 million tons of standard coal and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by more than 100 million tons – equivalent to the annual emissions of a medium-sized country. Next, we’ll visit the Three Gorges Project Museum and the Closure Memorial Park to learn how this magnificent project was realized step by step.

At the Project Museum, you can use a combination of naked-eye 3D technology and a sand table model to experience the dam’s construction process, from site selection to installation, in a “God’s-eye view,” which satisfies curiosity about the building technology. Later, inside the Memorial Park, you’ll notice a large rock standing quietly. Though it’s not as ornate as a sculpture, it recalls a soul-stirring moment in the Three Gorges Project, the closure of the Yangtze River, the project’s most critical phase, which involved sealing the main channel, redirecting water flow, and creating dry conditions for dam construction. This massive rock is one of the actual tetrahedra used in the closure, symbolizing humanity’s monumental effort against nature. 

After completing all the visits, we’ll head back to the ship for lunch. The afternoon is free for you to relax on the deck or join onboard activities; be sure to enjoy the breathtaking scenery as we cruise through the precipitous Xiling Gorge! 

► For Your Information
1. Standard cruises cover only a visit to the Three Gorges Dam and do not include the Project Museum or Closure Memorial Park.
2. If you’re interested, you can try the ship lift at your own expense: the world’s largest “elevator,” capable of lifting a ship 113 meters, nearly 40 stories high.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
New Century Cruises: Century Glory, Century Oasis or Century Victory (5-star)

Today, get ready to feast your eyes on the Three Gorges’ captivating landscape! First, follow the local guide on a round-trip boat tour of Goddess Stream, where you’ll have close encounters with steep canyons and clear river water. After returning to the cruise ship, we will sail through the scenic Wu Gorge. Among Wu Gorge’s twelve peaks, the most renowned is Goddess Peak. According to legend, the goddess was the Jade Emperor’s youngest daughter. She carved out the Wu mountains and summoned rain to help irrigate fields and sustain the people. Ultimately, she became Goddess Peak, guarding and blessing the area for generations.

In the afternoon, marvel at the imposing Qutang Gorge from aboard. Before motorized boats were common, about 200 boat trackers were needed to pull a standard cargo ship upstream through the gorge. During the most challenging sections, even with hundreds of trackers working tirelessly, they could cover only about 200 meters (219 yards) per day. Because upstream passage through the gorge was too expensive, some boat owners opted to transport their goods downstream, sell their boats, and then return home by other people’s boats to build new ships and transport their cargo again. This seemingly unbelievable strategy was actually more economical than hiring trackers – such a strange story is likely to occur only in these extremely hazardous gorges.

Our last sightseeing today will be a guided onshore excursion to White Emperor City (or Three Gorges Summit, based on your choice). In 759 AD, Chinese poet Li Bai, who had faced many hardships, was unexpectedly pardoned during his exile. His mood shifted from sorrow to happiness, inspiring him to write his famous verse, “Leaving White Emperor City at dawn amidst rosy clouds,” which not only earned the city the nickname of a “city of poetry” that everyone adores but also added poetic charm to the steep Qutang Gorge. Here, you can see how classical Chinese poetry’s literary imagination becomes a real landscape right before your eyes. Upon returning to the cruise ship, you will find a buffet dinner and an artistic performance awaiting you. 

► For Your Information
1. Certain cruise ships might offer a boat tour of Shennong Stream or the Little Three Gorges instead of Goddess Stream.
2. The price for White Emperor City or Three Gorges Summit is at your own expense if you take standard cruises.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
New Century Cruises: Century Glory, Century Oasis or Century Victory (5-star)

Today, you can spend a lazy morning either enjoying onboard activities or taking in the scenery of the Yangtze River at your leisure. After lunch, gird your loins up for today’s onshore excursion, choosing from the two options provided below.

1. Fengdu Ghost City: A complex of architecture and sculptures that reflects the afterlife’s order in Chinese legends, including the Ghost Gate, which separates the living from the dead; the Naihe Bridge, associated with ancient rituals to forget the past; and the Wangxiang Terrace, believed to be where souls take their final look back at the human world.

2. Xiaoguanshan Folklore Culture Park: A reconstructed ancient gorge-style complex in Fengdu features residences, temples, and city gates, preserving local historical memory. Visitors can also enjoy performances of intangible cultural heritage, including Sichuan opera face-changing, traditional wedding customs, lion dance, wheat straw painting, and leaf-vein painting.

In the late afternoon, head back to the cruise ship for your last night on board.

► For Your Information
Certain cruise ships may offer shore excursions to destinations such as Fengdu Mingshan Mountain or Snowy Jade Cave.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
New Century Cruises: Century Glory, Century Oasis or Century Victory (5-star)

It’s time to say goodbye to your China Yangtze River cruise tour. As the ship docks around 9:00, you can plan your own itinerary after disembarking. If you require extra transfer from the dock to the airport or train station in Chongqing or wish to take a further guided tour, we are happy to tailor a personalized itinerary for you.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast