4D3N Yangtze River Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang by Century Cruise

The best part of this cruise is simple: you wake up to a new section of the Yangtze River each day, without packing and unpacking. The route passes Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges, then ends at the massive Three Gorges Dam. I like the included meals and cabin, and I like that luggage handling and three shore excursions take much of the work out of a complicated river journey. The main catch is that the exact excursions can change with the ship schedule.

You should also know that the $768 price is based on a standard twin-share cabin. A solo passenger pays a 75 percent supplement, and the CN¥200 cruise service charge for each passenger aged 12 or older is extra. This is a compact, organized cruise rather than a free-form trip, but the small maximum group size of 15 makes shore time easier to manage.

Key points at a glance

• Three gorges in one sailing: See Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges from the river rather than from a roadside viewpoint.
• Three Century ships: Departures are scheduled on Century Victory every Wednesday, Century Oasis every Saturday, and Century Glory every Sunday.
• Included shore visits: Fengdu Ghost City, the Badong stream excursion, and the Three Gorges Dam are planned, though the final three stops can change.
• Full-board basics: Three nights of accommodation, three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners are included.
• Downstream route: The ship leaves Chongqing at night and finishes near Yichang at Maoping Pier after the dam visit.
• Practical limits: The fare is for twin sharing, the boat schedule changes by year, and cancellation is not refundable.

What the four-day Yangtze cruise is really like

This cruise gives you a close look at the Three Gorges without asking you to arrange several separate hotels, transfers, tickets, and local guides. You board at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier, settle into your cabin, and let the ship carry you east toward Yichang.

I like this route for the rhythm. The first night is mainly about getting aboard. The second day brings a shore visit at Fengdu. The third is the scenic heart of the trip, with the ship passing through the gorges and a small-boat excursion from Badong. The final morning ends with the Three Gorges Dam.

That pace also creates the cruise’s main limitation. You do not control every stop. The operator states that three excursions are included, but the sites may be changed according to the boat’s schedule. You receive the final excursion plan before departure, so check it carefully rather than assuming every departure follows exactly the same program.

Boarding at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier

Boarding is scheduled from 6:30 pm to 9 pm at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier, with departure at about 9:30 pm. You are responsible for reaching the pier, since hotel or river-pier pickup and drop-off are not included.

The exact boarding place is supplied in both Chinese and English. That matters in Chongqing, where showing a written Chinese address to a taxi driver is often more useful than trying to explain a pier name aloud. Save the location on your phone and allow plenty of time to find the correct gangway.

The first evening is not packed with sightseeing. It is a practical start. You check in, hand over luggage for handling, find your cabin, and get ready for the days ahead. The ship’s captain’s welcome reception requires smart casual clothing, so pack one clean, presentable outfit rather than relying only on sightseeing clothes.

Your boat will be one of three Century ships:

• Century Victory, scheduled every Wednesday
• Century Oasis, scheduled every Saturday
• Century Glory, scheduled every Sunday

The schedule can change from year to year, so confirm the sailing date and ship before booking. If you want a suite rather than a standard cabin, ask about availability in advance.

Cabins, meals, and life on board

The advertised fare is based on a standard cabin for two people sharing. That is good value if you are traveling with a companion, since your price covers three nights of ship accommodation as well as most meals.

If you are traveling alone, do not assume the listed price buys a private cabin. A solo passenger pays a 75 percent supplement for exclusive use of a cabin, which normally has two beds. The supplied conditions also state that a solo passenger cannot share a cabin above the upper floor. Clarify the cabin arrangement before paying.

Meals included in the fare are:

• Three breakfasts
• Two lunches
• Three dinners

That full-board setup makes the $768 price easier to judge. You are paying for a moving hotel, meals, shore excursions, a bilingual Chinese and English service, and luggage handling. Optional excursions, the service charge, and any single-room supplement are outside the headline price.

The strongest praise belongs to the ship itself. The Century vessels are presented as Chinese five-star boats, and the ship’s appointments and cleanliness are a real part of the appeal. You can expect polished common areas and a crew that keeps the vessel in good order. The onboard team is described as friendly, with bilingual guidance available.

Do keep your expectations sensible. This is a structured cruise with set meals, set sailing times, and scheduled shore visits. You are not booking a private charter or a flexible sightseeing boat.

Day two at Fengdu Ghost City

After breakfast on the second day, you have an included shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City, usually lasting about two hours.

Fengdu is presented as a site with about 1,900 years of history and a strong connection to Chinese ideas about the afterlife. The name can sound like a theme park, but the value of the visit is cultural. You get a glimpse of traditional beliefs, symbols, and stories that are difficult to understand from a standard city tour.

The two-hour format is useful because it gives you a taste without taking the entire day. It also leaves time to enjoy the ship and watch the river. If you prefer long, slow visits with lots of independent wandering, this stop may feel brief.

The ship schedule controls the timing, so listen for announcements and return instructions. On a cruise, the boat will not wait indefinitely for someone who has wandered off on a side path.

Qutang Gorge, the river’s dramatic opening

On the third day, the ship enters Qutang Gorge, the first of the Three Gorges. It is the shortest of the three, but it is described as the grandest, and its narrow passage gives the river journey a sudden sense of scale.

This is a section where staying alert pays off. The scenery is viewed from the boat, so keep your camera and phone ready before the ship enters the gorge. A river cruise gives you a different perspective from a road tour because the cliffs rise directly from the water and the changing view unfolds at a steady pace.

The onboard guide can provide context in both Chinese and English, but you will also want quiet time on deck. The best way to experience this portion is to alternate between listening to the explanation and simply watching the river bend ahead.

The exact viewing conditions depend on the weather and the sailing schedule. The cruise gives you access to the route, not a promise of perfect visibility. Even so, Qutang is one of the clearest reasons to choose a downstream river trip instead of seeing the Three Gorges only as a short photo stop.

Wu Gorge and the third-day river views

After Qutang, the ship continues into Wu Gorge, known for its lofty mountains and narrow river setting. This section feels more extended and atmospheric than the compact passage through Qutang.

You will spend part of the day watching the scenery from the vessel, so this cruise suits you if you enjoy travel that leaves room for observation. Bring layers for the deck and keep a flexible attitude about where you will get the best view. The program does not promise a reserved private viewing area, and other passengers will naturally want a look at the cliffs too.

Wu Gorge is also a good point to remember that the cruise is not only about shore excursions. Some of the finest moments happen between ports, when the ship is moving and no formal activity is taking place. The included accommodation and meals mean you can treat these hours as part of the experience rather than as dead time.

The Badong stream excursion

Later on the third day, you disembark at Badong for an excursion described in the program as a trip to Shennong Stream, with the stop label also given as Shennv Stream. The included visit lasts about two hours and uses a small pea boat on the stream.

The appeal is the change of scale. The main cruise ship gives you broad river views, while the small boat brings you closer to the water and the surrounding scenery. The stream originates on the southern slope of Shennongjia, and the program describes the water as clear.

This is one of the more distinctive parts of the trip because you are not simply stepping off the ship for a standard city attraction. You get a short boat ride within the larger boat journey. It adds variety and lets you experience a narrower waterway.

The excursion name and exact arrangement should be checked against the final schedule you receive. The supplied program uses both Shennv Stream and Shennong Stream, and the operator warns that shore stops may change. That is not a reason to avoid the trip, but it is a reason to confirm the final plan before sailing.

Xiling Gorge and the approach to Yichang

The cruise continues through Xiling Gorge, the third major gorge on the route. By this point, you have seen the river shift from the compact drama of Qutang to the taller, more extended scenery of Wu and then the final gorge section before Yichang.

Xiling is closely tied to the modern story of the Yangtze because the route leads toward the Three Gorges Dam. The cruise therefore combines natural scenery with a major engineering project. That contrast gives the journey more substance than a sightseeing trip built only around mountain views.

The program does not give a separate timed shore stop for Xiling Gorge. You experience it primarily from the boat, so plan to spend time on deck and keep an eye on the daily announcements for viewing times and activities.

The Three Gorges Dam on the final morning

After an early breakfast on day four, you leave the ship at Maoping Pier in Zigui County, near Yichang. The included shore excursion takes you to the Three Gorges Dam Project, described as the world’s largest water power project.

This is a fitting final stop. You have spent several days following the Yangtze through the gorges, then finish by seeing the enormous project that reshaped the river and its surrounding region. The visit gives you a useful modern counterpoint to Fengdu’s old traditions and the quieter stream excursion.

The dam visit lasts about two hours. A golf cart is available for an additional CN¥10 per person, so carry a little Chinese currency or confirm the payment method with the guide. The cart is not included in the fare.

The cruise ends at Maoping Pier, not in central Yichang. That distinction matters when you plan your next hotel or train. The supplied end point is Maoping, Hubei, in Zigui County, Yichang, so check your onward transport carefully rather than assuming you will step off beside a city-center station.

Is $768 good value?

For a shared standard cabin, $768 is a reasonable package price if you want an organized Three Gorges trip. You receive three nights of accommodation, seven included meals, three excursions, bilingual onboard service, and luggage handling. You also avoid arranging separate hotels and several long transfers along the river.

The price is less attractive if you are a solo passenger. Adding 75 percent for a private cabin changes the total sharply, and the CN¥200 cruise service charge per passenger aged 12 or older is also extra. Optional excursions and the golf cart at the dam add small costs as well.

The best value comes when you use the ship fully. Eat the included meals, attend the included shore visits, spend time on deck, and treat the crossing itself as the main event. If you only want to reach Yichang quickly, a cruise may be more time and money than you need.

Who should book this cruise?

I would choose this trip if you want the Three Gorges with a clear plan and minimal hotel changes. It suits couples, families, and small groups who appreciate having meals, cabins, luggage handling, and shore visits arranged together.

It is also a good fit if you want a comfortable introduction to a major Chinese river route without trying to organize every pier and excursion independently. The bilingual onboard service is helpful, and the maximum group size of 15 keeps the shore portions relatively manageable.

I would hesitate if you need a fixed list of sightseeing stops. The three included excursions may change with the boat schedule. I would also think twice if you dislike early starts, organized meal times, or sharing a cabin.

Book only after checking the exact sailing date, assigned Century ship, final three excursions, cabin type, and end-point transport. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, so the details matter.

FAQ

Where does the Yangtze cruise start?

The cruise starts at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier. Boarding is scheduled from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, with departure at about 9:30 pm.

Where does the cruise finish?

The ship finishes at Maoping Pier in Zigui County, near Yichang, Hubei. Hotel or pier drop-off is not included.

Which Century ship will operate the cruise?

The scheduled ships are Century Victory on Wednesdays, Century Oasis on Saturdays, and Century Glory on Sundays. Boat schedules can vary by year, so confirm the ship for your date.

What meals are included?

The fare includes three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners during the three-night cruise.

Are the shore excursions included?

Three shore excursions are included. The planned visits include Fengdu Ghost City, a stream excursion from Badong, and the Three Gorges Dam, but the final sites can change according to the boat schedule.

Is a private cabin included for a solo passenger?

No. The listed price is based on twin sharing. A solo passenger who wants a cabin alone pays a 75 percent single-room supplement.

What extra charges should I expect?

The CN¥200 cruise service charge applies to each passenger aged 12 or older. The golf cart at the Three Gorges Dam costs CN¥10 per person, and optional excursions, pickup, drop-off, and any single-room supplement are extra.