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

The river does the sightseeing for you. This four-day, three-night Century Cruise links Chongqing with Yichang while carrying you through the Three Gorges, with meals, a bilingual guide, cabin accommodation, and three shore excursions included. I like the combination of comfortable shipboard travel and major Yangtze sights, especially Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge.

I also like that the cruise includes more than a view from the deck. You get time at Fengdu Ghost City, a small-boat outing on Shennv Stream, and a visit to the Three Gorges Dam. The main caution is that the exact excursions can change with the ship schedule, and the $768 price does not cover the cruise service charge, optional activities, or a private cabin.

Key Points Before You Book

• Three famous gorges in one downstream journey: The route passes Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge from the water, giving you a broad look at the Yangtze in a short trip.
• Three Century ships operate this route: Century Victory generally sails on Wednesdays, Century Oasis on Saturdays, and Century Glory on Sundays.
• The cabin price assumes twin sharing: Solo passengers may share a standard cabin with another person unless they pay a 75 percent single-room supplement.
• Your main excursions are included: Fengdu Ghost City, Shennv Stream, and the Three Gorges Dam are listed as included, though the final three stops can change.
• The cruise begins in the evening: Boarding at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier runs from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, with departure scheduled around 9:30 pm.
• The finish is at Maoping Pier: The cruise ends at Maoping in Zigui County, Yichang, after the Three Gorges Dam visit.

Why This Yangtze Cruise Works Well

A cruise is a practical way to see the Three Gorges because the scenery arrives at your cabin door. You do not spend four days packing and unpacking, changing hotels, or arranging separate transport between river towns. You settle into the ship and let the Yangtze set the pace.

The route is downstream, from Chongqing to Yichang. That direction matters less for comfort than for planning, but it gives the journey a clear ending at the Three Gorges Dam. You also get a good balance of quiet cruising and guided time ashore.

The ship is the heart of the experience. Century Cruises markets these vessels as Chinese 5-star ships, and the supplied rating of 4.5 from 11 ratings, with 91 percent recommending the experience, supports a generally strong impression. The most praised elements are the ship’s condition and the crew. The vessel is described as first class, immaculate, and well appointed, with friendly service.

That praise is useful because a river cruise can feel long if the boat is merely functional. Here, the ship itself is part of the holiday. You can watch the river from onboard areas, eat your included meals, and return to the same cabin after each excursion.

Still, keep expectations sensible. This is a group cruise, not a private river journey. The tour has a maximum of 15 people, and a professional Chinese and English guide is provided onboard. That small group limit should make organized shore time easier, but the ship itself may have more people beyond your tour group.

Boarding at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier

Your first task is getting to Chaotianmen Pier in Chongqing. The precise boarding place is supplied in Chinese and English after booking, and you arrange your own taxi to the pier. River piers can be confusing, so keep both versions of the address ready on your phone.

Boarding is scheduled between 6:30 pm and 9 pm. The ship departs Chongqing at about 9:30 pm, giving you a useful window rather than one exact minute to arrive. I would still aim for the earlier part of that window. A missed ship is a costly mistake, especially since the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed.

The first evening is intentionally simple. You board, settle into your cabin, and begin the trip after dark. There is no major sightseeing stop listed for the opening night, so this is a good time to organize your luggage, learn the ship layout, and prepare for the next day.

A Captain’s Welcome Reception is part of the onboard atmosphere, and smart casual clothing is required. You do not need formal evening wear, but beach clothes and flip-flops may feel out of place.

Fengdu Ghost City on Day Two

After breakfast, the first included shore excursion takes you to Fengdu Ghost City. The visit lasts about two hours and focuses on a site with roughly 1,900 years of history.

The name sounds dramatic, and the site has a strong connection to Chinese ideas about the afterlife, spirits, judgment, and the underworld. The value here is not just visual. It gives you a chance to encounter traditional beliefs that may be unfamiliar if your China trip has focused mainly on scenery and modern cities.

The excursion is also a gentle start to the shore program. You have spent your first night on the boat, and Fengdu provides a short, organized visit before you return to the river. The supplied schedule describes this day as relaxing, which fits the rhythm of a cruise.

Two hours is enough for an introduction, but not for an exhaustive visit. If you prefer long, independent exploration, a guided stop of this length may feel brief. The advantage is that you see a major cultural site without giving up much cruising time.

Back onboard, the river scenery becomes the main event. Keep your camera ready, but also give yourself time simply to watch the banks pass. The charm of this route is gradual. The ship turns the river into a moving viewpoint rather than rushing you from one landmark to another.

Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge From the Ship

Day Three is the scenic centerpiece. The ship enters Qutang Gorge, the first of the Three Gorges. It is the shortest of the three but is described as the grandest, with a narrow passage and imposing cliffs.

This is the stretch where an outdoor viewing area matters most. If your cabin has a window or balcony, you have a private place to watch, but public deck areas give you a wider view. Conditions and access can vary by ship, so listen to onboard announcements about the best viewing times.

The cruise then passes through Wu Gorge, known for lofty, misty-looking peaks and a more graceful, folded appearance. Qutang feels compact and powerful. Wu offers a longer procession of dramatic mountain forms. The change between the two is part of the pleasure.

Later comes Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges. The scenery here completes the main natural story of the cruise before the ship reaches the area around the dam. You are not visiting three isolated viewpoints. You are moving through the entire sequence by water, which gives the gorges a sense of scale that a short roadside stop cannot match.

The schedule does not assign a separate shore visit to each gorge. That is important. You experience Qutang, Wu, and Xiling mainly from the cruise ship, while your organized excursions focus on cultural sites and the river tributary.

Shennv Stream and the Small-Boat Excursion

After the gorge passage, you disembark at Badong for the Shennv Stream outing. The description also connects the stream to the south slope of Shennongjia and includes a small pea boat ride along the clear water.

This is a welcome change from the large cruise ship. The smaller boat brings you closer to the water and gives the excursion a quieter scale. You are no longer watching the river from a high deck. You are moving along a narrower stream with the surrounding scenery closer at hand.

The excursion is listed at about two hours and includes admission. That makes it one of the most distinctive parts of the trip, since it adds a more intimate water experience to the broad views from the main ship.

The name deserves a quick note. The itinerary labels the stop Shennv Stream, while the description refers to Shennong Stream and Shennongjia. Since the operator warns that schedules can change, check the final excursion list before departure so you know exactly which stop is planned for your sailing.

The Three Gorges Dam at Maoping

The final morning begins with an early breakfast. You disembark at Maoping Pier in Yichang and join the included excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Project.

This is a very different sight from the gorges. The mountains and river views give way to a huge piece of modern infrastructure. The dam is presented as the largest water power project in the world, and the visit helps explain why the Yangtze has been reshaped on such a grand scale.

The stop is scheduled for about two hours. A golf car is available for an extra CNY 10 per person, but that cost is not included. The small fee is easy to overlook, so carry some local currency or be ready to pay as directed.

The dam is not an ancient monument or a natural viewpoint. Its appeal is scale, engineering, and the chance to see a major project tied to the river you have just traveled. Some people will find it fascinating. Others may prefer the gorges and the smaller stream excursion. I would treat it as a useful final chapter rather than the emotional high point of the cruise.

The tour ends at Maoping, in Zigui County, Yichang. This is not central Yichang city, so plan your onward transport with the end pier in mind. Hotel drop-off and pier transfer are not included.

Cabins, Meals, and Life Onboard

The listed $768 price is based on a standard cabin with two people sharing. The included package covers three nights of cruise accommodation, three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners.

For two people, that is a fair amount of coverage for a four-day route. You are paying for a moving hotel, major gorge scenery, organized shore visits, bilingual onboard guidance, luggage handling, and most meals. The value is strongest if you want a structured trip with little daily planning.

Solo pricing needs careful attention. The standard rate does not guarantee a private room. You may share with another person, while a single cabin costs 75 percent more. A solo passenger cannot share a cabin above the upper floor, according to the conditions provided. If you want a suite, you must ask the operator to check availability before booking.

The cruise service charge is another required extra: CNY 200 per adult aged 12 and older. Optional excursions, transfers, and the single-room supplement are also outside the base price. Add these costs before comparing the cruise with a shorter or less expensive boat trip.

Luggage handling is included, which is helpful when boarding and leaving at a pier. You still need to keep personal items, medication, documents, and valuables with you rather than placing everything into handled luggage.

Which Sailing Fits Your Schedule

The ship depends on the departure day:

• Century Victory generally operates every Wednesday.
• Century Oasis generally operates every Saturday.
• Century Glory generally operates every Sunday.

The operator notes that ship schedules vary by year. Do not assume the same vessel will run on the same date next year. Confirm availability and the final ship assignment before making other fixed arrangements.

The final three excursions can also change according to the boat schedule. Fengdu, Shennv Stream, and the Three Gorges Dam are the listed program, but the operator promises to send the final three excursions before the cruise. That flexibility is normal on a river route, where water levels, timing, and ship movements can affect the day.

Who Should Choose This Cruise

I would recommend this experience to you if you want the Three Gorges without handling several hotel changes. It suits first-time visitors to the Yangtze, couples who like comfortable organized travel, and people who want both natural scenery and major cultural or engineering sights.

It is also a good choice if you value a polished ship. The strongest praise is directed at the vessel, its clean condition, its appointments, and its friendly crew. That makes the cruise itself a key reason to book, not just a way to reach the excursions.

You may want another arrangement if you need a completely private cabin at the lowest price, dislike fixed schedules, or want long independent visits at every stop. The cruise gives you an efficient overview, but the excursions are short and organized.

The tour is described as suitable for most people, with a maximum group size of 15. No special accessibility details are provided, so anyone needing specific assistance should confirm arrangements before paying.

Should You Book the Century Yangtze Cruise?

Book it if you want a comfortable, guided introduction to the Three Gorges and appreciate having meals, luggage handling, and shore visits arranged in one package. The combination of Qutang, Wu, and Xiling Gorges, Fengdu Ghost City, Shennv Stream, and the Three Gorges Dam gives you a broad four-day picture of the river.

Before you commit, confirm the ship, final excursions, cabin arrangement, service charge, and end-of-cruise transport. If you are traveling alone, calculate the 75 percent single supplement carefully. For two people sharing a standard cabin, the $768 price offers a strong mix of comfort, scenery, and included touring, provided you are happy with a set schedule.

FAQ

How long is the Yangtze River cruise?

The cruise lasts four days and three nights.

Where does the cruise begin?

It begins at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier.

What time is boarding in Chongqing?

Boarding is scheduled from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, with departure at about 9:30 pm.

Where does the cruise end?

The cruise ends at Maoping Pier in Zigui County, Yichang, Hubei.

Which Three Gorges does the cruise pass?

The route passes Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge.

Which excursions are included?

The listed included excursions are Fengdu Ghost City, Shennv Stream, and the Three Gorges Dam Project.

Can the included excursions change?

Yes. The operator states that the final three excursions can change according to the boat schedule and will be confirmed before the tour.

What meals are included?

The package includes three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners.

Is a private cabin included for a solo passenger?

No. The listed price is based on twin sharing. A solo passenger may share a standard cabin or pay a 75 percent single-room supplement for private use.

Which Century ship will operate the cruise?

Century Victory generally sails on Wednesdays, Century Oasis on Saturdays, and Century Glory on Sundays. Ship schedules can vary by year, so confirm the vessel before booking.