8 Days Yichang-Chongqing-Yichang Yangzi Explorer Cruise

Your voyage begins in Yichang, where the Yangzi Explorer glides into view at Maoping Port. Choose to delve into the Three Gorges Dam, its colossal concrete slopes dwarfing the landscape, or wander the tranquil gardens of Qu Yuan Temple, where the poet’s legacy lingers in every pavilion. As dusk paints the river gold, board the ship and savor a welcome feast, the hum of the Yangtze River resonating beneath a star-streaked sky.

Awaken to mist curling over the Yangtze as the ship navigates Xiling Gorge. Disembark in Badong to explore Wuyuan Caveand taste Yulu Tea, its delicate leaves steeped in mountain springs, paired with Tujia snacks. Alternatively, explore the Badong Museum, where artifacts whisper the tales of the Tujia people. By night, lose yourself in "A Journey through a Thousand Years in Badong", a performance weaving folklore into song and dance beneath a moonlit deck.

Morning light reveals the Wu Gorge, its twelve peaks veiled in legend. Disembark to ascend White Emperor City, its temples clinging to cliffs where poets once marveled at the river’s fury, or hike the Poetic Trail of Qutang Gorge, where Tang Dynasty verses seem etched into the air, or climb on the Three Gorges Summit to enjoy the best view of Yangtze River. As twilight descends, toast to the day with a gourmet dinner, the ship’s wake shimmering like liquid silver.

Choose to wander Shibaozhai Pagoda, a 12-story wooden marvel defying gravity on a riverside hill, or stroll Xituo Ancient Town, its cobblestone lanes echoing with salt-trade tales. Alternatively, visit Huanghua Island, where Song Dynasty ruins whisper of ancient defenses. As evening falls, a crew cabaret blends fan dances and folk songs, the scent of jasmine tea lingering as the Yangtze murmurs its eternal lullaby.

The ship docks in Chongqing, where skyscrapers cascade down hillsides like a waterfall of light. Spend the day exploring labyrinthine markets, savoring fiery hotpot, or ascending Hongya Cave, a stilted village glowing above the river. Return to the ship for a farewell banquet, the city’s neon skyline twinkling like a constellation.

Your journey coutinues from Chongqing. On the way to Zhong County, there's a stop in Fuling District, you can choose to delve into the 816 Project, a Cold War-era labyrinth carved into mountains, or visit the White Crane Ridge Underwater Museum, where Tang Dynasty carvings lie submerged like sunken poetry. As night falls, witness “War Fire of the Three Kingdoms” Show—a blaze of galloping horses, holograms, and fireworks—or wander Zhongzhou Old Alley, where history seeps from every weathered brick.

Sail into the heart of Qutang Gorge, its cliffs narrowing like a dragon’s jaws. Disembark to hike the Shennv Sky Road, a cliffside trail offering vertigo-inducing views, or drift through the Lesser Three Gorges on a sampan, where waterfalls plunge into emerald pools. By night, the ship ascends the Three Gorges Ship Lift, its mechanical hum blending with the river’s song.

On your final morning, revisit the Three Gorges Dam or stroll Qu Yuan Temple, its lotus ponds reflecting the poet’s enduring spirit. Disembark in Yichang, carrying memories of misty gorges, roaring rivers, and the Yangtze’s timeless whisper.