7 Days Shanghai & Yangtze Cruise Tour (Upstream)
Shanghai / Yichang / Yangtze Cruise / Chongqing
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
- Discover the great changes of this giant metropolis standing on the East China! Enjoy diverse awesome activities and experience the contrast of Shanghai's past, today and future!
- Fly to Yichang from Shanghai and make a transfer to board your ship for 5 days and 4 nights journey to Chongqing. Visit Three Gorges Dam to marvel at its magnificence and sail through Three Gorges for endless beauty.
- Relax your body and release your eyes both onboard and onshore. Along the 648 kilometers cruise, you’ll have chances to explore some natural as well as cultural sites to catch the authentic side of Central China.
- Enjoy this all-inclusive package with totally worry free trip, including transportation, accommodation, dinning, sightseeing, activities... everything is included at the best value.
Sampling Itinerary Day by Day
Day 1 Shanghai Arrival
Ni Hao! Welcome to Shanghai, the largest and the most developed metropolis in the Chinese mainland! You’ll be met by our local guide at the arrival hall of Shanghai airport / train station and escorted to your hotel at downtown area by a private, comfortable and non-smoking vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to explore this city.
Optional Activity - Enjoy an entertaining Acrobatic Show to see the breathtaking “balls of death” acts, chair balancing, juggling of benches, walking in the air, and other breathtaking performances (usually 19:30~21:00).
Arrival Ideas: At present, Shanghai has many international and domestic flights. Besides, you can take high speed trains from Beijing (about 5~5.5hrs), Xian (about 6~7.5hrs), Suzhou (about 0.5hr), Hangzhou (about 1hr), Huangshan (about 4hrs), etc.
Day 2 Shanghai (B, L)
After breakfast, enjoy your full-day exploration of the Magic Shanghai with west-meet-east, modern-blend-tradition culture. Let's start with Shanghai Museum, one of the Four Greatest Museums in China. Admire its stunning "Ding"-style exterior which symbolizes “a round heaven and a square earth”. Enter to treat your eyes with an extensive collection of international-standard historical relics from over 5,000 years ago to the Qing Dynasty, including bronzes, ceramics, paintings, jades, coins, furniture, seals, sculptures, etc. (An Audio Explanation Device will be prepared for your better understanding of the history and technology.)
Next, have an interesting walk at Yu Garden, a typical ancient Chinese garden in Jiangnan area similar to the classical Suzhou Gardens! This garden boasts traditional design of Chinese architecture with jagged pavilions with elegant decorations, glittering pools with roving fish, and pine trees sprouting to the sky, all designed to refresh your spirit. Adjacent to the garden is the Yuyuan Bazaar where you can savor local snacks and explore exquisite traditional handicrafts and artworks.
Continue to the No.1 tallest building in China - Shanghai Tower in Pudong New District. Ascend to the 118th floor (546 meters) for a breathtaking panoramic view of Shanghai's downtown, the Huangpu River, and neighboring skyscrapers. Later, go to Nanjing Road, another landmark of Shanghai, a shopping paradise as well as a great place for a nice walk to feel the modern vibes of Shanghai. Finally, take a delight stroll along The Bund with a rich array of buildings of diverse architectural styles. Soak in the perfect fusion of Chinese and Western cultures while appreciating the stunning Shanghai skyline!
Optional activities: Take a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise to see the city’s most significant edifices and streets sparkling under the atmospheric cover of darkness (about 50 minutes).
The Bund - Best Place to See Shanghai Skyline
Shanghai Museum
Walk through the Zigzag Bridge of Yu Garden
Have Panoramic View on the Top of Shanghai Tower
The Bund - An Exhibition of International Buildings
Day 3 Shanghai - Yichang & Yangtze Cruise Embarkation (B, L)
Good morning! After breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel for an interesting visit to Shanghai's evolution at Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. Witness how a humble fishing village has transformed into a super modern metropolis. Engaging exhibits, including rare vintage photos of landmarks like the Bund, Nanjing Road, and Yu Garden from the international settlement era, coupled with interactive multimedia and intricate models, offer an entertaining and insightful experience. You won't miss the highlight - massive model showcasing Shanghai's detailed urban layout.
Next, go to Tianzifang which is a vibrant arts and crafts hub developed from a renovated traditional residential area. It is the typical place to appreciate the preserved Shikumen architecture and soak up the local lifestyle. You can leisurely stroll along the quaint alleys, observe Shanghai's daily routines, sip a drink at an outdoor café, and discover unique finds in trendy boutiques, blending international flair with authentic Shanghai culture.
After the visit, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport for your flight to Yichang. Upon arrival, you will be met at the arrival hall of Yichang airport and transferred to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. Then, take the arranged tourist bus arranged to Maoping Port for cruise embarkation (Travelers reaching Yichang by bullet train will take the arranged bus directly from Yichang East Railway Station to Maoping). Your once-in-lifetime Yangtze River cruise starts!
Tips for Cruise Boarding: 1) All the cruise companies will arrange free transfer service at Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal or Yichang East Railway Station during 16:00~21:00. You could choose either one to take the tourist bus to Maoping Port. 2) The boarding time and pier may change based on the ship line, water level, season, weather, etc. Please pay attention to the important info sent from your travel consultants before boarding.
Yichang Maoping Port for Embarkation & Disembarkation
See the Future of Shanghai in Urban Planning Exhibition Center
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
Tianzifang
Day 4 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.
Today, you will 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 dinner, take part in the Captain’s Welcome Party to make new friends and enjoy the hospitable welcome from the captain and all the cruise team. Enjoy your joyous party and have a sound sleep!
Optional Experience: 1) 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)
2) Tribe of Three Gorges: It is like a dreamland and extremely favored by foreign travelers. Get close to the particularly tranquil and primitive sightseeing of villages on water, on mountain and off brook with fine exploration of interesting folk custom of Tujia minority people. You won’t miss their wedding ceremony part. (with an extra fee)
Play Taichi in the Morning
World-famous Three Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam - 185 Observation Deck
Three Gorges Dam in Summer
Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift
Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift New Experience
Tribe of The Three Gorges
Day 5 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!
After dinner, you can either join in the cruise night shows for further happiness, have a relaxing drink or enjoy the river breeze quietly Good night!
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
White Emperor City
Shennv Stream with Primitive Gorge Scenery
Day 6 Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)
This morning, start your fresh day by a healthy Taichi practice on the Sun Deck or a cup of refreshing early bird coffee! Appreciate the rural sightseeing of the counties and countryside along the Yangtze River bank
You will go 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!)
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!
Yangtze River Cruise
Beautiful & Tranquil Yangtze River
Fengdu Ghost City
Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise Disembarkation & Chongqing Departure (B)
Welcome to Chongqing, the famous Mountain City in China! This morning, your ship will arrive at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port around 09:00. After breakfast, go through the check-out procedure and disembark. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will pick you up at the port and escort you to Chongqing Jiangbei Airport / train station to catch your flight / train to the next destination / home. Tour ends!
Departure Ideas: You can take a flight from Chongqing to Xian, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Lhasa, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Kunming, Lijiang, etc. Also, you can take a high speed train from Chongqing to Chengdu (1-1.5hrs), Guiyang (2hrs), Kaili (3hrs), Xian (5.5hrs), Changsha (5.5hrs), Kunming (5hrs), Zhangjiajie (6hrs), Tongren (Fanjingshan, 4hrs), etc. in China.
Chongqing, the Magic 8D Mountain City in China
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!
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- Have Panoramic View on the Top of Shanghai Tower
- The Bund - Best Place to See Shanghai Skyline
- Shanghai Museum
- Walk through the Zigzag Bridge of Yu Garden
- The Bund - An Exhibition of International Buildings
- Tianzifang
- Yichang Maoping Port for Embarkation & Disembarkation
- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
- See the Future of Shanghai in Urban Planning Exhibition Center
- Tribe of The Three Gorges
- Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift New Experience
- Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift
- Three Gorges Dam in Summer
- Three Gorges Dam - 185 Observation Deck
- Play Taichi in the Morning
- World-famous Three Gorges Dam
- White Emperor City
- Qutang Gorge
- Shennv Stream with Primitive Gorge Scenery
- Our Customer Visiting Magnificent Qutang Gorge
- Breathtaking Wu Gorge Scenery
- Yangtze River Cruise
- Beautiful & Tranquil Yangtze River
- Fengdu Ghost City
- Chongqing, the Magic 8D Mountain City in China
Recommended Add-on Options
+ 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.
+ 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.
+ 2 more days Chengdu Leisure Life Experience & Giant Panda Visit
Immerse yourself in the Land of Abundance and Hometown of Giant Pandas!
You’ll totally enjoy the ancient culture and slow pace of living when having close contact with the cute pandas in Chengdu Panda Base, sipping tea in the hundred-year-old teahouse in Renmin Park, seeking for Three Kingdom culture in Jinli Old Street, exploring Ancient Shu Civilization in Jinsha Site Museum...
+ 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.
+ 1~2 more days to 8-dimensional magic mountainous city - Chongqing
Conquered by the incredible mountain landform & UNESCO heritage treasures!
Famed as the "Little Hong Kong" for the splendid nightscape, it is also the cyber-popular 8D magic city with complicated mountainous urban structure and spicy hot pot! Diverse means of transport & spots will let you have distinct city panorama experience. Additionally, rich UNESCO heritage carvings, Karst landscapes, etc. will leave you a wonderful Chongqing!
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If you have some ideas or suggestions for this tour, please feel free to talk with our professional, experienced and enthusiastic travel consultants now.
They’ll help you modify the China Yangtze cruise tour and itinerary from time to time until you are totally satisfied.
Not easy to find the right cruise ship/itinerary for you? Please contact one of our Yangtze cruise specialists to save your time and money. Click the right button to send an online inquiry and we will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hours.
Karen
Wonder
Jack
Rita
Johnson
Vivien
Wing
Ariel
Tracy
Leo
Evelyn
April
Phoebe
Kelly
Shirley
Reya
Juliet
Elk
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Sean
