The cruise offers four memorable highlights:
The Three Gorges
Shore Excursions
Three Gorges Dam
Vacation within a vacation
I discuss each below, and give some tips and insights:
The Three Gorges
The Yangtze River cruise passes through three spectacular river gorges in the middle of China.
What you see
Craggy, sheer mountain peaks along the riverside tower up to 1000 meters (3300 feet) above you. And interesting river barges pass by as you sit on the deck.
How the Three Gorges differ
Listings are in downstream order:
Qutang Gorge
It is 8 kilometers (5 miles) long, making it the shortest of the three gorges. It is also the narrowest and has the highest peaks.
Wu Gorge
This one measures 44 kilometers (28 miles). It is the widest gorge, and has the most tranquil surrounding setting.
Xiling Gorge
It’s the longest (66 kilometers or 40 miles in length). Before the nearby Three Rivers Gorge dam was built, Xiling Gorge had treacherous rapids, whirlpools, rocks, and shoals that trashed small boats and, occasionally, large ships.
Shore excursions
These are three most popular:
Lesser Three Gorges
They are scenic tributary gorges with narrow canyons. To see the Lesser Three Gorges, visitors transfer from their cruise ships to mid-size river boats.
Shennong Stream
It is similar to the Lesser Three Gorges, but much smaller and shallower. Visitors transfer to small sampan type boats to travel up Shennong Stream.
Shibaozhai Temple
This 12 story wooden pagoda rests against a tall rock outcropping. You climb up its steep interior stairs. Shibaozhai Temple is a Hillman Wonder Bronze Medal winner.
Three Gorges Dam
World’s largest
The dam is by far the biggest in both size and hydroelectric power generation. It’s an astonishing engineering feat.
Three Gorges Dam up close
You pass through its incredibly large locks in your ship. The Three Gorges Dam is a Hillman Wonder Bronze Medal winner.
Negative effect of the dam
Unfortunately, from the tourist’s perspective, it is raising the river water level behind it so high that formerly breathtaking rapid currents of the Yangtze River are all but disappearing. And, the water is permanently inundating some scenic and cultural riverside attractions (and forced over a million people to relocate).
Still a lot to see
Much of the stunning natural beauty of the sheer gorges remains. And, the visit to the new dam and its locks have substantially added to the cruise’s appeal.
On balance
The Yangtze River cruise is still so exceptional that the sightseeing losses the dam caused should definitely not discourage travelers from making the voyage. Think of the marble statue Venus de Milo. She lost her arms but still is an object of beauty.
Yangtze River Cruise tips & insights
Vacation within a vacation
You get to unwind on a ship in the middle of your fast-paced China land tour. It becomes a vacation within a vacation.
When to do the cruise
The ideal months to visit are April, May, September and October because June to August can be hot and November to March, wintry.
Most popular cruise route
It runs between Chongqing and Yichang. The length is 660 kilometers (410 miles) – about 10% of the Yangtze River’s length.
Downstream vs. upstream
A downstream Chongqing to Yichang voyage (4 days, 3 nights) costs a little more than its upstream equivalent, but it saves you a day of travel.
Smaller than ocean cruise ships
Those on the Yangtze are tinier (normally about 100 cabins) than those on the vast majority of sea-going cruise vessels. The experience is more personal, which makes it easier to get to know fellow passengers.
Shore excursions costs
They are typically included in the cruise fare. This compares favorably against ocean-going cruises, where they can sometimes be expensive extras.
Cruise ships quality from poor to fine
You have a choice of several dozen cruise ships. Some are first rate (see next paragraph), some are middling, some are cramped “rust buckets”. Generally, you get what you pay for.
Click this link below to see photos of the interior of a quality Yangtze cruise ship and for brief descriptions of activities.
Lengthy river
It is the world’s third longest (after the Amazon and Nile). The river begins in the lofty mountains of Tibet and Qinghai provinces. Nearly 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) later, it empties into the East China Sea near Shanghai.
