Chongqing to Yichang: 3-Night Luxury CENTURY GLORY Yangtze River Cruise Tour

The most memorable part of this trip is the way the Yangtze scenery unfolds slowly from a comfortable ship. You board at Chongqing’s Chaotianmen Dock, sleep on the river, and reach the Three Gorges Dam by the fourth morning. It is a restful way to see several major sights without changing hotels each night.

I like the spacious sunshine deck and the included shore visit to Shibaozhai. I also like having a choice on two mornings: pay extra for Fengdu Ghost City and White Emperor City, or stay aboard for Tai Chi and ship activities. The main drawback is that the advertised price is listed as $0, so you must confirm the actual fare before booking, and several costs are not included.

Key points at a glance

• A modern 2019 ship: Century Glory carries up to 650 passengers and offers WiFi, a large sunshine deck, and deluxe standard cabins.
• Three major river stops: The included program covers Shibaozhai, Shennv Stream, and the Three Gorges Dam.
• Two optional excursions: Fengdu Ghost City and White Emperor City require an extra payment.
• A late evening start: Boarding runs from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing.
• A practical meal plan: Three breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners are included. Dinner on the first night is not.
• A Yichang finish: You leave the ship at Maoping Pier, then visit the Three Gorges Dam before the tour ends.

What the Century Glory Yangtze cruise is really like

This is a short, four-day river journey built around comfort and scenery rather than nonstop sightseeing. The Century Glory began sailing in 2019 and is promoted as one of the newest luxury ships on the Yangtze. Its capacity is about 650 people, so this is a large vessel, not a small private boat.

That size brings useful comforts. You get a 1,000-square-meter sunshine deck, onboard WiFi, a double-deck restaurant, cultural activities, and a night show. You can spend time outside watching the river, then return to an air-conditioned indoor area when the weather turns hot or wet.

Your cabin is a deluxe standard room on the second floor. The supplied information does not promise a balcony for every room, but one booking description specifically praises a spacious balcony cabin and a large shower. If a balcony matters to you, confirm the cabin category before paying. The ship has different room types, and the standard room may not include every feature shown in promotional photographs.

The ship is marketed as quiet and comfortable, with a high level of onboard technology. WiFi is available around the clock, though river coverage can vary. Treat it as a useful connection for basic messages rather than a reason to plan heavy internet use.

Boarding at Chaotianmen Dock after dark

Boarding takes place at Chongqing’s Chaotianmen Dock between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. The location is on Chang Jiang Bin Jiang Road in Chongqing’s Yuzhong District. You should arrive with enough time to find the correct pier, complete check-in, and settle into your cabin before the safety briefing.

The ship holds a safety briefing from 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. Departure is scheduled for about 9:30 p.m. A captain’s welcome reception follows, but dinner is not included that night. Plan to eat before boarding or carry suitable food with you, since the included meal schedule begins later.

There is also a service charge of 200 RMB per person, payable when you board. That fee is separate from the tour price. Airport or hotel transfers in Chongqing and Yichang are also your responsibility, so you will need to arrange your own ride to Chaotianmen Dock and from Maoping Pier.

A small but useful detail: the booking information says the activity has a maximum of 15 participants. That likely refers to the organized tour arrangement rather than the total number of people on the ship, which can hold about 650 passengers. Ask for clarification if you want a small group throughout the cruise.

Day two: Fengdu Ghost City or a slower morning aboard

The first full morning begins with Tai Chi. That gives you an easy way to wake up without rushing straight into a bus excursion. After breakfast, you can choose the optional trip to Fengdu Ghost City, scheduled from about 8:00 to 10:30 a.m., or remain aboard for ship activities.

Fengdu is linked to Chinese ideas about the afterlife, moral judgment, demons, and gods. Its temples and statues reflect a blend of Buddhist and Taoist traditions. The site is known for its dramatic religious imagery, so it offers something quite different from a scenic river stop.

The practical question is whether the extra excursion suits you. If you enjoy folklore, temple architecture, and unusual cultural sites, Fengdu adds a strong local character to the cruise. If you prefer quiet mornings, the onboard option may be better. A short cruise can feel rushed when every optional stop is added, and the ship itself gives you a pleasant place to watch the river.

After lunch, the ship reaches Shibaozhai in Zhong County. This excursion is included and runs for about two and a half hours. The main sight is a striking pagoda built against a sheer rectangular cliff on the south bank of the Yangtze.

Shibaozhai is the kind of stop that makes a river cruise worthwhile. The building seems to climb the rock face, and the approach gives you a clear sense of how closely local architecture can fit its setting. You do not need a full day here. The scheduled visit is long enough to see the structure and take in the setting without turning the stop into a tiring expedition.

Wear shoes suitable for walking and bring water. The supplied information does not give a detailed accessibility plan, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask about steps and the walking route before booking.

Day three: White Emperor City and the narrow Shennv Stream

The third morning offers another choice. From 8:00 to 10:30 a.m., you can pay extra for White Emperor City, also known as Baidi City, or stay on the ship.

White Emperor City sits on Baidi Hill near Fengjie. The area is closely tied to Chinese poetry, and Fengjie is sometimes called Poem City because celebrated poets wrote about the Yangtze here. The site includes temples and gates spread across the hill.

This is a good optional stop for anyone who enjoys poetry, old religious buildings, and views from an elevated position. It may be less satisfying if you want a simple, relaxed cruise with fewer scheduled walks. Since the excursion costs extra, check the price and walking requirements before choosing it.

In the afternoon, the included Shennv Stream excursion runs from about 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Shennv means Beauty, and the stream is known for its narrow, shallow, fast-moving water. The route is about 15 kilometers long, including a 10-kilometer section described as an untouched valley.

Water storage connected with the Three Gorges project changed the river system, but the excursion still focuses on a more intimate side of the region. Instead of viewing the broad Yangtze from the main ship, you move into a tighter canyon area with native communities and steep rock walls.

This is likely the most varied excursion of the cruise. The main river gives you distance and scale. Shennv Stream gives you a closer look at the waterways and smaller settlements around them. Weather and water conditions can affect the exact experience, so keep your schedule flexible.

Day four: the Three Gorges Dam before Yichang

After breakfast on the final morning, you leave the ship at Maoping Pier in Zigui County, Yichang. From there, the shore visit continues to the Three Gorges Dam site. The dam excursion is included and lasts about three hours.

The Three Gorges region is formed by Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. Together, these gorges make up the most scenic section of the cruise route. You will see the river as both a natural corridor and a major engineering project.

The dam is not just a viewpoint. It helps you understand the scale of the changes made to the Yangtze, including the raised water levels that affect the river’s valleys and side streams. The visit gives the cruise a strong final chapter, moving from cliffs, temples, and narrow waterways to one of the world’s best-known water projects.

Your cruise ends at Maoping Pier, not in central Yichang. That matters when arranging your onward transport. The tour information does not include a transfer to your hotel, airport, or railway station, so plan that final connection in advance.

Food, cabins, and life between shore stops

The package includes three breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. Since the first-night dinner is not included, the actual meal pattern makes sense once you view it by day: breakfast and later meals are covered during the cruise, but the late Chongqing boarding does not come with a welcome dinner.

A captain’s reception, a night show, and Chinese cultural activities are included. These give you something to do after the excursions, though the exact program is not described. You can also use the sunshine deck for the simplest activity of all, watching the river pass by.

The double-deck restaurant is one of the ship’s notable design features. A restaurant spread over two levels should give the dining area a more open feel than a standard compact dining room. One booking description praised the meals and said drinks were included, but the official inclusions do not confirm a drinks package. Ask exactly which drinks are covered before assuming everything at the table is included.

Cabin comfort appears to be a major strength. Descriptions highlight stylish rooms, spacious balconies in some cabins, and bathrooms with large showers. Still, your booking covers one deluxe standard cabin bed on the second floor, usually in a two-berth room. A single-room supplement applies if you want to occupy the cabin alone.

What the price includes, and what it does not

The listed price is $0.00, which is not a usable indication of the real cost. Treat it as a placeholder or a price requiring confirmation. Before booking, ask for the full amount, the cabin category, the service charge, and the cost of the optional excursions.

The value can be good if the final fare includes the cabin, listed meals, entrance fees, onboard entertainment, WiFi, and the three included shore visits. Hotel changes are avoided, and the route connects Chongqing with the Three Gorges Dam in a compact schedule.

Extra charges can add up. You pay separately for:

• The 200 RMB per-person service charge
• Transfers to Chaotianmen Dock and from Maoping Pier
• Drinks and personal spending, unless specifically included
• Laundry
• Fengdu Ghost City
• White Emperor City
• A single-room supplement

The two optional excursions deserve special attention. Their absence from the base package keeps the itinerary flexible, but you should compare the total price with and without them. You may prefer to save the money and enjoy the ship, especially since both optional visits take place during the morning and could make the trip feel busy.

Who will get the most from this cruise

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a comfortable introduction to the Yangtze without arranging several separate hotels, trains, guides, and entrance tickets. It works well for couples, families, and older passengers who like a fixed schedule with time to rest between stops.

Families may appreciate the range of cabin styles. One room was arranged with a Hello Kitty theme for a child, showing that family-oriented cabin options may be available. Confirm the exact room type before booking rather than assuming every family cabin has themed decoration.

The cruise also suits first-time visitors to the Three Gorges area. You receive a clear route, included excursions, cultural programs, and a ship with modern facilities. Staff service was described as attentive, and Dandan was singled out for making one family’s stay feel especially welcoming.

I would hesitate if you want complete independence, long stays at each sight, or a small boat with few passengers. Century Glory is a large ship, and the schedule is fixed. Fengdu and White Emperor City cost extra, and a four-day cruise cannot provide a deep visit to every stop.

Practical tips before you book

Confirm the real price first. The $0 listing needs clarification, and the service charge is payable at boarding.

Ask whether your cabin includes a balcony. Some cabin descriptions highlight balconies, but the package specifically promises a deluxe standard cabin rather than a named balcony category.

Plan food for the first evening. The welcome reception does not include dinner, and boarding can run as late as 9:00 p.m.

Arrange both transfers. You are responsible for reaching Chaotianmen Dock and leaving Maoping Pier after the dam visit.

Pack for changing weather and walking. The schedule includes piers, temples, cliffside buildings, and river excursions. Comfortable shoes and light rain protection are sensible choices.

Keep your cancellation date in mind. This booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If poor weather forces the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund, but a personal change of plans does not qualify.

Should you book the Century Glory?

Book it if you value comfort, organized sightseeing, and a clear route from Chongqing to Yichang. The strongest reasons are the modern ship, the large outdoor deck, the included Shibaozhai and Shennv Stream visits, and the Three Gorges Dam finale.

Think twice if you dislike large ships or extra charges. The true cost is not shown by the $0 listing, and the two most culture-focused morning stops are optional. Get the full fare and cabin details in writing, then compare the package with and without Fengdu Ghost City and White Emperor City.

For the right passenger, this is an efficient Yangtze introduction: sleep on the river, wake up to new scenery, and let the ship handle the route while you focus on the gorges.

FAQ

Where does the cruise begin?

The cruise begins at Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing. Boarding is scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Where does the cruise end?

You disembark at Maoping Pier in Yichang, in Zigui County, Hubei. The Three Gorges Dam visit follows the disembarkation.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts about four days and includes three nights aboard the Century Glory.

Are Fengdu Ghost City and White Emperor City included?

No. Both are optional shore excursions and require an additional payment. You can choose onboard activities instead.

Which meals are included?

The package includes three breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. Dinner on the first night is not included.

Is WiFi available on the ship?

Yes. WiFi is listed as available onboard around the clock.

Is transportation to and from the cruise included?

No. Transfers between your airport or hotel and the cruise terminal are not included. You are also responsible for transport after leaving the ship at Maoping Pier.