Yangtze Explorer


Yangtze Explorer (also called Yangzi Explorer) under Sanctuary Retreats is the most luxury, and the only super 5-star ship on the Yangtze River. Carrying only 124 passengers, it offers the finest and the most personalized one-on-one service (highest crew to passenger ratio on the river of 1:1) to ensure every level of comfort for an intimate cruising experience.
Good News 2023: 1) Except for the classic cruise itineraries (4 Days Chongqing to Yichang Cruise and 5 Days Yichang to Chongqing Cruise), it is also available to have a loop curise trip that allow travelers to enjoy a longer vacation. 2) In some schedules, travelers will appreciate the enchanting scenery of World UNESCO natural heritage site of Shennongjia, the world's only place to close up with wild golden monkeys, seek the tracks of wild men, and enjoy a cool holiday, etc.
Cruise Route:
- 3N & 4D Chongqing - Yichang Cruise
- 4N & 5D Yichang - Chongqing Cruise
- 7N & 8D Chongqing - Yichang - Chongqing (or Yichang - Chongqing - Yichang) Cruise

Yangtze Explorer Cruise Ship Itinerary in 2023

Map of Yangtze Explorer's Itinerary
Embarkation
- Highlights of Today
-
- Board the ship at Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing at 16:00-20:00;
- Have a drink at Explorer Bar and appreciate the stunning night view of Chongqing;
- Welcome safety briefing;
- Depart from Chongqing at around 21:30.
- Dining
- Buffet diner
Yangtze River Cruise
- Highlights of Today
-
- Shore excursion to:
Option A:
816 Nuclear Military Plant in Fuling (Included)
(It is the world largest artificial cave and the hidden mysterious unveiled structure of the real nuclear plant)
Option B:
816 Town in Fuling (Included)
(Transformed from the original 816 recreator engineering mechanical plant, it is an industry styled place with lots of memories about the military project era of China.)
- Enjoy night performance of Feng Yan San Guo Show in Zhongxian County (Included).
(It is the marvelous large-scale real landscape show about the brilliant historical culture of the Three Kingdoms Period about over 1,800 year ago and the spirit of loyalty of great military officer Guan Yu.)
- Shore excursion to:
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Learn to play Tai Chi in early morning;
- Band performance at the bar
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western Buffet); Lunch (A la carte); Dinner (Chinese & Western buffet); Morning tea & coffee
Yangtze River Cruise
- Highlights of Today
-
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included);
(Qutang Gorge is the shortest, most dramatic and magnificent gorge among the three gorges and lets you admire the view of Kuimen Gate printed on the 10 RMB Chinese Note.)
- Morning shore excursion to Dachang Ancient Town (included)
Built in the Western Jin Dynasty, it has a long history of over 1800 years. The ancient Ba Kingdom was located here according to archaeologists. There are delicate Huizhou Style buildings with gray tiles and white walls.
- Take a sightseeing boat via Lesser Three Gorges (included)
(Lesser Three Gorges is a resplendent pearl of Three Gorge where visitors can take a little boat to admire the majestic mountains, prosperous forests, beautiful riverview, and a more wonderful landscape for a returning to nature.)
- Afternoon shore excursion to Goddess Sky Road in Wushan County (Included):
(With an average altitude of about 1,200 meters, it is advantageous to overlook the belt-like emerald Yangtze and verdant flowery gorge mountains, especially for autumn and winter red leaves.)
- A Taste of China Farewell Dinner
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included);
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Learn to practice Tai Chi with onboard doctor in early morning;
- Band performance at the bar.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western Buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western buffet); Dinner (A la carte); Morning tea & coffee; Complimentary coffee, tea & pastries in the afternoon
Disembarkation
- Highlights of Today
-
- Ship disembarkation at Maoping Port at 08:30;
- Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam (Included);
(It is the world largest hydroelectric station and the biggest dam project in the whole China contributing a lot to the flood control, electricity generation, shipping, etc. and is the No.2 essence of a Yangtze River cruise trip.)
- Lunch at Juweng Pinwei Restaurant (or Fangweng Restaurant) in Yichang.
- Bus riding to Yichang downtown for leaving.
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Bus riding to Yichang Airport / train station for leaving.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Morning tea & coffee
Embarkation
- Highlights of Today
-
- Take the tourist bus arranged by Yangtze Explorer from Yichang airport / railway station to Maoping Port at 16:00-19:00;
- Have a drink at Explorer Bar and enjoy the peaceful night;
- Welcome safety briefing.
- Dining
- Buffet diner
Badong or Shennongjia Exploration
- Highlights of Today
-
(Valid most of the time in 2023)
- Shore excursion to Badong in Enshi (Included);
(Badong is a bright pearl inlaid on the Yangtze River as well as a gathering place of splendid mountains and rivers. You will 1) go to Wuyuan Cave – the heart of Three Gorges to enjoy a charming painting scroll with mountains, rivers, forests, springs and caves; 2) appreciate the amazing Karst landscape in Badong and imagine how the poets wrote a poetic masterpiece here ; 3) set off an adventure to explore the natural wonders along Yinhe River by canoe.)
- Sail through Wu Gorge (Included)
(Wu Gorge is deep and pretty with rising peaks, peculiar rocks, rolling cutting cliffs making a picturesque winding gallery boasting abundant natural wonders.);
- Shore excursion to Badong in Enshi (Included);
- Highlights of Today
-
(Valid if the cruise departs on April 23; May 21; June 11; July 9, 23; August 6, 27; September 17; October 15; November 5, 2023)
- Take a morning excursion to Shennongjia Nature Reserve (Included);
(The nature reserve is the UNESCO World Natural Heritage in Hubei Province, China. You will get up to the essence part of the reserve to explore its best natural wonders. You will 1) go to visit Large Dragon Pool (Da Long Tan ) Protection and Research Center of Golden Monkey, which is the world's unique place to close up to wild golden monkeys, and then visit Xiao Long Tan Wildlife Rescue Station; 2) enjoy the primeval forest and waterfalls and fresh air at Golden Monkey Mountain (Jin Hou Ling); 3) appreciate the natural subalpine scenery at Banbiyan where tracks of wild men were found; 4) Walk to Shennong Valley (Shen Nong Gu) that is also called Scenery Bealock (Feng Jing Ya) and reputed as “No. 1 Scenery in Shennongjia”.)
- Take a morning excursion to Shennongjia Nature Reserve (Included);
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Band performance at the bar
- Movie
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Lunch (Chinese dishes at Xiao Long Tan restaurant); Dinner (Chinese & Western buffet)
Fengjie
- Highlights of Today
-
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included).
(Qutang Gorge is the shortest, most dramatic and magnificent gorge among the three gorges and lets you admire the view of Kuimen Gate printed on the 10 RMB Chinese Note.);
- Morning shore excursion to:White Emperor City (Included);
(White Emperor City is the famous Chinese Ancient “Poem City” mentioned in about 1,400 Chinese poems. It tells the touching story of Liu Bei entrusting his son to his prime minister, Zhuge Liang and has the best location to admire Kuimen Gate of Qutang Gorge.)
- Afternoon shore excursion to Three Gorges Summit (Included)
(Three Gorges Summit is the highest peak of the famous Three Gorges area to catch the most beautiful gorge and winding river sightseeing.)
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included).
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Learn to play Tai Chi in early morning;
- Band performance at the bar
- Movie
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western buffet); Dinner (A la carte); Morning tea & coffee; Complimentary coffee, tea & pastries in the afternoon
Wanzhou
- Highlights of Today
-
- Shore excursion to Wanzhou Grand Waterfalls (Included).
(Covering an area of 9736.5 square meters, it is one of the largest group of waterfalls in Asia. On the clear days, you can see the beautiful rainbow. Luan Bridge is also a big highlight in the scenic area.)
- Shore Shore excursion to Chongqing Memorial for Three Gorges Migrants (included);
The only themed museum honoring the Three Gorges migrants in China. There is a large exhibition area housing around 270,000 cultural relics. From the museum, you will get agreat pnorama of the the Three Gorges Dam project, the feat of the migration, protection of the heritage sites, etc.;
-
Join Wanzhou Grilled Fish Class (included).
Wanzhou Grilled Fish is a famous dish featuring in fresh flavor and strong fragrance. Here you will learn the whole process of making Wanzhou Grilled Fish and rich ingredients.
Option A:
Option B:
- Shore excursion to Wanzhou Grand Waterfalls (Included).
- Entertainment Onboard
-
- Learn to play Tai Chi in early morning;
- Band performance at the bar.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western buffet); Dinner (A la carte); Morning tea & coffee; Complimentary coffee, tea & pastries in the afternoon
Disembarkation
- Highlights of Today
-
- Ship disembarkation at Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing at 09:00.
- Bus riding to Chongqing airport / railway station for departure.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western buffet); Morning tea & coffee
- Subject to Change:
Please note that all arrival and departure times, shore excursions and lectures are subject to change due to weather, river conditions and permission from the navigational authorities. The cruise company will arrange the same fabulous sightseeing if the prearranged sites cannot be visited in a particular case.
- Embarkation Tips:
(a) Please call the ship one day ahead or at least in the morning on the boarding day to have clear idea about which pier you are going to use; (b) It is better to arrive in Chongqing before 16:30 on the embarkation day; (c) There are 14 sub-pier of Chongqing Chaotianmen Port. As the car/taxi driver can only stop the car at the entrance of the port, you need to walk to your exact pier. Usually, it needs about 180 meters (about 3 minutes) to the nearest No.9 Dock, about 180-680 meters (about 3-8 minutes) to No.7, No.5, No.3 and No.1 Docks, and about 680-850 meters (about 8-10 minutes) to the No.2, No.4, No.6, No.8 and No.10 Docks from the east side, via the edge of the port to the west side; (d) The boarding time and departure piers may change based on the ship line, water level, season, weather and other factors. Please pay attention to the important info your travel consultants sent to you before your boarding.
- Disembarkation Tips:
Luggage Consigning for Chongqing - Yichang Disembarkation: For the national policy about the security of the Three Gorges Dam Project, no large luggage (exceeding 20cm*40cm*50cm or 5kg) is allowed to be taken into Three Gorges Dam scenic area. You could consign your luggage to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal and get the luggage consigning document from the cruise staff on the 4th cruising day morning and gather it after you are in Yichang downtown by showing that document. The service is offered by the cruise company and needs extra charge of 25RMB for each piece of luggage.
- Arranged Shore Excursion:
The ARRANGED shore excursions are included in your quotation, so you could visit the sites without extra charge. However, if you do not visit the sites, the fees of arranged shore excursion sites are not refunded. If you do not visit the shore excursions, you could stay on the ship to enjoy some leisure time. And for your safety, you are not allowed to leave your ship on your own.
- Optional Shore Excursions:
The OPTIONAL shore excursion needs extra charge. The optional sites will be visited depending on the number of travelers who want to go. You can visit if there are 30 or more people interested (the number of visitors may be adjusted based on the real situation). You have the final decision where to go or not on your own. If yes, tell the reception desk who would register for you and receive your pay in site.
- Physical Demands:
There are many stairs to climb up to Fengdu Ghost City and reach the top of Shibaozhai Pagoda / White Emperor City. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended to visit these sites.
- Chongqing / Yichang Local Transportation:
To know detailed transportation in Chongqing and Yichang, please head to How to Get to/Leave Yangtze Cruise Ports in Chongqing and Yichang.
- Dressing Code for Parties:
Travelers who attend the Captain's Welcome Reception, Yangtze Pirate Night Show should wear smart casual or formal.
- More Travel Guide & Support:
To know more details your life onboard, like cabins, dining, drinking, service, onboard activities and lectures, please head to Yangtze River Cruise Guide 2023. You’ll find everything here.
Schedule of Yangtze Explorer
- Jan.
- Feb.
- Mar.
- Apr.
- May.
- June.
- July.
- Aug.
- Sept.
- Oct.
- Nov.
- Dec.
- The above price range is based on a standard cabin for twin sharing.
- The prices are valid by Dec.31 of the year.
- Please enquire us of the exact price according to your nationality, cruising time and cruising route.
- The cruise prices for holidays such as National Holiday (the first week of October), Labor Day, Spring Festival, etc., are quoted upon request.
- Limited winter schedules may be adjusted into other dates, cruise ships, etc. based on the arrangement of the cruise company.
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