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

In this eight day cruise we travel from the Shanghai estuary upstream, past the Three Gorges Dam to Chongqing. From the ultra-modern to the rural and the ancient, this trip gives a full view of China. Stops at significant cultural and historical landmarks highlight the journey. Without the bother and fuss of road or train travel, the Yangtze River cruise is both relaxing and adventurous in turn.

Shanghai

We board the first afternoon and give our guests a chance to settle in as we start our cruise up the Yangtze. Explore the ship, get comfortable and enjoy our welcome dinner. Tomorrow will see a new landscape and you’ll need some energy for exploring.

Second Day – Nanjing

This is the capital of Jiangsu province and offers us an opportunity to enjoy a model Chinese city – so much admired it will host the 2014 Olympic Games. Our excursion here will include the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and a Confucious Temple. The Temple area also includes a thriving bazaar where excellent shopping opportunities can be had.

Third Day – Mt. Huangshan

Today finds us in the mountains and a trip up Mt. Huangshan. This area is a photographer’s dream, with the classic granite peaks speckled with twisted pine forests. Mixed in are the classic misty waterfalls so commonly seen in Chinese art. We’ll take the cable car up to the summit before we reboard the ship and continue upstream.

Day Four – Wuhan

After yesterday’s soul-pleasing exploration of nature’s bounty, we’ll stop and visit the cultural side today. At the Hubei Provincial Museum, we’ll encounter a huge repository of Chinese cultural artifacts – including amazing silks, gold artwork and priceless jade. Besides the displays, there are performances of traditional Chinese theater to enjoy.

Day Five – Cruising

Today we have a chance to recuperate and enjoy the scenery as we make our way west toward Yichang and the Three Gorges Dam. It’s a great time to absorb some of the sights seen so far and take advantage of the ship’s amenities.

Day Six – Three Gorges Dam

One of the wonders of the modern world, the Three Gorges Dam reaches skyward like a man-made cliff as it spans the mile-wide gap between the walls of the Xiling gorge. We’ll use the locks to raise our ship up more than 6 stories to access the upper Yangtze. An afternoon excursion to visit the dam itself will be particularly memorable.

Day Seven – Three Gorges

Once again, we slip from the modern world and into the ancient and natural world as we sail through the sheer walls of the gorges. A boat excursion, either to the Lesser Three Gorges or up the Shannong River immerses guests in the rare beauty off the main river.

Day Eight – Fengdu

This is the famous “Ghost City,” revered by three different religions. While the scary names (“Blood River,” “Ghost Torturing Pass”) bring up images of horror, the temples are actually uplifting and peaceful.

Chongqing

We arrive the following morning at Chongqing. Although the cruise ends here, you may wish to plan a visit to the zoo for a peek at China’s famous giant pandas.

The 2012 Departure Dates: