Yangtze.com | Yangtze River Cruise | Three Gorges Tours | CITS

This four-night, three-day cruise travels down the Yangtze through the Three Gorges to Yichang. The cruise takes in both the rich cultural heritage of the area, the natural beauty and, at the end, the modern marvel of the Three Gorges Dam.

First Night

Settle in and get comfortable. We board in the evening to allow our guests time to recover from their travels and shift gears into a more relaxed mode. Tomorrow, we’ll start our adventures.

The Next Day – Cultural Heritage

Our first stop is at the Ghost City. This area is sacred to three different religions: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Revered as a place where the dead transition into another realm, it is surprisingly not dark or cemetery like. Rather, Ghost City is vibrant and colorful, although the local names are a bit scary. Here you will find “Nothing to Be Done Bridge,” “Ghost Torture Pass,” and “River of Blood.”

Despite the names, Fengdu Ghost City is tranquil and spiritually uplifting. From there we will pass the Shibaozhai Temple. This 400 year-old temple was saved from the rising waters and become an island where once it was a hilltop. The temple is built partway into the cliff and no nails or bolts were used in its construction.

The day finishes with a sumptuous Captain’s Welcome Dinner.

Second Day – Qutang and Wu Gorge

Today’s adventures include a side excursion on smaller boats to either the Lesser Three Gorges or up the Shennong River. The Yangtze has carved out scenery here with towering green cliffsides and misty mountains. For centuries, the scenery before you has inspired Chinese paintings and poetry.

Look for the coffins of the Ba people hanging suspended on the cliff faces and marvel at unparalleled natural beauty. Wildlife, including monkeys and the famous giant sturgeon are commonly seen. Tonight’s dinner features local cuisine and cultural entertainment.

Third Day – Three Gorges Dam

As we reach the end of Xiling Gorge, we’ll transit the Three Gorges Dam as we make our way to Yichang. Our ship will pass through a series of locks to lower it the necessary 600 feet. Here we’ll see one of modern China’s great achievements. The mile wide dam is a stunning monument and an excursion allows you to see the project up close. Our cruise finishes at Yichang afterwards.