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

This week-long cruise gives the “full menu” of China, from the ancient temples of the upper river, through the Three Gorges Dam for a taste of the modern, and then east to the coast with historical and cultural stops along the way. Enjoy the comfort and convenience of luxury travel while you see the natural beauty and heritage of China.

First Day – Leaving Chongqing

Our cruise departs in the morning and our first stop is the famous Ghost City of Fengdu. Here you’ll have a chance to explore an area of colorful temples dedicated to the passage of the dead. Visitors will find a spiritual nexus that touches Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhist beliefs. This also marks the entrance to the first of the Three Gorges – Qutang.

Day Two – The Gorges

This marks our passage into the gorges. The views are spectacular – a mix of stark cliff faces and walls of green rising into the mist. A side excursion by boat is available, either up Shennong River or into the Lesser Three Gorges. Look for local wildlife, including monkeys and the remnants of the Ba people on the cliffs.

We’ll pass through the Three Gorges area today and get to the Three Gorges Dam by tomorrow morning.

Third Day – Three Gorges Dam

As we reach the end of Xiling Gorge, we’ll have a stop to tour the dam itself. This modern marvel dwarfs all comparisons, rising more than 600 feet high and spanning a mile across the gorge. Our ship will be lowered in the locks and we will continue past Yichang.

Day Four – Hubei

Today we’ll be visiting the Hubei Provincial Museum. This institution contains a wealth of Chinese national treasures and features live demonstrations of cultural performing arts. After the excursion, we continue down the Yangtze toward Mt. Huangshan.

Fifth Day –Yellow Mountain

Mt. Huangshan, also known as Yellow Mountain, is a classic, towering granite landmark with twisted pine forests and is featured in many images of China. We’ll take the cable car up to the 3,800 foot summit to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the surrounding peaks.

Day Six – Nanjing

The provincial capital of Nanjing offers us a chance to tour and shop. Exploring a legendary temple to Confucius and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum make up part of the day, but there is time to visit the legendary bazaar for some shopping as well.

Arrival in Shanghai

Our cruise ends the evening of the seventh day as we arrive at the coastal city of Shanghai, where the mighty Yangtze meets the East China Sea.

The 2012 Departure Dates: