Yangtze River Ports Map: Main Ports on Yangtze River Map

Expert Reviewed

Written by Senior Expert Felicia|Updated: 2026-05-25|Reading Time: 8 min

Planning a Yangtze River Cruise can feel surprisingly confusing at first—not because of the cruise itself, but because of the ports.

Many travelers quickly discover names like Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock, Maoping Port, Zigui Port, or Yichang Port, and wonder:

"Where exactly do cruises depart?"

"Why do some cruises need bus transfers?"

"Is Yichang Port the same as Maoping Port?"

Unlike ocean cruises that usually operate from one large terminal, Yangtze River Cruise involve a combination of mountain city docks, Three Gorges transfer ports, sightseeing excursion piers, and ship lock transit areas near the Three Gorges Dam.

In this Yangtze River ports map guide, we'll use maps and tables to clearly explain:

where the main Yangtze cruise ports are located
which ports are used for boarding and disembarkation
how the Chongqing and Yichang port systems work
which ports are used for shore excursions along the Three Gorges
how longer cruises extend toward Wuhan and Shanghai

By understanding the relationship between Chongqing ports, Yichang transfer ports, and excursion docks makes planning a Yangtze River Cruise much easier.

Key Takeaways

Most Yangtze River cruises operate between Chongqing and Yichang, covering the famous Three Gorges section.
Chaotianmen Dock is the main embarkation area in Chongqing, with multiple cruise piers along the riverfront.
Maoping Port is the most important transfer port near the Three Gorges Dam, and many cruises use shuttle buses between the port and downtown Yichang.
Smaller ports in Fengdu, Fengjie, Wushan, and Badong are mainly used for shore excursions and sightseeing stops.
Longer Yangtze cruises may continue beyond Yichang to Wuhan or even Shanghai, though these sailings are much less frequent.

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Main Ports for Yangtze River Cruises
Chongqing Cruise Port Map
Yichang Port Map & Transfer System
Ports along the Three Gorges Cruise Route
Ports for Chongqing to Wuhan & Shanghai Cruise

Main Ports for Yangtze River Cruises

Yangtze River cruises mainly operate between Chongqing and Yichang, with some longer routes continuing to Wuhan or even Shanghai.

Along the river, different cruise ports serve different purposes: some are major embarkation ports, while others are sightseeing stops or transfer ports for shore excursions.

Main Yangtze River Ports on Map

From the map, you can clearly see that most Yangtze cruise ports are concentrated in the upper and middle reaches of the river, especially around the famous Three Gorges area.

For international travelers, the most important ports are:

Chaotianmen Dock — the main departure port in Chongqing
Maoping Port — the most common cruise transfer port near the Three Gorges Dam
Yichang Port — used by some longer-distance cruises
Wuhan Port — gateway for middle Yangtze cruises
Shanghai Port — final stop for long-distance Yangtze routes

Besides these major ports, cruise ships may also stop at riverside docks in Fengdu, Fengjie, Wushan, and Badong for sightseeing excursions.

Chongqing Cruise Port Map

Chongqing is the main starting point for most Yangtze River Cruise ships.

Almost all classic Three Gorges cruises departing downstream toward Yichang board from the Chaotianmen riverfront area in downtown Chongqing.

Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock of Yangtze River Cruise on Map

From the map, you can see that Chongqing's cruise docks are lined up along the junction of the Yangtze River and Jialing River, beneath the city's famous skyline and steep mountain terrain.

Unlike a single cruise terminal, Chaotianmen is actually a collection of multiple piers, usually numbered from Pier 1 to Pier 17. Different cruise ships use different piers, and the final dock assignment is often confirmed only 1 day before departure.

Good to Know from the Map

Chongqing is a mountainous city, so some piers require walking down long stairways or sloped roads.
Traffic near Chaotianmen can become very busy before evening departures.
Most cruises depart around 18:00–21:00.
Cruise companies usually send the final pier number shortly before departure day.
The nearest metro stations are Chaotianmen Station and Xiaoshizi Station.

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Nearby Attractions around Chaotianmen

Since most cruises depart in the evening, many travelers spend half a day exploring downtown Chongqing before boarding.

From the map, you can see several famous attractions are located very close to Chaotianmen Dock:

Attraction	Distance from Chaotianmen	Highlights
Hongyadong	~10 min	Chongqing's iconic cliffside night view
Qiansimen Bridge	~15 min	Best panoramic bridge & skyline views over Hongyadong
Jiefangbei	~10 min	Downtown shopping and food center
Kuixinglou	~10 min	Famous "1st floor becomes 22nd floor" mountain-city viewpoint
Shibati	~15 min	Restored old Chongqing hillside streets
Mountain City Trail	~15–20 min	Classic stairways and layered city walking experience
Liziba Station	~20 min	Famous train-through-building scene
Yangtze River Cableway	~15 min	Best aerial views of the Yangtze River
Three Gorges Museum	~20 min	Best place to learn Yangtze River & Three Gorges history

Visiting Notes

Chongqing is one of China's hottest travel destinations on TikTok in 2025–2026, famous for its cyberpunk-style skyline, layered mountain cityscape, and dazzling night views.
It is recommended to arrive 1 day early before your Yangtze River Cruise, as most famous attractions near Chaotianmen Dock can easily be explored in one day.

How to Get to Chaotianmen Dock

How to Get to Chongqing Port on a Map

If you are carrying large luggage, taking a taxi directly to the assigned pier is usually easier than walking from the metro station.

It takes approximately 50 minutes from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, 30 minutes from Chongqing North Railway Station, and 40 minutes from Chongqing West Railway Station.

Some cruise companies, like Vista Cruise, offer complimentary station and airport transfer services.

Yichang Port Map & Transfer System

Yichang is the main transfer hub for Yangtze River Cruise near the Three Gorges Dam.

Unlike Chongqing, where ships usually depart directly from downtown, Yichang's cruise system is more spread out and often involves buses, transfer ports, or even ship lift transit.

Different Ports of Yangtze River in Yichang on a Map

From the map, you can see that several important cruise-related ports and tourist spots are located between downtown Yichang and the Three Gorges Dam area:

Port	Main Use	Notes
Maoping Port (Zigui Port)	Main cruise transfer port, Upstream of the Three Gorges Dam	Most Chongqing–Yichang cruises use this port;
Sandouping Pier / Huanglingmiao Pier	Downstream of the Three Gorges Dam	Used by Yangtze Explorer and some ship lift routes
Yichang No.9 Port / Sanxia Tourist Center	Downtown Yichang, Shuttle bus transfer hub	Used by Yangtze 1; Common downtown pickup/drop-off point

Nearby Attractions around Three Gorges Dam

Attraction	Location	Highlights
Tanzi Ridge	North side of the dam	Best panoramic viewpoint of the dam
Closure Memorial Park	South side of the dam	Massive construction machinery & dam history
Three Gorges Project Museum	South side of the dam	Learn about the world's largest hydropower project
Qu Yuan Hometown	Near Zigui Port	Cultural site dedicated to ancient poet Qu Yuan
Three Gorges Resettlement Museum	Near Zigui Port	Stories of migration and dam construction
Tribe of the Three Gorges	Near Gezhouba Dam	Traditional river valley scenery and folk culture

How Disembarkation Works in Yichang

Yichang Port Disembarkation on Map

From the map, disembarkation in Yichang usually follows a clear transfer system between river ports, shuttle buses, and sightseeing stops.

For most downstream cruises from Chongqing, ships arrive at Maoping Port in the morning, where passengers disembark and transfer to shuttle buses.

Some cruise companies include optional sightseeing after arrival, such as:

Three Gorges Project Museum
Closure Memorial Park
Tanzi Ridge viewpoint
Quyuan Temple
Hubei Sanxia Emigration Museum

After the tour, buses usually drop passengers at the Sanxia Tourist Center in downtown Yichang.

Century Cruises also provides complimentary luggage transfer from Maoping Port to the Sanxia Tourist Center, making the transfer experience much easier for travelers joining ship lift excursions.

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How to Experience the Dam Ship Lift

Step 1: Transfer a smaller sightseeing vessel at the same Zigui Port
Step 2: Shipping through the Dam ship lift for about 30 minutes
Step 3: Continues downstream to Sandouping Pier
Step 4: Transfer a shuttle bus to downtown or to tourist spots

Luxury smaller ships such as Yangtze Explorer and Yangtze 1 can pass through the ship lift directly without changing boats.

The new coming Vista Harmony and Vista Aurora cruise package include smaller sightseeing vessels from Yichang No.9 Port in downtown to Zigui Port, making ship lift a must-do experience.

How to Transfer to Stations or Airport from Tourist Center

From the Sanxia Tourist Center, it's convenient to take a taxi to railyway station or Sanxia Airport within about 20–40 minutes. Some cruise companies like Yangtze Explorer offer free transfer services to stations and airports.

Yichang Sanxia Tourist Center Transportation Map

Destination	Distance	Car Time
Yichang East Station	10 km	20 min
Yichang North Station	25 km	35 min
Yichang Sanxia Airport	28 km	40 min

Ports along the Three Gorges Cruise Route

Along the Yangtze River between Chongqing and Yichang, cruises usually dock at small riverside towns that act as scenic excursion ports, where passengers temporarily leave the ship for sightseeing before returning onboard.

Ports along the Three Gorges Section on Yangtze River Map

These stops are mainly located in the Three Gorges section, where the river winds through deep valleys and dramatic cliffs.

Stop Port	Main Attractions	Experience
Fuling	Baiheliang Underwater Museum, 816 Nuclear Project	Yangtze culture & Cold War history
Fengdu	Ghost City, Snow Jade Cave	Folk culture & mountain scenery
Zhongxian	Romance of the Three Kingdoms Show	Large nighttime performance
Fengjie	White Emperor City, Three Gorges Summit	Gateway to Qutang Gorge
Wushan	Shennv Stream, Lesser Three Gorges	Small boat excursions
Badong	Shennong Stream, Shennongjia	Nature & forest landscapes

Fuling Port Map

Fuling Port of Yangtze River Cruise on Map

Fuling is the first stop after departing from Chongqing, and only a few ships such as Yangtze Explorer and Yangtze Miracle include this stop in their itinerary.

Fuling Port Shore Excursion Spots

816 Nuclear Project: Massive underground Cold War military complex built inside the mountain
Baiheliang Underwater Museum: Unique underwater museum preserving ancient Yangtze hydrological carvings
Wulingshan Great Rift Valley: Dramatic canyon landscape with deep valleys and river scenery

Fengdu Port Map

Fengdu Port of Yangtze River Cruise on Map

It is usually the first excursion stop on downstream Yangtze River cruises, with most ships arriving on the morning of Day 2 after departing from Chongqing.

During low-water seasons or flood periods, some cruises may use Fengdu instead of Chaotianmen Dock as the embarkation port.

In this case, cruise companies usually provide complimentary shuttle buses from downtown Chongqing to Fengdu, with a transfer time of about 2 hours.

Fengdu Port Shore Excursion Spots

Fengdu Ghost City: Ancient temples and folk culture themed around the Chinese afterlife
Shuanggui Mountain: Riverside mountain views and light hiking
Xueyu Cave: Large limestone cave with impressive stalactites and underground scenery
Xiao Guanshan Residence Cluster: Traditional Qing Dynasty residences and local architecture

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Zhongxian Port Map

Some Yangtze River cruises stop at Zhongxian on the second night after departing from Chongqing.

This town is partly submerged after the reservoir formed by the Three Gorges Dam, and is known for its unique relocation and river culture.

The Yangtze Explorer cruise also stops here on the fourth morning of the upstream journey.

Zhongxian Port of Yangtze River Cruise on Map

Zhongxian Port Shore Excursion Spots

Fengyan Sanguo Show: Large-scale live performance themed on the Three Kingdoms
Zhongzhou Lane: Traditional riverside street and local lifestyle area
Shibaozhai: Famous wooden pagoda built on a steep riverside cliff
Xituo Ancient Town: Well-preserved historic riverside settlement
Huanghua Island: Quiet river island with natural scenery and local culture

Fengjie Port Map

Fengjie Port of Yangtze River Cruise on Map

Located at the entrance of Qutang Gorge, Fengjie is one of the most important stops on almost every Yangtze River cruise. Downstream cruises usually arrive here on the morning of Day 3.

Fengjie Port Shore Excursion Spots

White Emperor City: Historic Three Kingdoms site overlooking the entrance of Qutang Gorge
Peak of the Three Gorges: Panoramic mountaintop viewpoint above the Yangtze River and surrounding gorges

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Wushan Port Map

Wushan Port of Yangtze River Cruise on Map

Located in the heart of Wu Gorge, Wushan is one of the key stops on almost every Yangtze River cruise.

It is also the main transfer point for small boat excursions into narrower side valleys and streams.

Wushan Port Shore Excursion Spots

Shennv Stream: Calm river gorge with steep cliffs, best explored by small boat
Lesser Three Gorges: Scenic side gorges with crystal-clear water and dramatic rock formations
Mini Three Gorges: Smaller, quieter tributary with untouched natural scenery
Shennv Sky Road: High mountain viewpoint overlooking Wu Gorge and surrounding peaks

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Badong Port Map

Badong Port of Yangtze River Cruise on Map

Badong lies within the Wu Gorge section and features narrow side valleys and streams for small boat excursions. It is also an important gateway toward Shennongjia.

Only a few luxury cruises, such as Yangtze Explorer and Yangtze Miracle, include this stop.

Badong Port Shore Excursion Spots

Shennong Stream: Deep, narrow gorge; take traditional wooden pea boats to see cliffs and ancient hanging coffins.
Shennongjia: Primeval forest reserve with alpine scenery and rich biodiversity.
Yuxian Valley: Karst valley with caves, underground rivers and peaceful natural views.

Ports for Chongqing to Wuhan & Shanghai Cruise

Beyond the classic Three Gorges route between Chongqing and Yichang, a very small number of long-distance Yangtze River cruises continue further downstream to Wuhan and even Shanghai.

Yangtze River Ports along Yangtze River between Yichang and Shanghai

These routes are much less frequent and mainly operated by a few selected cruise ships, connecting major river cities along central and eastern China.

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Cruise Routes & Ports Overview

Cruise Ship	Route	Length	Ports Beyond Chongqing - Yichang
Yangtze 2, Yangtze Gold 7	Chongqing - Wuhan	6 D 5N	Chenglingji Port (Yueyang), Wuhan Port
Century Legend	Chongqing - Shanghai	11 D 10N	Jingzhou Port, Wuhan Port, Jiujiang Port, Chizhou Port, Nanjing Port, Shanghai Port

Tips

These cruises pass through the Three Gorges Dam ship locks at night and later continue through Gezhouba Dam during daytime navigation.
Century Legend docks in Shanghai at the North Bund area, right in the city center.

Shore Excursion Spots

Port City	Highlights
Jingzhou	Jingzhou Ancient City, Jingzhou Museum, Chu King Chariot Pit
Yueyang	Yueyang Tower, Binhe Street
Wuhan	Yellow Crane Tower, Hubei Provincial Museum
Jiujiang	Mount Lushan, Jingdezhen, Donglin Temple, Xunyang Tower
Chizhou	Jiuhua Mountain, Baishui Palace, Dizang Temple
Nanjing	Niushou Mountain

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Do all Yangtze River cruises stop at every port shown on the map? +

No, different cruises stop at different ports depending on the ship and route, especially along the Three Gorges section between Chongqing and Yichang.

2. Which port is the main boarding point in Chongqing? +

Most cruises board at Chaotianmen Dock in the evening, although some seasons may use alternative ports like Fengdu.

3. Where do most cruises end in Yichang? +

Most standard cruises disembark at Maoping Port, followed by shuttle transfer to downtown Yichang.

4. What is the most scenic part of the cruise route? +

The Three Gorges section between Fengjie and Yichang, especially Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge.

5. Do all cruises include shore excursions at every port? +

No, each cruise offers different excursion packages, but most include stops such as Fengdu, Fengjie, and Wushan.

6. Are long cruises to Wuhan or Shanghai common? +

No, only a few ships operate extended routes beyond Yichang, mainly toward Wuhan and Shanghai.

7. Can passengers skip shore excursions and stay on the ship? +

Yes, all shore excursions are optional, and passengers can choose to relax onboard instead.