Yangtze River Cruise Travel Information

The scenery of the Three Gorges is one of the biggest draws for visitors to the Yangtze River, and for good reason. The Three Gorges is one of the earliest tourist destinations in China. It is famous not only for its stunning landscapes but also for its long history and splendid culture. The myriad of ancient temples, villages, and paths add to the splendor of the Three Gorges. Visitors cruising down the Yangtze River can witness life as it has been for centuries: people living on and around the river.

Shipboard Activities

Visitors onboard cruise ships have a wide range of activities for their entertainment. Many of these activities help visitors better understand the ancient culture of China. These activities include Taiji classes, seminars on traditional Chinese medicine, art demonstrations, and wonderful performances put on by the crew of the ship.

Excursions

The excursions are each carefully chosen to show off China's rich culture and history. Each excursion has an English-speaking guide to allow guests to get the most out of their experiences. When applicable, private air-conditioned buses will escort passengers from their ship to their destination. Each cruise will have its own excursions. Excursions include Shennong Stream, Fengdu Ghost City, the Three Gorges Dam, Shibaozhai (Stone Treasure Fortress), and White Emperor City. Each of these excursions takes two to three hours.

Fengdu Ghost City

Fengdu City is constructed on Mingshan Hill. Legend says that over 1,700 years ago, two officials named Yin and Wang (the combination of their surnames means "Ghost King") studied Taoism here and eventually became immortals. The area now features amazing temples depicting underworld demons and gods. It clearly demonstrates the Chinese ghost culture and is a place where evil is punished and the righteous are rewarded.

Shennong Stream

Shennong Stream is a small tributary of the Yangtze River, 60 kilometers long, and is famous for its picturesque scenery. Visitors can board a traditional sampan and drift along with it. No one who has ever been to this spectacular place has left without being impressed by its crystal-clear waters flowing swiftly through the deep gorges. With its steep peaks, thick vegetation, wildflowers, and exotic birds, the Shennong stream never fails to humble visitors. Carved into the steep cliffs, a plank road was built in ancient times to help travelers on foot navigate the gorges, and ancient hanging coffins are suspended high on the cliff faces. These are just a few of the sites that will greet visitors. In the distance, the sweet love songs of the local ethnic minority people can be heard. This is a mysterious place filled with history and nature's splendor.

Three Gorges Dam

The Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric complex in the world. The dam's construction will take a total of 17 years to complete. The Three Gorges Dam not only creates electricity but will also control the annual floods that have devastated vast portions of China for millennia. Each year, 15 million people and 1.5 million hectares of farmland will be protected from flood threats, thanks to the Three Gorges Dam.