4 Night Cruise on the Yangtze River, China
One of the most beautiful excursions we embarked on during our visit to China was a Yangtze River Cruise, sailing from Yichang to Chongqing (though the cruise is also popular in the other direction as well). A scenic look into China’s natural beauty, you would be remiss not to add a four or five day river cruise to your itinerary while exploring the country.
Continue reading to learn what to expect on one of the most popular Yangtze River cruises in China, and how to make the most of the experience!
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Yichang to Chongqing: Yangtze River Cruise
As mentioned above, we elected to take the cruise going from Yichang to Chongqing, as we were coming from the eastern coast (Dalian) prior to this leg of the trip. It is also popular to book this cruise starting in Chongqing and moving towards Yichang, so if that works best for your itinerary – you will still get to see all of the activities below, just in the reverse order!
Our specific cruise ship was titled the Yangtze “Gold I,” but the popular cruises all generally stop at the same excursions along the way as they follow the same path (the Yangtze River). In total, we sailed for four nights on the ship, with daily stops for optional excursions along the way.
Day One on the Yangtze River Cruise
The first day on the cruise is primarily focused on boarding, as we did not embark the ship until around seven at night from the Yichang Maoping Wharf. That night, we checked into our room and unpacked, then explored the ship.
The cruise is advertised as “five days,” four nights, but really this first day is just boarding the ship as the boarding time is not until the evening. Spend this night adjusting to life on water if you have never been on a ship before, and getting a good night’s sleep for the next few days.
Day Two on the Yangtze River Cruise
Start your morning with a hearty breakfast, then make sure to sign up for the Three Gorges Tribe Scenic Spot. This is typically an optional excursion on the cruise, but please be sure not to miss it. A protected area within the Xiling Gorge due to its notable art and culture, this excursion allows you to walk through natural landscape and learn about some traditional customs from a local guide.
I cannot overstate how rewarding this excursion was, so although it was optional please don’t forget to sign up! Some activities we enjoyed along the way were listening to traditional music, witnessing custom communication methods necessary to adapt to the lush landscape, a scenic wooden walking path next to the vibrant blue water, hand crafted boats & mills, a mock wedding ceremony, waterfalls, and even monkeys!
Overall, this stop is an amazing way to kick off the river cruise – so be sure not to miss it!
That afternoon, after lunch, the ship will stop at Sandouping to learn about the famous Three Gorges Dam. You will be able to walk ashore to take a look at the dam & five tier ship lock before sailing through it later that night.
Day Three on the Yangtze River Cruise
On day 3 of the cruise, you will have the opportunity to explore the Goddess Stream on smaller tour boats. Also called Shenlong Stream, the Goddess Stream allows you to marvel at the more narrow caverns of the gorge, and to get a better look at the water & surrounding cliffs up close.
Your tour guide on the smaller boat will teach you about the gorges, and perform customary songs during the journey. With good weather, you will be able to get out on a man-made platform deep within the Goddess Stream to enjoy views of the impressive gorges fully.
Day Four on the River Cruise
After breakfast on your fourth day on the river, you will have the chance to disembark and visit the Shibaozhai Pagoda. This beautiful pagoda is built right into a cliff, and provides amazing views from its top, which visitors are allowed to climb if interested.
You will also have the chance to explore a local town, and walk across an impressive hanging bridge, in order to get to the pagoda. Feel free to pick up some souvenirs from the locals if you’re interested!
After spending a few hours exploring the area around the pagoda, you’ll want to head back to the ship to fill up on some lunch before the afternoon’s excursion!
In the afternoon, you will have the option to visit the Fengdu “Ghost City.” At this riverside village, you’ll get to visit several temples that pay tribute to the “gods of the underworld.” This is a unique opportunity to learn about some Chinese mythology and Buddhist beliefs while getting to appreciate grand art & statues dedicated to the topical gods & demons.
The views from this excursion over the Yangtze River were some of the best of the entire cruise. A lot of people were too tired from the morning trip to the pagoda to sign up for the visit to Fengdu, but it was one of the coolest parts of the trip, so please don’t miss out! You never know if you’ll have the chance to visit again, so don’t skip over it while you’re there 🙂
After a long day, head back to the ship for dinner. Be sure to get out onto the deck tonight if you’re able, as you’ll likely be able to see the lights of Chongqing from the water as you sail closer to your final destination.
Day Five: Conclusion of the Cruise
On the morning of the fifth day, you can enjoy breakfast on the boat prior to disembarking for the final time around 9:00 in the morning.
Please let us know your favorite part of the cruise in the comments below!
Yangtze River Tour Options:
- Yichang to Chongqing: 4 Day 5 Night River Cruise (Upstream)
- Chongqing to Yichang: 3 Day 4 Night River Cruise (Downstream)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is a Yangtze River cruise? As outlined above, a cruise from Yichang to Chongqing typically lasts four nights and five days (though the first and last “day” of the cruises aren’t typically full days, depending on the travel conditions of the ship). The reverse direction, however, is generally only three nights and four days by boat. This means that if you’re traveling from Chongqing towards Yichang, you can save yourself a day on your itinerary!
- Is a Yangtze River cruise worth it? A cruise down the Yangtze River is absolutely worth it if you’re touring China. It provides a look into the natural beauty of the region and also allows you the opportunity to explore some unique excursions that help portray traditional Chinese customs & culture.
- What is the best month to go on a Yangtze River cruise? The answer to this question depends largely on personal preference, but a popular time of year to enjoy the cruise is during the transitional seasons of spring & fall, since the weather is generally not very extreme.
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
