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Yichang, the third largest city in Hubei Province, serves as both a starting/ending point for Yangtze River cruises. Nestled about 300 kilometers west of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, Yichang proudly bears the title of the "Gateway to the Three Gorges ". This distinction arises from its close proximity to the world-renowned Three Gorges Dam, an awe-inspiring hydroelectric power station of unparalleled magnitude.
Yichang boasts several notable highlights and attractions that captivate visitors in their enchanting embrace. The first among these is the Three Gorges Dam, an emblem of human ingenuity harmonizing with the grandeur of nature. The Three Gorges - Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge - paint a vivid portrait of awe-inspiring landscapes and captivating vistas. The Xiling Gorge Scenic Area beckons intrepid souls to embark on boat tours, revealing the ethereal beauty of this longest and deepest gorge.
For a captivating cultural experience, the Tribe of the Three Gorges awaits, nestled on the Yangtze River's banks. Here, the rich traditions, architectural splendors, and vibrant folk arts of the local Tujia ethnic minority come alive. Delving deeper into Yichang's cultural tapestry, the Chinese Sturgeon Museum unveils its doors, where conservation and research efforts to protect the endangered Chinese sturgeon species unfold.
How to plan a Yangtze River cruise tour with Yichang?
Planning a Yangtze River cruise tour with Yichang as your focal point offers an unforgettable journey. Most travelers opt for a downstream cruise from Chongqing to Yichang, spanning 4 days and 3 nights. Alternatively, some embark on an upstream cruise from Yichang to Chongqing, tracing the meandering path of the Yangtze River over 5 days and 3 nights. Adding a short stay in Yichang to your China vacation itinerary promises to enhance your overall experience, leaving lasting memories etched in your heart.
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Indulge in the freedom of choice as you embark on your Yangtze River vacation, be it an upstream or downstream cruise of your desire. Behold Shanghai, the illustrious eastern gateway to the majestic Yangtze River, offering you the opportunity to savor a delightful Shanghai Yangtze Cruise, a rejuvenating retreat spanning several blissful days.
Why not take an unforgettable trip with a group of 2-10 like-minded travelers, as you traverse the wonders of China and immerse yourself in the enchanting Yangtze River cruise experience? The 3 highly recommended China group tours promise to captivate your senses. Prepare to unwind on board luxurious vessels, while also venturing to iconic destinations such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guilin, and Yangshuo. Brace yourself for a remarkable fusion of relaxation and exploration, where cherished memories await at every turn.
Let the allure of a Yangtze River cruise transport you through a tapestry of wonders, seamlessly weaving together with the breathtaking landscapes of Zhangjiajie's ethereal peaks, the vibrant charm of Chengdu's cultural tapestry, the pristine beauty of Jiuzhai Valley's emerald hues, and the poetic allure of Guilin and Yangshuo's picturesque vistas. Choose your likes!
If you're a first-time traveler to China, we highly recommend exploring beyond the Yangtze River by joining one of our popular China Yangtze tours. With a wide range of destinations to choose from, including the iconic cities of Beijing and Shanghai, the scenic beauty of Guilin and Zhangjiajie, the adorable giant pandas in Chengdu, and the spiritual wonders of Tibet, you're sure to find a tour that suits your interests and preferences.
At Asia Odyssey Travel, we are dedicated to providing you with the best possible travel experience at the most competitive prices. Our expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and carefully crafted itineraries will ensure that you make the most of your time in China, discovering its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. So why wait? Book your China tour with us now!
A Yangtze River Cruise can last from 4 to 11 days, the most common options are 4-5 night cruises between Chongqing to Yichang that cover key attractions such as the Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam.
Chongqing to Yichang Downstream: 4 Days and 3 Nights
Yichang to Chongqing Upstream: 5 Days and 4 Nights
Wuhan to Shanghai Downstream: 7 Days and 6 Nights
Shanghai to Wuhan Upstream: 7 Days and 6 Nights
Chongqing to Shanghai Downstream: 11 Days and 10 Nights
Shanghai to Chongqing Upstream: 11 Days and 10 Nights
Downstream Cruise from Chongqing to Yichang (4 Days & 3 Nights): Ideal for travelers coming from cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, or Hong Kong due to Chongqing's extensive transportation links.
Upstream Cruise from Yichang to Chongqing (5 Days & 4 Nights): Best suited for those entering China via Shanghai, as Yichang a small port city and has limited connections to other cities.
The Yangtze River runs through several provinces in China and is adjacent to many cities that are popular with tourists. These cities offer a mix of natural beauty, historic landmarks, and cultural experiences.
Upper Reaches:
Yichang: Close to the Three Gorges Dam, it's another popular starting or ending point for Yangtze River cruises.
Wuhan: Known for the Yellow Crane Tower, Hubei Provincial Museum, and its many lakes and parks.
Lower Reaches:
Nanjing: Offers historical sites like the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Dynasty City Wall, and the Confucius Temple area.
Delta Region:
Shanghai: A global metropolis, known for its skyline, shopping, and cuisine.
Suzhou: Famous for its classical Chinese gardens like the Humble Administrator’s Garden and the Master of the Nets Garden.
Hangzhou: Although not directly on the Yangtze, it's fairly close and famous for the picturesque West Lake and its tea plantations.
Chengdu: Located about 300 km from Chongqing, Chengdu is famous for its Sichuan cuisine and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It's a 2-hour high-speed train ride away from Chongqing.
Xi'an: Known for the Terracotta Army and its rich history as a former capital of several Chinese dynasties, Xi'an is reachable by 5 hours high-speed train or a short flight.
Guilin: Guilin is renowned for its dramatic karst landscapes and the Li River, Guilin is reachable by 5 hours high-speed train or a short flight.
Guiyang: It known for its ethnic diversity and beautiful landscapes like the Huangguoshu Waterfall, Guiyang is reachable by 2 hours high-speed train or a short flight.
If starting from Chongqing: The primary dock is usually the Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing. You can get there via taxi, public transport from your hotel or train station or, airport.
If starting from Yichang: The primary dock is usually the Maoping Port in Yichang. The cruise company offers a complimentary shuttle to Maoping Port from both Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal and Yichang East Railway Station. Shuttles operate from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
Note: The boarding time and departure piers may change based on the ship line, water level, season, weather and other factors. To ensure accuracy, it's advisable to confirm the boarding information with the cruise company or your travel consultant at least a day in advance or in the morning before departure.
Best Times for Mild Weather:
Spring (March to May): Pleasant temperatures and blossoming landscapes.
Autumn (September to November): Mild weather and colorful autumn foliage.
Best Time for Deals:
Winter: Cruises are less crowded and prices are generally lower, but be prepared for colder weather.
Best Time for Family Vacation:
Summer: This season offers a more relaxed cruise experience at a relatively lower price compared to peak seasons, but it's also the hottest and can be crowded.
Learn more about Best Time to Visit Three Gorges >>
Natural Attractions:
Qutang Gorge: Known for its narrow width and towering cliffs.
Wu Gorge: Famous for its mysterious, misty landscapes and the Twelve Peaks.
Xiling Gorge: The longest of the Three Gorges, known for its rapids and serene landscapes.
Lesser Three Gorges: A tributary of the Yangtze, offering a more intimate experience of China's natural beauty.
Historical and Cultural Sites:
Shibaozhai Temple: An architectual marvel, this 12-story wooden pagoda is situated on a steep cliff.
Fengdu Ghost City: A complex of shrines and temples dedicated to the afterlife, based on Chinese mythology.
White Emperor City: Known for its historical significance and stunning views of the Qutang Gorge.
Modern Marvels:
Three Gorges Dam: The world's largest hydroelectric dam, it's an engineering marvel and also offers a viewpoint for tourists.
Ship Locks and Ship Lift: These are part of the Three Gorges Dam and offer a fascinating look at how ships navigate the change in water levels.
Yangtze River Bridge at Yichang: An important infrastructural development connecting the two sides of the river.
Local Villages:
Shennong Stream Villages: You can visit traditional villages where you may observe local customs and traditional ways of life.
Tribe of the Three Gorges: You can gain an intimate look at the local culture and traditions of the communities that have lived along the river for generations.
Learn more about Yangtze River Toursit Attractions >>
Yes, all the ship journeys one planned shore excursion each day without any additional costs. And also offer optional shore excursions for an additional fee. Having both included and optional shore excursions provides a balanced and flexible itinerary, letting you tailor your experience to your own interests and priorities.
Most modern, 5-star cruise ships offer free or paid Wi-Fi, although connectivity can be limited or unavailable in remote areas.
George
Romania
I did a 2-week tour in China, in Dec24/Jan25 and I was very pleased with Asia Odyssey. They handled everything very professionally, from the good accommodations to the great tour guides we had. I totally recommend this company for China tours.
Destination(s): Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu/Sichuan, Guilin/Yangshuo, YangtzeRiver
Date of Experience: Jan 01, 2025
Tour Customized by: Catherine
You May be Interested in This Tour: Customized Tour
Ilwad
Australia
Tour name: Line B2, 8 days Lhasa-Yamdroktso-Shigaste-Mt.Everest tour.
Key people: Bob (local Tibetan tour guide), Catherine Wang (travel consultant), Mr. Yu. Jian (driver).
This tour was sublime, a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! From the very start, I was met with grace and incredible kindness. The driver assigned to me by the company was Susan and greeted me with a smile on her face, as well as the traditional Tibetan scarf she delicately placed around my neck. She then kindly offered to take some photos of me outside of the airport and offered me some water as we drove to the first accommodation in Lhasa. She then sent me a few locations within the city to explore, for shopping and food and shared her experience of living in the region for over a decade.
The following day we met our tour guide Bob, who to date has been my favourite tour guide. He was nothing short of incredible. Not only did he translate everything from Tibetan to Mandarin and English, making the tour accessible to all of us, but went above and beyond for all of us. Whether it was taking extra photos from awkward angles as the photographer to answering our follow-up questions or even giving us his own recommendations i.e. where to rent the traditional Tibetan clothes or shop for souvenirs. He was incredibly knowledgeable and humble- a true mix of wisdom and personal insight. I found his personal experiences and insight made the tour feel more authentic, especially as he had been doing this since 2009. His great anecdotes and true appreciation of the Tibetan culture, as well as his uplifting attitude and great sense of humour made the trip that much more special. Especially on the days when we were on the road for up to 7 hours, as we began the travel towards Everest Base Camp (EBC).
In terms of the people I met on the tour, it was truly a mixed bag in the best way possible! As I was a 22-year-old solo solo-female traveler you might expect that I would want to be around a similar company. In contrast, I had the best time ever with a wildly different demographic！ From middle-aged interracial married couples to retired solo travelers and other solo travelers, my group was made up of people from different neighbouring countries each with their own experiences of travel. As someone who is learning Chinese this was perfect for improving my linguistic skills however most could also speak English so there were no language barriers either.
The people in my group were lovely, kind and interesting characters. Each with open-minds and curiousity about the Tibetan culture. Having people from different walks of life and experiences in my group turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Even with our different backgrounds, we shared laughter, food and stories. I am grateful to have been in the same group as them for those 8 days- it was a true pleasure. Also, the nature of the tour meant that we overlapped with different groups based on both of our itineraries, meaning that we mixed with others for the first few days of the tour. This was a great way to also meet others as some were also staying at the same hotel as us.
The driver Mr. Yu Jian was also incredible. He so kindly brought our luggage in and out of the vehicles and always waited for us patiently in the mornings. Even when we (I) were running late, losing track of the timings and rushing outside with a hastily prepared buffet breakfast to go.
In terms of the tour, my personal highlights were of course seeing EBC and Everest in person, however, the in-betweens were just as remarkable. The 108 zig-zags we had to endure on the way to EBC, the petrol station stops where we’d stretch our legs and interact with the locals (often trying to sell us things) and growing closer and closer to the enchanting Everest. Being able to see the surreal landscape views of Tibet, both in Lhasa and outside, was awe-inducing. As I flew in on 25/03, I was met with the mountainscape being submerged with snow. By the time we made it to EBC, the snow had mostly melted but the rugged mountain view perfectly complemented the seemingly endless holy Yamdrok Lake. It was a nature lover’s paradise through and through, especially with the domesticated and wild animals across the area.
I also thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the locals. They met me with such curiosity, warmth and open-mindedness. I was touched to be perhaps the first black European person they met, and hope that they left our interactions with a new perspective. The first meal I had in Tibet was also sublime (I will put a picture below of the dish and a screenshot of the location I went to, recommended to me by my first driver). There was also a traditional Tibetan musical performance shortly after I had finished my meal, also recommended to me by Susan which began around 8pm!
My favourite monastery we visited was also the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Shigatse, which we visited on our penultimate day in Tibet. We went on a Sunday which meant that not many tourists, if any, were there. Especially the tour took place during the off-season (End of March/Early April). As such it was an immersive experience being able to calmly walk through the monastery. With a history dating back to 1447, I felt like I connected to this the most, with there being living trees on the site that had been first planted over 400 years ago! Even seeing locals re-paint some of the religious paintings and the monks ready to enter for their evening classes gave a sense of serenity. It was a wonderful way to end the trip. Also, I would like to highlight seeing the Yamdrok Lake’s deep shades of turquoise from many angles (extraordinary), trying yak meat for the first time (different and at times tasty), seeing the Karola glacier (even when the rest of the landscape was snowless), seeing monks’ daily debates at Sera Monastery, of course climbing and seeing Polata Palace (tip: bring a 50 RMB note with you to take the famed picture outside Polata Palace- a fellow tour member loaned me his, thanks Yuki!), as well as Jokhang Temple and the Tibetan incense making where the activity leader wrote us, upon our request, a sign in the Tibetan language with anything i.e. our name or quotes. Seeing the stars on the first day of the new moon in the village just outside of Everest was also phenomenal (tip: walk 5-10 minutes in the opposite direction of heading into town to escape the light pollution for a better view, we only stayed out for 15 minutes just around midnight due to fatigue but if you really commit to it and maybe even venture further out and perhaps later on in the night around the new moon phase you will be stunned out what will find in the starry night sky.. hopefully the milky way!).
I would also like to give a warm mention to the hotel workers in the first hotel we stayed in Lhasa as they were incredibly kind to me. They were curious to know what my story was and where I had travelled as well as catering to my needs in the mornings (i.e. morning coffee etc.). Though they won’t see this, the woman working at the Tibetan clothes’ rental who helped me take pictures on my phone and conversed with me was also very kind! Even the shopkeeper who gave me a freebie after I bought some goods from his store was patient with me as I perused through the shops looking for instant noodles. Overall, I was met with such kindness from the very start of the trip until the very end!
Regarding altitude sickness, if you are worried about the high altitude, I bought Diamox , also known as Acetazolamide, (250mg per tablet) and got a prescription from a pharmacist. I took 1 tablet the day before I flew into Lhasa (during my layover in Kunming, Yunnan) and took another tablet for the next two days, waiting 24 hours between each 250mg dose. I adjusted well to the altitude and only took another one when we were heading to higher altitudes (particularly the mountain pass that is higher than EBC and the day of EBC). In total, I took 4 tablets on 4 days (the day before landing in Lhasa, days 1 and 2 of the tour as well as day 4 of the tour). I stopped taking it after EBC day and was fine throughout the trip. The tour will provide you with one free bottle of oxygen, as well as an emergency tank of oxygen in the shuttle bus. For reference I didn’t finish the bottle of oxygen throughout the trip but bought a spare one from the supermarket down the road from the hotel in Lhasa and the quality was great for only a few more RMB (lasted the entire trip). With a lot of water for hydration and taking it easy, alongside deep breaths, I think this tour is accessible to anyone without any underlying health conditions.
Finally, I would like to thank my tour agent Catherine Wang who has supported me throughout this trip! From when I first sent an email back in December 2024 to inquire about this tour until present she has supported me and provided me with updates throughout this process. Although I sent persistent emails (regarding the Shigatse earthquake and permit process/progress update) she always kept me in the loop. Even during the trip she had sent me an email to ask how it was going. Thank you very much for your patience and hard work, this trip has been the trip of a lifetime!
TLDR: I would 1000% recommend this trip and tour. All the little moments and cherished memories I have made will last a lifetime. Thank you to Bob, Mr. Yu Jian, Catherine, Susan, my tour group members and all the others who have made this trip so special. I am beyond grateful.
Destination(s): Tibet
Date of Experience: Oct 07, 2024
Tour Customized by: Catherine
You May be Interested in This Tour: 8 Days Lhasa Yamdrok Shigatse Group Tour with Everest Base Camp
Siew Chor
Australia
Liz was prompt with her helpful response. We appreciate her help.
Destination(s): Beijing
Date of Experience: Oct 07, 2024
Tour Customized by: Liz
You May be Interested in This Tour: 4 Days Classic Beijing Tour with Forbidden City & Great Wall
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