Highlights along the Yangtze - ports of call

Chongqing: located in the southern part of the Sichuan Basin, where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet, is the largest industrial and commercial city in southwest China and the economic center of the upper reach of the Yangtze. It is a metropolis under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government. Called Yu for short, Chongqing was established some 3,000 years ago. It is also known as a city of mountains, rivers, and fog.


Fengdu: is usually arranged as the first shore excursion while on a Yangtze Cruise if one chooses the down stream cruise. Having a history of nearly 2,000 years, Fengdu County has formed a special culture of ghosts and the afterlife. Well known as the resting place of the spirit of the dead, Fengdu is now the most characteristic and reputed historic and cultural town in China.


Shibaozhai: is a gem of Chinese architecture. A red wood pavilion 12-story high was built against a protruding 220-meter rectangular rock with sheer cliffs on the north bank. People can climb up to the top by a spiral staircase in the pavilion.




White Emperor City: stands on the north bank, just above the western entrance to Qutang Gorge. Liu Bei, the king of Shu during Three Kingdom period (AD220-65), died of despair after he was defeated by the armies of Wu. On his deathbed, Liu Bei entrusted his sons to the case of his prime minster, Zhuge Liang, entreating him to educate them in wisdom and to choose the most talented one to succeed him as king. This legend makes White Emperor City famous.

Shennong Stream: starts at Mt. Shengnong Jia in Hubei Province north of the Yangtze. It comprises of Parrot Gorge and Dragon Boat Gorge. Sailing through the treacherous gorges with lush pine and translucent water and explore Bamboo Gorge, the virgin tributary of Shennong, visitors can see spectacular sights like cave coffins, aqueous caves, rare animals like mandarin ducks. It is also perfect to experience the culture of Tujia nationality.


Daning River and Less Three Gorges: Daning River is a tributary of Yangtze River at Three Gorges area. The river winds its way 33 kilometers (20 miles) through the beautiful Lesser Gorges; birds singing and monkeys chattering can sometimes be seen from both banks. The water is strikingly clear in contrast to the muddy, turgid waters of the Yangtze. The first is Dragon Gate Gorge. In this gorge, the river ranges from only ten to thirty meters wide while the cliffs on either bank soar to an average of 800 to 1000 meters. Two rows of square holes extending the entire length of the gorges are all that remain of ancient plank walkway. The walkway allowed easier access to salt mines far up the river. Each gorge is separated by lush terraced fields where a variety of crops grow during all four seasons of the year. In the Misty Gorge, a 2,000-year-old "hanging" coffin can be seen suspended on a precipice high up on the cliff-face.The Emerald Green Gorge, the farthest from Wushan, is covered with lush bamboo grooves and foliage. The return trip downstream to Wushan is usually made in less than half the time required for the upstream boat ride.

Yichang: lies at the eastern exit of Xiling Gorge in west Hubei, a communication gullet of Sichuan and Hubei, it is known as the "Gateway of the Three Gorges". The first ever Gezhouba Water conservancy Project of Yangtze River was completed in Yichang and the world renowned Three Gorges Dam Project is under construction 30km upstream.



Wuhan: was the only city on the Yangtze River that can truly be said to lie on both sides of the river. It is one of the most populous cities in China with a population of more than 7.3 million. Its strategic location makes it a major junction of transportation and communications in central China, the city has long been referred as "the Thoroughfare to Nine Provinces".

The city has a history of 3500 years and once was the center of "Chu" culture, left behind itself a lot of historical and cultural relics. Numerous natural and historical attractions are scattered around. Yellow Crane Tower, Guiyuan Temple, East Lake, Yangtze River Bridge, Hubei Provincial Museum, and Ancient Music Pavilion among those where the visitors want to go.

Nanjing: "Southern Capital" - is located on the Southern bank in the lower reaches of the Great Yangtze River and is the capital of Jiangsu province. A walled town was built during the Eastern Han period (25-220 AD) known as "Stone City". Nanjing was thought to be propitious as well as strategically important. Eight dynasties established their capitals in the city between the third and fourteenth centuries. In the sixth century, the Sui Dynasty established its capital at Xlan and ordered the complete destruction of early dynastic building in Nanjing. The city flourished again during the Tang Dynasty when the great poets Li Bai, Bei Ju Yi, Liu Yu XI lived here for a while. The founder of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuan Zhang set up his capital here, building palaces, temples, and pagodas. He enlarged the city wall to make it the longest city wall in the world. Top tourist attractions in Nanjing include Dr. Sun Yat Sen's Mausoleum, the Ming Tomb, the Confucius Temple and the Qinhuai River in the city.

Shanghai: Shanghai China, a municipality directly under the Central Government, is one of the largest commercial city and economic center of China. It's a coastal opening city as well as a famous historic and cultural one. Situated 31.4 degrees north latitude and 121.29 degrees east longitude, Shanghai lies in the middle of China's mainland coastline, and Yangtze River's entrance to the sea. Covering an area of 6,341 square km. and with a population of more than 13.5 million, it is the largest city in China and one of the five super cities of the world. Shanghai is also one of ten world's largest seaports.  The Pudong Development Area in Shanghai is a newly-booming economic zone in China. The level of the new area's industry, commerce, finance, trade, post and telecommunications stands at the forefront in China. More than 130 buildings there are higher than a hundred meters.

Must-see sights in Shanghai: the Yu Garden (Yu Yuan), Shanghai's Ancient City Areas, the Bund (Waitan), Jade Buddha Temple, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Museum, Oriental TV Tower and the water town Zhujiajiao.