The pleasant Yangtze River Cruise provides you an excellent chance to enjoy the finest examples of China natural history and beauty during your travel in China. The marvelous Three Gorges and many intriguing historic sites along the Yangtze River will make you unforgettable, for example, Lesser Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam, Shennong Stream, Fengdu Ghost City, etc.
The "Splendid Yangtze Tour" takes you to cities as Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Yichang, Shanghai, enjoy the marvelous sceneries, culture and history of China. Some of the famous scenic spots along the Yangtze River are as follows:
Scenic Spots along Yangtze River
Fengdu
Fengdu, also known as the so-called "Abode of Ghosts", is an ancient city with a long history. According to superstitious legend that "the dead come to Fengdu and the devils go to hell." There are as many as 48 temples have been built in this place since the Tang Dynasty, such as the Hall of the Jade Emperor, the Palace of Hell, Boundary Between the Living and the Dead, the Ridge of Helplessness, and the Balcony of Nostalgia, etc. All of the temples there look quite magnificent while statues are extremely lifelike.
Shibaozhai
Shibaozhai is one of the world's eight great majestic buildings, which composed of a gate, gate tower, and an ancient Buddhist temple on the top. The cultural relics and calligraphy and paintings by famous persons were unearthed in Zhongxian County since the New Stone Age are displayed in the hall.
Baidi (White Emperor) City
Baidi city is also called White Emperor City, located at the entrance of Qutang Gorge and 8 km from Fengjie County seat. It is not a real city but a minisular town with some temples and gates on top of Baidi Hill, and you can reach its top after climbing over 500 steps. Baidi City is considerd to be the starting point of the Three Gorges and is most famous for Li Bai's great poem about the city written in the Tang Dynasty.
Shennong Stream
Shennongxi Stream is well-known for the Parrot Gorge and the Dragon Boot Gorge with breathtaking scenery. Sailing through the treacherous gorges with lush pine and translucent water, visitors can see spectacular sights like ancient plank roads, ancient suspension coffins, aqueous caves, rainbow fountain and wild lives. It is also perfect to experience the culture of Tujia minority. Visiting Shennong Stream on a pea-like boat is a sensational experience.
Wu Gorge
Wu Gorge extends 40 kilometers from the mouth of Daning River of Wushan Mountain in the west to Guandukou of Badong in the east. The Wu Gorge is gifted with exquisite peaks and lush mountains and ranges. It's deep and serene with changeable weather. The rolling River twists and turns and boats zigzag their way along, as if cruising in a fantastic gallery.
Dazhu Grottoes
Dazhu Grottoes is located in Dazu County, about 165 kilometers away from Chongqing. There are more than 40 sites of stone carvings with over 50,000 statues of Buddha completed from the late Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The grottoes on the Beishan Hill and Baoding Hill are the largest in scale, richest in content and most refined in artistic skill.
Three Gorges Dam
The dam site is 27 miles upstream from Yichang City proper, at Sandouping Town, 38km upstream from the Gezhouba Dam Lock, inside the third of the Three Gorges. It is planned to be by far the largest hydroelectric project in the world. The Project calls for the construction of a concrete dam, a hydroelectric power plant and a series of locks just below the scenic Three Gorges region. The project is designed to be built in three phases and is scheduled for completion in year 2009.
Qutang Gorge
With vertical cliffs of some thousand meters high as its two flanks, the Qutang Gorge is only a few dozens of meters wide just like a narrow gateway. With swash and rumble, the surging Yangtze River pours into the gateway with great momentum. Looking up towards the tops of towering precipitous mountains along the Gorge, one sees from a boat only a narrow strip of clouds and sky, but under foot the River tears on violently.
Lesser Three Gorges
The Lesser Three Gorges are between the Qutang Gorge and Qu Gorge, most boat trips along the route stop for a few hours to transfer passengers to smaller boat to see the "Lesser Three Gorges"along the Daning river.
Xiling Gorge
Xiling gorge is famous for its dangerous rapids, sharp turns, and numerous reefs and shoals. It consists of four smaller gorges called Bingshubaojian (Military Books and Sword), Niuganmafei (Bull's Liver and Horse's Lung ), Kongling, and Dengying ( Lantern Shadow). The recent construction of the Gezhouba water control project has helped calm the torrents but the charms of the scenery remain the same.
The most popular cruise routes are :
| Chongqing to Yichang | 4days, down stream | Note: From Chongqing to Yichang(Victoria Katarina). |
| Yichang to Chongqing | 5 days, up stream | Note: from Yichang to Chongqing. |
| Chongqing to Shanghai | 7 days,down stream | Note:Only Victoria cruise operates these routes,and it also operate the Route 1& 2. |
| Shanghai to Chongqing | 9 days,up stream | Note:Only Victoria cruise operates these routes,and it also operate the Route 1& 2. |
| Chongqing to Jingzhou | 5 days, down stream | Note:Now only Regal China operate these two routes. |
| Jingzhou to Chongqing | 6 days, up stream | Note:Now only Regal China operate these two routes. |
Cruise Ships on the Yangtze River
President NO 1
President Cruises (No. 1) is one of the colossal and deluxe cruises well known with its fine decoration, modern facilities, full function, safety, great comfort and considerate service.There are president suites, deluxe suites, standard rooms, dining...