6 Days Yangtze River Cruise & Yichang Wuhan River City Tour

Welcome to Chongqing, the Mountain City of China! Upon your arrival in Chongqing, your guide will meet you at the exit of the train station and escort you to Chongqing Chaotianmen Port to board your Yangtze cruise. You will have free time after the cruise ship check-in and you can go around the area of Chaotianmen Port. Your memorable relaxing cruise journey starts at 21:00!

Options for your Free Time in Chongqing:

• 1.Three Gorges Museum. Appreciate the vast collection of more than 280 thousand pieces of precious historical relics and have a better understanding of the great Yangtze River and formation of the Three Gorges. Also, you can know the gradual thriving of Chongqing from thousand years ago to 20th century. After the visit, you can take photos in front of the People’s Assembly Hall which is outside of the museum.
• 2.Hongya Cave. It is the must-see highlight to appreciate the layers of featured Ba and Shu regional wooden tilted houses overlapped leaning the mountain up to 11 storeys, which looks quite glittery lit by the orange lights from nightfall. And continue to get up to the 11 level with vehicles and roads alongside to catch the sparkling nightscape of Jialing River and the nearby buildings with beautiful neon.

Remarks:

• Please call the ship one day ahead or at least in the morning on the boarding day to have clear idea about which pier you are going to use;
• All the times on the schedule are estimated ones which are subject to change due to weather and navigation conditions.
• The boarding time and departure piers may change based on the ship line, water level, season, weather and other factors.

On this day, your cruise will sail peacefully along the Yangtze River. Wake up leisurely and enjoy the fascinating river view with misty or gentle sunshine shining over the river. Have your buffet breakfast and start your beautiful day. There are some activities well designed by the cruise that you can do shore excursions to visit traditional Chinese cultural sites or stay onboard to relax and learn some Chinese culture.

In this afternoon, you will follow a local English-speaking tour guide and make a shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City in this morning. This ghost city is one large collection of temples, memorials and monasteries and you can know many legendary stories about underworld and different kinds of devils and Chinese demons. Or, you can take optional excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda with extra fee , one of the eight extraordinary architectures in the world located in Zhongxian County. Climb up the 12-story red wooden pagoda and you can have a panoramic view of the Yangtze River.

Note: The itinerary above is provided for your reference. Attractions and shore excursions may vary slightly depending on the cruise company. We will help you choose the most suitable cruise based on your preferences.

Today, you will have a full day to view the beautiful Three Gorges. First, you will sail through Qutang Gorge which is celebrated for its magnificent, peculiar and precipitous scenery in the world. Marvel at the incredible Kui Gate. Next, go through Wuxia Gorge which is serene and secluded and presents a panorama of lovely scenery and then pass through Xiling Gorge well known for its rugged shoals and turbulent waters. Follow the guide’s live interpretation and appreciate the breathtaking scenery onboard.

In this afternoon, make a leisure shore excursion to Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream) in Wushan County. Switch to a smaller boat to sail down the primitive stream for a close look at the steep mountains and hanging coffins high on the cliffs. If you are interested, you can join local Tujia ethnic guide for singing and dancing performance. In this evening, enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Party with all your mates onboard and have a pleasant dinner together.

Note: The itinerary above is provided for your reference. Attractions and shore excursions may vary slightly depending on the cruise company. We will help you choose the most suitable cruise based on your preferences.

After breakfast, it is time to go through the check-out procedure and you’ll disembark at Maoping Port. The highlighted attraction today is the largest hydropower project in China - Three Gorges Dam. Catch the chance to view the dam and the system of locks. The body of the dam is immense with a height of 181 meters and spanning 2335 meters across the Yangtze River and 115 meters in width. (Optional experience:you can choose to sail through the world’s largest ship lift - Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift to very closely marvel at the huge dam which is a totally fresh and exciting experience for travelers.)

After the dam visiting, you’ll take the tourist bus arranged by the cruise company transferring you to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal around 12:30-13:00.

Note:

1. In the morning, please check out at the front desk and leave your luggage there. The cruise company will handle your luggage and transport it to the Three Gorges Tourist Center.

2. If you only visit Three Gorges Dam, you will arrive at Yichang around 12:30.

3. If choose to attend optional Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift, you will arrive at Yichang around 13:30.

At the Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal, you will have a Yichang Half-day tour by private car to Sanyou Cave, Yichang's Most Celebrated Literary Grotto right at the entrance of Xiling Gorge. It is famed for hosting two groups of literary giants, including the renowned poets Su Shi and Bai Juyi.

Inside the main cave, you can explore peculiar rock formations and view historical inscriptions left by these visitors. Climb the hill for commanding views from Chusai Tower or stop at Zhixi Pavilion for a spectacular look at the Gezhou Dam. You can also visit the ruins of an ancient military fortress.

After the tour, stay overnight at Yichang.

After breakfast, you will be escorted to station and take high speed trains from Yichang East Railway Station to Wuhan (about 2hrs). Welcome to Wuhan, the Hubei capital and Central China's largest city on the Yangtze River, often called the "Thoroughfare of Nine Provinces!" After your arrival, you will be transferred to your carefully selected hotel for check-in.

First, visit the Yellow Crane Tower (黄鹤楼), located on the Yangtze River. It is the landmark of Wuhan and China's most famous cultural tower, with a history spanning over 1,700 years. This tower's fame is rooted in the celebrated works of Tang Dynasty poets like Cui Hao, whose verse "The past sage rode the yellow crane away, here only the Yellow Crane Tower remains," made it renowned for centuries.

Its structure is five stories high (51.4 meters), designed to resemble a crane spreading its wings. Climb to the top for spectacular views of the majestic Yangtze River. As long as the poems about the tower exist, the Tower endures, allowing you to feel the lofty spirit of Chinese poetry.

Second, head to Hubei Provincial Museum holds a vital position as a National First-Class Museum and the definitive center for ancient Chu Culture. It houses priceless treasures excavated primarily from the Marquis Yi of Zeng tomb, representing the pinnacle of Warring States period art and technology.

The absolute highlight is the magnificent Bianzhong Bells (曾侯乙编钟), a complete set of bronze chimes famous for their precise tuning and ancient music performances. (Optional: Daily live chime bell performances are available.) Another must-see is the legendary Sword of Goujian (越王勾践剑), which remains sharp and unrusted after over two thousand years—a miracle of ancient metalwork. Visitors can also explore exquisite lacquerware and bronze ritual vessels, traveling back in time to the splendor of the Chu Kingdom.

Tips: Hubei Provincial Museum offers evening hours, allowing you to visit from daytime until 20:30 (8:30 PM).

Stay overnight at Wuhan.

Today, enjoy a relaxing Wuhan half-day city tour.

Begin with Guiyuan Temple (归元寺), the foremost of Wuhan's four major Buddhist temples, boasting over 400 years of history. Its name is derived from the Buddhist scripture -"The source of nature is one, but there are many ways to reach it”. As you approach, you can admire classic architecture of Han Chinese Buddhism (yellow walls, gray tiles, upturned eaves). The essential Arhat Hall (罗汉堂) houses 500 unique, clay-sculpted Arhat statues, where many visitors participate in the tradition of "counting the Arhats." The temple is ideal for sightseeing, praying for good fortune, copying scriptures, and trying vegetarian meals.

Conclude your tour at Guqin Terrace (古琴台) in Wuhan. This is a revered cultural site famous for celebrating profound and genuine friendship. Its history is closely tied to the musical connection between Yu Boya, a musician from around the 5th–6th century BC, and Zhong Ziqi, a woodcutter. Zhong Ziqi was the only person who could truly understand emotions and images Boya intended to convey through his zither music, such as towering mountains or flowing rivers.

Today, Guqintai remains the ultimate symbol in China for a soulmate or a true, intimate friend. You can admire the terrace's elegant stage, the classical architecture of the surrounding gardens, and the tranquil Moon Lake (Yueya Lake). The serene atmosphere and numerous engraved inscriptions invite you to reflect on the value of true friendship.

After the tour, transfer to Airport/Train Station.

Extend to Xi’an or Shanghai: Wuhan is a two-hour flight from Xi'an (Terracotta Warriors) and less than a two-hour flight from Shanghai (The Bund and Disneyland).

It is time to end your 6 Days Yangtze River Cruise Yichang Wuhan Tour. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip around China and Asia. Safe journey!