By Keqiao Cheng 

The Three Gorges, well-known for its crystal-clear rapids and sky-scraping cliffs, is a must-see during your tour in China. Besides this, it’s best to check it out in autumn. Then you will be blown away by the picturesque mountains covered by red leaves.

On Nov. 7, the launch ceremony of a special free tour to the Three Gorges was held on the Yangtze Gold 6 Cruise. This event, named “Back to the Three Gorges”, is hosted by Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, and organized by Ctrip.

Many special guests participated in the launch ceremony, including Wang Dingguo, deputy chief of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, Zhangxu, vice manager of Government Resources Cooperation Department of Ctrip, Komatsu Michihiko, Consul General of Japan in Chongqing, among others.

About 200 international tourists, most of who had visited the Three Gorges before 1997, have been invited to the event. Meanwhile, some tourist guides, who were working there, also have had the same chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Yangtze River and to encounter their old friends back then.

Chongqing enjoys a rapid growth in tourism in recent years and has been better known around the world. According to 2018 Urban Tourism and Tourism Impact, released by World Tourism and Tourism Council (WTTC), Chongqing has been the city with the fastest growth in the world in terms of the direct contribution of tourism revenue to GDP.

The Three Gorges is a name card of Chongqing and even China. In May 2018, Chongqing held a conference on tourism development, and decided to upgrade the tourism industry. The Three Gorges was confirmed as the first priority then.

In addition to the stunning landscape along the Yangtze River, a series of cultural and touristic events would also be launched. It includes Return to the Three Gorges (a new show directed by Zhang Yimou), the Concert of World Great Rivers, the Red Leaf Festival, the five-star cruises, etc. Such programs would enable the tourists to be fully immersed in the charm of the Three Gorges.

The five-star Yangtze Gold 6 Cruise was the venue of the launch ceremony. During the interaction session, the guests watched the videos of recruitment in the US and Japan, and a video full of memories and blesses of Yi Mengchun, a Chinese who worked at the Small Three Gorges 20 years ago.

After the launch ceremony, the cruise started the tour towards the Three Gorges. During the 4 days/3 nights travel, the tourists would have the chance to visit the famous scenic spots and participate in the events along the Yangtze River, and search for the old friends and memories of their trips of 20 years ago.