By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

4-Day Luxury Cruise for Three Gorges Tour (from Chongqing to Yichang)

The Yangtze River is an ancient river which breeds Chinese people from generation to generation, as well as the cradle of Chinese civilization. When the Yangtze River traversed Chongqing, the Three Gorges came out, becoming the natural gallery of the landscape. History and culture along the river in Chongqing highlight the Three Gorges tour, and visitors can not only enjoy the scenery but also know humanities during the journey.

Day 1: Get on Board: Chaotianmen Harbor in Chongqing

Free time left to the visitor to meander through streets and explore some delicious food in Chongqing. The visitor gets on board with his/her ID, and a simple ceremony will be launched as the beginning of the journey. The ship will leave the harbor when night falls.

Day 2: Fengdu → Zhong County → Wanzhou

Tourist Attraction:

Fengdu Ghost City: It is a collection buildings of monasteries, temples, and shrines overlooking the river. The mythic temple of the underworld is the prototype of the complex, showing the culture of the afterlife to visitors.

The gate of the hell in the afterlife in Ghost City, Fengdu county (Photo by Xiongbo)

Shibaozhai Village: It is a temple relies on the mountain, which the mountain is a kind of cliff. The Shibaozhai Village was built by the Ming Dynasty (1572 – 1619), constituted by the gate, body, and attic. It is 56m high with 12 floors, and the whole village is made of wood. It is provided a place for visitors to incense and pray times ago, but visitors today can look over the river at the top of the village.

The panorama of the Shibaozhai Village in Zhongzhou county

Day 3: Yunyang → Fengjie → Wushan

Tourist Attraction:

Baidi City: Located at the entrance of Qutang Gorge in Fengjie county, with more than 1000 historical relics and many huge paintings inside the exhibition hall. It is also called “the City of Poems” because many famous poets such as Li Bai, Bai Juyi, Du Fu, etc. came to Baidi City, as well as many poems about it have been passed so far.

Small Three Gorges in Wushan County: Sheer walls and grassy peaks shock every visitor here when the cruise passes through the colorful canyon. Famous hanging coffins (coffins set on the wall of mountains), ship coffins, and ancient villages are easily found during the journey. Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, and Dicui Gorge are recommended to visit there.

Day 4: Maoping, Yichang

Tourist Attraction:

Three Gorges Dam: It is an immense and monumental engineering project, built as the largest hydroelectric plant in the world. Visitors can step on the viewing platform, which is 185m high, to enjoy the generous and inspired flowing water.

The ride will take visitors to the local airport for departing flight, or to the hotel if the visitor would like to stay for more exploration.

3-Day Luxury Cruise for Three Gorges Tour (from Wanzhou county to Yichang)

The cruise stars at Wanzhou county, which is 228 km far away from the urban area in Chongqing. The bus ride will take visitors to Wanzhou county to get on board.

Day 1: Chongqing → Wanzhou → Yunyang

Tourist Attraction:

Zhang Fei’s Temple: Located in Yunyang county, the temple honors the famous Shu Kingdom general with more than 1700-years history. Calligraphy and inscriptions of past masters are exhibited inside the temple.

Day 2: Fengjie → Wushan

Tourist Attraction:

Baidi City: Located at the entrance of Qutang Gorge in Fengjie county, with more than 1000 historical relics and many huge paintings inside the exhibition hall. It is also called “the City of Poems” because many famous poets such as Li Bai, Bai Juyi, Du Fu, etc. came to Baidi City, as well as many poems about it have been passed so far.

The covered bridge of Baidi City

Small Three Gorges in Wushan County: Sheer walls and grassy peaks shock every visitor here when the cruise passes through the colorful canyon. Famous hanging coffins (coffins set on the wall of mountains), ship coffins, and ancient villages are easily found during the journey. Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, and Dicui Gorge are recommended to visit there.

Dicui Gorge in the Three Gorges

Day 3: Maoping, Yichang

Tourist Attraction:

Three Gorges Dam: It is an immense and monumental engineering project, built as the largest hydroelectric plant in the world. Visitors can step on the viewing platform, which is 185m high, to enjoy the generous and inspired flowing water.

The ride will take visitors to the local airport for departing flight, or to the hotel if the visitor would like to stay for more exploration.