6 Days Chengdu Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Tour

After breakfast, visit the world-famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, home to over 100 giant pandas. Walk through bamboo-lined paths to observe pandas of different ages feeding, playing, climbing trees, and resting in natural-style environments. Visit the nursery and panda kindergarten areas to see adorable cubs, and explore the Panda Museum to learn about panda conservation and scientific research.

Continue to Wenshu Temple, a peaceful Buddhist temple located in downtown Chengdu, known for its elegant architecture, incense-filled courtyards, and spiritual atmosphere. Nearby Wenshufang Bazaar offers local snacks, crafts, and cultural experiences.

Next, visit People’s Park, the best place to experience Chengdu’s relaxed lifestyle. Sit in a traditional teahouse, enjoy Chinese tea, and observe locals engaging in mahjong, dancing, ear cleaning, massage, and other leisure activities.

End the day at Jinli Ancient Street, a lively pedestrian street filled with Sichuan snacks, handicrafts, folk performances, and traditional-style architecture.

Optional evening activities:

• Sichuan hotpot dinner
• Sichuan Opera performance (face-changing, fire-spitting, traditional shows, 20:00–21:30)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the railway station for a high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (about 1–2 hours).

Upon arrival in Chongqing, meet your local guide and begin a full city exploration of the famous “Mountain City.”

Start with Three Gorges Museum, which houses more than 280,000 cultural relics showcasing the history of the Yangtze River, the formation of the Three Gorges, and Chongqing’s development from ancient times to a modern municipality. Continue to People’s Assembly Hall (Chongqing), a landmark known for its grand classical architecture and historical importance.

Next, experience one of Chongqing’s most iconic urban attractions by taking Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2 from Huanghuayuan to Liziba Station, where the monorail passes directly through a residential building built into the hillside—an engineering wonder unique to Chongqing.

Continue to Hongya Cave, a dramatic cliffside complex of layered wooden stilt houses rising along the riverbank. As evening approaches, the illuminated buildings create one of the most iconic night views in the city.

After sightseeing, proceed to Chaotianmen Port for boarding your Yangtze River cruise between 18:00–21:00, with departure scheduled at 21:00.

Optional activity (extra cost): Visit the Eye in the Clouds Observation Deck (520m) for a 360° panoramic view of Chongqing’s skyline, rivers, and bridges.

Important boarding notes:

• Chaotianmen Port has multiple piers; confirm exact boarding location in advance
• Follow guide instructions for smooth luggage handling and pier access
• Boarding arrangements may vary depending on cruise line, water level, and season

Wake up to the peaceful scenery of the Yangtze River aboard your cruise ship in Three Gorges. Enjoy a relaxing morning onboard with optional activities such as Tai Chi on the sundeck, coffee service, cultural lectures about the Yangtze River, or leisure entertainment programs.

Later, join a shore excursion to Fengdu County, located in the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir region. The most famous attraction here is Fengdu Ghost City, a unique cultural site filled with traditional mythology about the afterlife, statues of judges, demons, and symbolic underworld scenes reflecting ancient Chinese beliefs.

Optional experiences in Fengdu area may also include Mount Shuanggui, Jade Emperor Scenic Area, and local folk villages, depending on cruise arrangements.

In the late afternoon, the cruise continues to Zhongxian County, where some itineraries offer an optional large-scale outdoor performance such as the “Feng Yan San Guo Show,” presenting Three Kingdoms history through lights, music, and stage effects.

Important notes:

• Shore excursion schedules vary by cruise company and ship type
• Some attractions may be optional with additional fees
• Comfortable shoes are recommended due to walking and stairs at scenic sites
• Final itinerary is subject to river conditions and cruise operations

Overnight onboard the cruise ship.

Today you will experience the most iconic section of the Three Gorges, sailing through the spectacular Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, the most dramatic and scenic stretch of the Yangtze River.

Relax on the sun deck of your cruise ship and enjoy the ever-changing landscape of towering cliffs, steep mountains, and winding river channels. As the ship enters Qutang Gorge, the narrowest and most powerful section of the Three Gorges, you will witness dramatic rock formations and feel the strong river winds at Kui Gate, a famous landmark also featured on Chinese currency imagery.

Continue sailing into Wu Gorge, known for its deep valleys, misty peaks, and elegant natural scenery. This section is famous for its long, quiet canyons and legendary mountain beauty, often described as one of the most poetic landscapes along the Yangtze River.

Optional shore excursions (depending on cruise schedule) may include:

• White Emperor City (Fengjie) – a historic “Poetry City” mentioned in over 1,400 Chinese poems, associated with the story of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang
• Viewing platforms overlooking Qutang Gorge Kui Gate, one of the most photographed landscapes in the Three Gorges region
• Small boat excursions into side gorges such as Shennong Stream or Shennv Stream, featuring dramatic cliffs, hanging coffins, and pristine river valleys

In the evening, enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Party onboard, featuring entertainment, music, and cultural performances shared with fellow travelers.

Overnight onboard the cruise ship.

After breakfast, disembark at Maoping Port and begin your final shore excursion to the world-famous Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydropower project in the world.

At the dam site, learn about its engineering scale, historical background, and its role in flood control and energy production. Enjoy panoramic views of the massive structure and surrounding river landscape. Optional experience includes the Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift, one of the most advanced ship elevators in the world, offering a unique perspective of how vessels pass through the dam system.

After the visit, transfer by cruise-arranged bus to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. Upon arrival in Yichang, you may have time for an optional short visit to local attractions such as Yichang Museum depending on schedule.

Finally, transfer to Yichang Sanxia Airport or Yichang East Railway Station for your onward journey to destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and more. Service ends.