Cruise Journey down the Yangtze River: Explore the Stunning Scenery
Written by Clementine |
The Yangtze River is an ancient river that has witnessed the changes of China’s civilization for thousands of years. The Yangtze River cruisesĀ cover the 1,200 kilometers of water from ChongqingĀ to Wuhan, perfectly blending natural scenery with human history.Ā The downstream cruise route on the Yangzi River is one of the most classic and popular routes in Yangzi River cruise tours.
Yangtze Cruise down the Yangtze RiverĀ from Chongqing
If you have arranged a trip down the Yangzi JiangĀ by ferry, you begin your journey at Chongqing.Ā Vessels depart Chaotianmen DockĀ at 7Ā a.m. every day. A bus collects passengers from their hotel around 6Ā a.m. (reservations at each hotel reception desk).Ā You sail on one of he modern cruisers (or less likely) on one of the older vessels carrying Chinese passengers (and possessing only a few āluxuryā cabins ). The journey to Wuhan takes three days, to Shanghai five days.
āUnderstandĀ Top 15 Things to Do in Chongqing & Best Places to Visit
On the first day you will pass through hilly er a where villages cling to the mountainsides. Your first port-of-call is Wanxian and you may get off and stroll around.
Next morning your boat will pass the town of Fengjie (sometimes stopping there) before entering the three Sanxia Gorges. On this 120 mile stretch the boat goes through the Qutang Gorge (five miles long), the Wuxia Gorge (25 miles long), and then stops at the town of Badong.
Along the way are treacherous peaks and cliffs, and the mountains and rivers on both sides of the river are spectacular. The steep and rolling peaks rise above the river, mirroring the turquoise water. Traveling between the canyons and the turquoise water, you can listen carefully to the surging sound of the Yangzi Jiang and feel the power of nature.
Around 3:00 p.m., everyone goes out on deck to watch the ship pass through the locks of the Gezhouba Dam. Shortly afterward, the ship docks at Yichang, where free-traveling tourists sometimes disembark and catch a train to Luoyang (via Xiangyang).
Further downstream your boat passes under the bridge at Zhicheng before proceeding to Shashi, where you may disembark if you wish. Shashi is the city center of Jingzhou, where you can explore the long history and cultural heritage.Ā On the third day, the surrounding river widens and the terrain flattens out. Afterwards the YangziĀ River cruise will arrive in Wuhan.
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Top Things to Do on YangtzeĀ River
Yangtze Cruise down the Yangtze RiverĀ from Wuhan
Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Wuhan not only carries the status of an important transportation hub, but is also the core city of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Yangtze River cruises departing from Wuhan offer travelers a glimpse of the magnificent scenery of the Yangzi River.
On the first day, board the ship at Wuhan harbor pier from 3pm to 6pm. At 7pm, the cruise ship will officially set sail towards the magnificent waters of the Yangtze River and down the river to begin your Yangtze River cruise.
Stopping in Jiujiang on the second day. You can travel to Jingdezhen, where you can experience the depth of ceramic culture. Or you can choose a day trip to Mount LushanĀ to enjoy its magnificent mountain scenery and feel the magic of nature. You can also take a day trip to Tengwang Pavilion and Nanchang Han Dynasty Marquis of Haihun Site Museum to explore the traces of history.
On the third day in Jiujiang, passengers can choose to visit Donglin Temple for a half-day religious and cultural tour. Or they can choose to visit Shizhong Mountain and enjoy its unique geomorphological features and rich natural landscape. Arriving in Chizhou on day four, passengers have the option of taking a one-day cruise ship shore excursion to explore the prefecture-level city of Anhui in depth.
Arrive in Nanjing on the fifth day. Passengers can choose to visit Niushou Mountain to experience the tranquility and magnificence of the mountains. Visit Nanjing Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to gain a deeper understanding of Nanjing’s history and culture. Visit Nanjing Presidential Palace and Six Dynasties Museum to appreciate the vicissitudes of history and culture.
On the sixth day in Yangzhou, you can choose to first visit Daming Temple to experience the ancient Buddhist culture. Then visit the Geyuan Garden to enjoy the sophistication and elegance of the gardens in the south of the Yangtze River. Finally, stroll along Dongguan Street to experience the ancient street style of Yangzhou.
On the seventh day of the journey, you will continue to stay in Yangzhou. Head to Slender West Lake and enjoy its stunning lake and mountain views.Ā On the eighth day, arrive at Shanghai, the last stop on the cruise. After breakfast, we will leave the ship at the Shanghai Port Terminal, marking the successful conclusion of this Yangzi River cruise.
Related reading: 20 Must-Know Facts About the Yangtze River
