7 Days Yangtze River Cruise Tour from Chengdu
Chengdu / Chongqing / Yangtze Cruise / Yichang
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
- Step into the panda base to take a close sight of adorable Giant Pandas and observe how they live, sleep, play and eating bamboos, and see cute red pandas and tiny newborn baby pandas if you visit during summer and autumn;
- Experience the local leisure life in Chengdu by visiting People’s Park for locals relaxing at tea houses, playing Mahjong, enjoying square dancing and have fun strolling along Jinli Old Street;
- Enjoy 4 days Yangtze River cruise from Chongqing to Yichang aboard a luxury 5 star ship with interesting arrangement everyday. Relax yourselves with endless scenic sightseeing along the beautiful Three Gorges;
- Take a walk to witness the Three Gorges Dam and marvel at the world famous project which generates the biggest amount of hydroelectric power.
Sampling Itinerary Day by Day
Day 1 Chengdu Arrival
Ni Hao! Welcome to Chengdu, the Hometown of Giant Pandas and Land of Abundance! You’ll be met by our local guide at the arrival hall of Chengdu airport / train station and escorted to your hotel in downtown area by a private, comfortable and non-smoking vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to explore this leisure city.
Arrival Ideas: Chengdu is only about 2~3 hours flying from the majority of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc. You can also arrive in Chengdu by high speed trains from Xian (4hrs), Chongqing (1hr), Guilin (6hrs), Kunming (6hrs), etc.
Chengdu, The Land of Abundance
Day 2 Chengdu (B, L)
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel for a 15-km drive to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (simply Chengdu Panda Base). This world's most important panda scientific research center is home for over 100 giant pandas. Walk through the verdant bamboo-lined paths, witness the fascinating progression of pandas from baby to adult, watch the adolescent pandas aged 1-5, eating, playing, tumbling and climbing. If lucky, you may be able to see the precious panda babies in the nursery rooms. Don't miss the informative Panda Museum for more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.
After the memorable panda visit, head to Wenshu Monastery, a serene Buddhist temple in the bustling downtown of Chengdu. Walk in the spiritual temple and marvel at the exquisite Buddhist architectures, Buddhist statues, scriptures, and relics. Adjacent is (Wenshufang), a small bazaar for a leisure stroll to experience local market and living style.
Next, visit Renmin Park to feel the famed laid-back lifestyle of Chengdu. Sip a cup of Chinese tea in a century-old teahouse, chat with friends, watch locals indulging in different folk activities, like napping, ear cleaning, Mahjong, dancing, water calligraphy, etc.! Then, discover the famous Jinli Old Street, a vibrant hub full of local snacks, delicate artifacts, folk shows and other activities. Time will fly as you explore along the ancient streets!
Optional activity: 1) enjoy a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine or hotpot at a local restaurant; 2) watch Sichuan Opera at Shufeng Yayun Teahouse, featuring stick puppets, face changing, fire spitting, rolling lights, folk music, acrobatic and dance (usually during 20:00~21:30).
Chengdu Panda Base
Explore Three Kingdom Culture in Jinli Old Street
Wenshu Monastery
Enjoy some leisure moment in Renmin Park
Day 3 High Speed Train to Chongqing & Chongqing Tour (B, L)
This morning, be escorted to the railway station for the high speed train to Chongqing (about 1~2hrs). Upon arrival, your guide and driver will pick you up at the arrival hall and unveil your exploration of this cyberpunk metropolis!
Let's start with Longmenhao Old Street, nestled against the mountain and facing the Yangtze. It preserves over 200 architectures from different periods across six layers. Stroll through its artistic old lanes, capturing Chongqing's pulse on streets, bridges, and rivers. Then, visit the must-see Hongya Cave to appreciate its layers of featured Ba and Shu regional wooden tilted houses rising up to 11 storeys against the hill. (Note: As night falls, Hongya Cave becomes even more enchanting with warm lights illuminating the structures. If you want to see such night view, please discuss with your guide or travel consultant to adjust the itinerary.)
After the visit, be transferred back to your hotel. Have a nice sleep!
Longmenhao Old Street
Beautiful Night View of Hongya Cave
Hongya Cave Daytime
Day 4 Chongqing Tour & Yangtze Cruise Embarkation (B, L)
After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then take you to enjoy a full day exploration of this cyberpunk metropolis! Let's start with the Three Gorges Museum, showcasing more than 280,000 pieces of precious cultural relics to introduce the great Yangtze River, formation of the Three Gorges, and the thriving history of Chongqing from 3,000 years ago to its status as a municipality in China. Next, have an impressive look at the People’s Assembly Hall which is renowned for its elegant classical exterior and was listed into the History of Architecture compiled in London in 1987.
Then, take Line 2 of Chongqing Rail Transit from Huanghuayuan Station to Liziba Station for 15-minute with cityscapes. Get off and watch a train passing through a 19-storey apartment, unique to mountainous Chongqing! Continue to enjoy Chongqing panorama from WFC Huixianlou Observation Deck that is a 339-meter-high skyscraper with a 360° open-air platform at the city center. After the tour, go to board your 4-day Yangtze River cruise at Chaotianmen Port (18:00~21:00), which will sail at 21:00!
Tips for Cruise Boarding:
1) There are 12 sub-piers at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port; please confirm the exact boarding pier with your travel consultant one day prior; 2) Tell your driver the exact pier to minimize walking; 3) Be aware of boarding time and pier changes based on the ship line or factors like water level, season, weather condition, etc. Please pay attention to the important info from your travel consultants.
Liziba Metro Station
Three Gorges Museum
People's Assembly Hall
Board Yangtze Cruise Ship at Chaotianmen Port
Day 5 Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Good morning! Wake up leisurely and enjoy the gentle sunshine over the tranquil Yangtze. You can either follow the Taichi master to play Taichi or enjoy a cup of coffee to start a beautiful day!
Enjoy various entertainment onboard, like attending a Yangtze River History and Culture Lecture, enjoying seasonal themed activities, meeting new friends at the Captain's Welcome Party, having fun at the wonderful evening show, etc.
You will follow a local English-speaking tour guide to visit Fengdu Ghost City onshore, which is about 2,000 years old and called “the Homeland of Divine Comedy in China”. In this “City of Ghosts”, you will see a series of temples, shrines, palaces, pavilions, and more traditional styled architecture complex. The colorful statues and story scenes of afterlife in hell displayed show the underworld, cruel tortures, different kinds of devils, Chinese demons and the traditional Chinese belief: pure spirits would be rewarded, and sinful ones would be subject to severe punishments. (Please note: Fengdu Ghost City visit requires much walking and comfortable shoes are highly recommended!)
Optional Excursion to Feng Yan San Guo (Three Kingdoms Fire Show): A reputable and impressive real landscape show telling the brilliant history during the Three Kingdoms Period (over 1,800 years ago) and praising the loyalty spirit of General Guan Yu. (with an extra fee)
Beautiful & Tranquil Yangtze River
Play Taichi in the Morning
Fengdu Ghost City
Three Kingdoms Open Air Show
Day 6 Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
Today, you'll sail through the spectacular Three Gorges! Soak up the breathtaking gorge scenery as you drift through Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge respectively.
You'll switch to a smaller boat to take an enjoyable shore excursion to Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream), a tributary of the Yangtze River. Sail down this primitive stream to closely marvel at steep mountains and hanging coffins high on the cliffs, hear local history, and appreciate featured dance and music by Tujia ethnic people!
At evening, enjoy the well-prepared Captain’s Farewell Party with all your mates onboard and have a whale of time of the last night onboard!
Optional Excursion to White Emperor City: This cultural and historic site at the entrance of Qutang Gorge tells the touching stories of the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” and is the best spot to appreciate the magnificent “Kui Gate” on the 10 RMB note! (with an extra fee)
Our Customer Visiting Magnificent Qutang Gorge
Qutang Gorge
Breathtaking Wu Gorge Scenery
Enjoy Wu Gorge Scenery on Sundeck
White Emperor City
Shennv Stream with Primitive Gorge Scenery
Day 7 Yangtze Cruise to Yichang & Yichang Departure (B)
After breakfast, go through a check-out procedure and disembark at Maoping Port and take the arranged tourist bus to visit the global famous Three Gorges Dam. It is the largest hydropower station in the world, with an annual energy output of 84.7 billion kilowatt-hours. The Dam is about 2,300 meters (7,546 ft) long and about 115 meters (377 ft) wide. With a water capacity of 39.3 billion cubic meters, it can hold a huge reservoir to efficiently prevent flooding in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze. Take your time to appreciate this great project from different angles and learn more at the project museum.
After that, take the tourist bus to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal in Yichang downtown (arriving around 12:30-13:30). Your local guide and driver will pick you up there and transfer to Yichang Airport / train station for your flight or train to your home / the next destination. Trip Ends!
Optional Experience of Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift: Take a tourist boat to sail through this world’s largest ship lift with an elevation of about 113 meters (370 ft), which is totally fresh and exciting! (with an extra fee)
Departure Ideas: You can take flights from Yichang Sanxia Airport to Shanghai, Xian, Beijing, Guangzhou and Hangzhou, etc. Also, you can take high speed trains from Yichang East Railway Station to Wuhan (about 2hrs), Shanghai (about 8hrs), Beijing (about 7.5hrs), Hangzhou (about 7.5hrs), Chengdu (about 7hrs), Guangzhou (about 7hrs), etc.
Notes: 1) Only Dam visit: take the bus from Maoping Port to visit Three Gorges Dam and arrive at Yichang downtown at around 12:30. 2) Dam visit + Ship Lift: switch to a tourist boat to sail through the Ship Lift and visit Three Gorges Dam. Then, take the bus and arrive at Yichang downtown at around 13:30.
World-famous Three Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam - 185 Observation Deck
Three Gorges Dam in Summer
Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift, the Largest Ship Lift in the World
Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in a comfortable-class hotel and traveling with our private tour package in low seasons. The price will be much lower if your group has 4 or more members.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, month, and date. There may be huge price increasing during the public Chinese holidays, school summer holidays (usually 2 months, July ~ August), peak tourist seasons or some special dates. (Chinese Public Holidays 2025)
3. Other factors that may change the final tour price include your group size, hotel class, tour activities, real-time exchange rate, and so on.
4. This price is based on the exchange rate USD 1= RMB 7.00. The final price will be based on the exchange rate in effect at the time of agreement with our quotation.
5. This price is only valid from now to March 31, 2026.
6. This price is not the final price until the Confirmation Letter is sent.
7. The items included and excluded in this price are for reference only. The final services included, please refer to the Confirmation Letter sent to you by the travel consultant.
Price Includes:
- English-speaking guide with the professional license as listed in the itinerary.
- Entrance fees and other fees of the scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
- Yangtze River Cruise ticket as listed in the itinerary.
- Accommodation (comfortable-class) based on two persons sharing one room with twin beds or a double bed.
- Meals as specified with “B” (for breakfast), “L” (for lunch) or “D” (for dinner) in the itinerary.
- Private Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in each city or area by private air-conditioned vehicle with a licensed driver as listed in the itinerary.
- Transportation: Domestic flights (economy class) or trains (second-class seat) as listed in the itinerary.
- Airport / train station pick-up and drop-off service as listed in the itinerary.
- Luggage Transfers between airports, train station and hotels.
- Travel Service Charge of our travel consultant, including the planning, handling, operational and communication charges, etc.
Price Excludes:
- China Visa (We do not offer any visa service or charge any visa-related fee.)
- Scenic spots not listed in the itinerary.
- Optional activities or other sightseeing.
- Accommodation not as listed in the itinerary.
- Meals not listed in the itinerary.
- Flights or trains not as listed in the itinerary.
- Excess Baggage Charges.
- Personal expenses of a purely personal nature such as room service, laundry, drink, Internet charge, WI-FI, fax, telephone call, etc.
- Gratuities or optional tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc.
- Travel insurance. Please kindly note that the full coverage travel insurance from your country of origin should be purchased in advance on your own.
Read what other travelers think about this China trip / Yangtze cruise trip. We only accept reviews from actual, confirmed travelers who purchased the tour / activity from us, so you can be sure the reviews are unbiased and authentic.
Hi Tracy,
I have been very busy since coming home! We got back to school and work immediately. The trip was wonderful. The guides were great.
Hwai
- Hwai - April 15, 2025‚ ,
We are back to Australia. and we totally enjoyed our cruise. Food offered on board and during land excursions were excellent. Land excursions are quite comprehensive.
We would recommend the cruise to our friends.
Thank you.
Kai
- Kai - April 14, 2025‚ ,
Hi Jack,
It was great thanks. We really enjoyed it. The cabin and the food were excellent. We were very well looked after by the crew and the cruise director.
Stunning scenery and the live show was a particular highlight.
Thank you for your help,
Jane
- Jane - April 11, 2025‚ ,
Tracy,
Everything is up to our expectations.
I will definitely refer my friends to Yangtse cruise & to you personally too.
Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Mr Yew
- Mr Yew - April 11, 2025‚ ,
Here are recent candid photos of this China trip / Yangtze cruise trip. If you want to share your own tour photos, simply email your photos to info@yangtze-river-cruises.com with your Booking ID Number. Thanks in advance for sharing!
- Chengdu, The Land of Abundance
- Chengdu Panda Base
- Enjoy some leisure moment in Renmin Park
- Explore Three Kingdom Culture in Jinli Old Street
- Wenshu Monastery
- Hongya Cave Daytime
- Longmenhao Old Street
- Beautiful Night View of Hongya Cave
- People's Assembly Hall
- Three Gorges Museum
- Board Yangtze Cruise Ship at Chaotianmen Port
- Liziba Metro Station
- Three Kingdoms Open Air Show
- Beautiful & Tranquil Yangtze River
- Play Taichi in the Morning
- Fengdu Ghost City
- White Emperor City
- Qutang Gorge
- Enjoy Wu Gorge Scenery on Sundeck
- Shennv Stream with Primitive Gorge Scenery
- Our Customer Visiting Magnificent Qutang Gorge
- Breathtaking Wu Gorge Scenery
- Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift
- Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift, the Largest Ship Lift in the World
- Three Gorges Dam in Summer
- Three Gorges Dam - 185 Observation Deck
- World-famous Three Gorges Dam
Recommended Add-on Options
+ 1 more day to UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site - Dazu Rock Carvings
Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing suburb is praised as one of the top eight grottoes globally. With a history of over 1,300 years, it represents the pinnacle of large-scale grotto art groups in late ancient China and rivals the renowned Mogao, Yungang and Longmen Grottoes in Northern China.
+ 1~2 more days to UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site - Wulong Karst Landscape
Wulong Karst Geopark in Wulong County of Chongqing is not only the filming location of “Transformers IV”, but also a super famous natural spectacle to marvel at the unique Karst landscapes, including sinkholes, natural bridges and caves. Plan 1 to 2 days to explore the awesome Three Natural Bridges, Longshuixia Gap, Furong Cave based on your physical condition and interests.
+ 3~4 more days to explore the capital city of China - Beijing
Get into the imperial capital city whose story goes back at least 3000 years.
Beijing’s opulent royal palaces, temples and magnificent walls and gates make it the first tourist destination in China. A wealth of history, both ancient (Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace) and more recent (Tiananmen Square, Bird’s Nest & Water Cube) will inspire your imagination. A visit to the Great Wall, the longest manmade structure in the world, is absolutely essential.
+ 2~3 more days to explore the Ancient of Heart - Xian
Explore the glorious past in the ancient capital of China for 13 dynasties!
With a history of over 3000 years, Xian is the birthplace of Chinese civilization and capital of most important dynasties in early Chinese history. It is known as the eastern terminus of the famed Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army along with many other historical sites, like Ancient City Wall, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and so on.
+ 2~3 more days to visit the largest metropolis in China - Shanghai
Experience the past, present and future of China all at once!
The Huangpu River splits Shanghai into two districts: Pudong and Puxi. The Pudong skyline with stunning tall buildings like Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center and Oriental Pearl TV Tower gives you a flourishing scene of modern Shanghai. On the Puxi side, walk along the Bund to get a taste of old Shanghai. What a huge contrast!
+ 3~4 more days to visit the city with best scenery under heaven - Guilin
Surrounded by karst peaks, Yangshuo is situated on the bank of Li River in Guilin. Yangshuo has long been renowned as a popular place for foreign tourists. It is said “guilin landscape tops those elsewhere, and yangshuo landscape tops that of Guilin”. Outdoor options are plenty here and West Street is a good place to explore.
+ 3~4 more days to step into the World Geological Park - Zhangjiajie
Reputed as “a miniature fairyland” and “a maze of nature”, Zhangjiajie is a surreal world with hundreds of grotesque peaks, beautiful waters, towering trees, deep valley, marvelous caves and exuberant forest. In Zhangjiajie, you’ll fully explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to catch the outstanding landscape and experience the world’s longest and highest glass bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon.
+ 2 more days to enjoy the fairyland on earth - Jiuzhaigou
Both Huanglong National Park and Jiuzhaigou National Park were listed as Natural World Heritage Sites for the superb landscape. Take two days that you can fully immerse yourself in the Fairyland on Earth to appreciate travertine lakes, green and purplish pools, waterfalls, forests and mountain scenery.
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