The Yangtze & Three Gorges

The Yangtze & Three Gorges

The Yangtze is the third-longest river in the world, and the Three Gorges — Qutang, Wu and Xiling — are the 200 km stretch where it cuts between cliffs up to 1,500 metres high. They have been painted, written about and photographed for two thousand years.

A river cruise is the only way to travel them slowly enough to feel the scale. Ships run from Chongqing to Yichang in three to four nights, with shore excursions to the Shennong Stream, the White Emperor City and the Three Gorges Dam.

Don't miss

• Qutang Gorge, the shortest and most dramatic of the three
• Wu Gorge and its twelve peaks, in the morning mist
• The Shennong Stream by sampan, between cliff walls
• The White Emperor City, on its peninsula above the river
• The Three Gorges Dam — the largest power station on earth
• Xiling Gorge and the ship locks that lift vessels 113 metres

How long do you need?

Three or four nights on the river. Most travelers pair the cruise with Beijing and Xi'an before boarding, and Shanghai after Yichang.