Yangtze River Cruise Routes, Itineraries & Lines 2024/2025

In the year of 2024/2025, we China Discovery offer the Yangtze River cruise sailing between Chongqing and Yichang, which is the best and golden section along the Yangtze River, both for Yangtze cruise new travellers and people visiting for the second or more time.

For travellers to enjoy the fantastic view of the Yangtze, highlights of the Three Gorges and other outstanding shore excursion attractions, there are:

• • 4 days & 3 nights Chongqing to Yichang Downstream Cruise
• • 5 days & 4 nights Yichang to Chongqing Upstream Cruise

Chosen by most Yangtze River cruise travellers and received good reviews and feedbacks about the sightseeing, enjoyment, cruise onboard experience and other aspects. And all Yangtze River cruise lines offer the Chongqing Yichang cruise routes and have been operating the cruises between Chongqing and Yichang for so many years. Now they all become professional, luxury, and reputable for your selection.

Also, in , we provide the new and special cruise between Shanghai and Wuhan for the enjoyment of the middle and lower reach of Yangtze River and the romantic charm of Jiangnan area in southeast China, which is only offered for Century Sky, an outstanding cruise ship of Century Cruises for your relaxing and luxury experience onboard. For your interests and needs, there are:

Note: in 2024, there are only Yangtze River cruises sailing between Chongqing and Yichang.

• • 4 days & 3 nights Nanjing Shanghai Downstream Cruises
• • 4 days & 3 nights Shanghai Nanjing Upstream Cruises

• • 7 days & 6 nights Wuhan Shanghai Downstream Cruises
• • 7 days & 6 nights Shanghai Wuhan Upstream Cruises

Besides, there are cruise routes between Chongqing and Shanghai also offered by Century Sky:

• • 11 days & 10 nights Chongqing Shanghai Downstream Cruise
• • 11 days & 10 nights Shanghai Chongqing Upstream Cruise

4-5 Days Chongqing Yichang Cruise Routes

Yangtze River Chongqing Yichang Cruise Route Map

4 Days & 3 Nights Chongqing to Yichang Downstream Cruise

The downstream cruise from Chongqing takes 3 nights and 4 days to give travellers an essence tour to the Yangtze River in China. In this cruise trip, traveller guests would get on the cruise ship at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port, and leave the ship at Maoping Port to visit the Three Gorges Dam Site, and take the arranged bus to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal to end the cruise tour.

On day 1, arrive in Chongqing, reach Chongqing Chaotianmen Port and get on your cruise ship after about 18:00 at the correct dock informed by your Travel Consultant. And ship would depart from Chongqing at around 21:00 at night.

On day 2, take shore excursion visits to the Shibaozhai Pagoda or Fengdu Ghost City. During this day, enjoy the multiple interesting cultural activities and lectures onboard the ship.

On day 3, sail through the Three Gorges, appreciate the magnificent and amazing sightseeing of the Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, and pay a visit to the famous White Emperor City or Shennv Stream to explore more culture and sceneries. Have fun with the night entertainment and shows.

On day 4, after the breakfast, there are two kinds of arrangements.

Arrangement A, take an optional experience of the Ship Lift and visit the great Three Gorges Dam Site to marvel at the unbelievable skills and wisdom of Chinese people. After the sightseeing, take the arranged bus to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. Cruise tour ends;

Arrangement B, Visit the Three Gorges Dam Site and take the arranged bus to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. Cruise tour ends

Recommended cruise lines

Victoria Cruises: the ONLY American-managed cruise company on the Yangtze River, with the best services onboard and nice prices.

Century Paragon & Century Legend : star Yangtze River cruises with reputed European-style management and services, 2024/2025 Newest and luxury Century Cruise ships.

President No.7 & President No.8 : top Largest and Newest Yangtze cruise ships of President Cruises in 2024/2025.

Yangtze Explorer: the most luxury cruise under Sanctuary Retreats with deluxe one-on-one service sailing on Yangtze River!

Besides, all Yangtze River cruise ships (except Century Sky) serve with such 3 nights and 4 days cruise route, you can find your favorite cruise to enjoy to the most.

Check the detailed itinerary of the 4 Days & 3 Nights Downstream Cruise from Chongqing to Yichang.

5 Days & 4 Nights Yichang to Chongqing Upstream Cruise

Since this upstream Yangtze River cruise from Yichang to Chongqing needs 5 days and 4 nights to enjoy, it is relatively with more relaxing pace, and it is a better choice for visitors who expect for a more leisure tour and who have a longer vacation. In this cruise tour, you gather at Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal / Yichang East Railway Station for the shuttle bus to Maoping Port for embarkation, and end the tour by leaving the cruise at Chaotianmen Port in Chongqing city.

On day 1, during about 16:00-21:00, gather at Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal or Yichang East Railway Station and take the arranged bus to Maoping Port to board the ship.

On day 2, sail through the Xiling Gorge, take a shore excursion to the Tribe of Three Gorges (usually as an optional shore excursion site), the world famous Three Gorges Dam site.

On day 3, sail through the Wu gorge and Qutang Gorge to appreciate the super primitive natural sightseeing, visit the Shennv Stream to enjoy the serene landscape and the White Emperor City to know more about profound Chinese culture and history.

On day 4, pay a visit to Shibaozhai Pagoda or Fengdu Ghost City. Have fun with the various activities and entertainments onboard. Enjoy a great time on the Captain’s Farewell Party at night.

On day 5, arrive in Chongqing Chaotianmen Port. After breakfast, leave the ship at about 09:00. Your cruise comes to a perfect end.

Recommended cruise line

All Century Cruises (except Century Sky), Victoria Cruises, President Cruises, Yangtze Gold Cruises, Changjiang Cruises and Yangtze Explorer have been offering the upstream Yichang to Chongqing cruises for many years. Choose your ideal ship to start the wonderful trip on the Yangtze River.

Check the detailed itinerary of the 5 Days & 4 Nights Upstream Cruise from Yichang to Chongqing.

Chongqing Yichang Yangtze River Cruise Route Comparison

Since the Yangtze River upstream and downstream cruise routes between Chongqing and Yichang are different, here at below are some major differences between the 5 days route and 4 days route to have a clearer comparison of each one when planning your own Yangtze River cruise tour in China.

11 Days Chongqing Shanghai Cruise Route

Yangtze River Chongqing Shanghai Cruise Route Map

Note: Chongqing Shanghai cruises are not available in the whole 2024!

Compared to the 4-5 days Chongqing Yichang cruise, the Chongqing Shanghai cruise is the most relaxing cruise route, with the whole journey covering 2,644 kilometers. For both upstream cruise from Shanghai and downstream from Chongqing, it needs 11 days and 10 nights to offer you a real laid-back sailing.

During this leisure cruise trip, you will not only visit the ordinary shore excursion sites in the Three Gorges area, but also enjoy the awesome city appearance of Shanghai and Chongqing municipalities, pay a visit to the notable Jingdezhen that is the City of Ceramics in China, Museum and picturesque lake in Wuhan city, famous cultural and historical sites in Nanjing, best preserved ancient city wall in Jingzhou city, national renowned Mount Jiuhua in Chizhou city, and so on, to enjoy more highlights of culture, history, sceneries, and folk charms along the Yangtze River.

If you got any questions or have already decided which route to choose, just tell our Travel Consultant who will help to customize your special Yangtze River tour sincerely!