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

The best part of this cruise is the slow passage through China’s Three Gorges, where the river itself becomes the main attraction. You sail downstream from Chongqing through Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge, with time for shore trips instead of racing from one sight to the next. I especially like the included meals and three-night cabin, since they remove much of the daily planning. I also like the small maximum group size of 15, which should make shore visits easier to manage.

The main thing to watch is the schedule. The three included excursions can change with the ship’s operating plan, and the exact boat depends on your departure day. The price is based on a twin-sharing standard cabin, so solo travelers should budget for a 75 percent single supplement.

Key points to know before booking

• Three Gorges sailing: You pass through Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges during the scenic middle portion of the cruise.
• Three included shore trips: The planned visits are Fengdu Ghost City, Shennv Stream, and the Three Gorges Dam, although the final selection can change.
• Three Century ships: Wednesday departures use Century Victory, Saturdays use Century Oasis, and Sundays use Century Glory.
• Meals and cabin included: The package covers three breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners, and three nights aboard ship.
• Small group arrangement: The maximum group size is 15, with a Chinese and English-speaking guide on board.
• Solo pricing matters: The listed price assumes two people sharing a standard cabin, while a private cabin costs 75 percent more.

Why a Chongqing to Yichang cruise works so well

This four-day, three-night route gives you a practical way to see the Yangtze without arranging several hotels, long road transfers, and separate sightseeing tickets. You board in Chongqing and finish at Maoping pier in Yichang, with the ship doing the hard work between stops.

I like the downstream direction. The route begins in a major Chinese city, then gradually shifts toward river scenery, historic sites, and large-scale engineering. You are not simply sitting in a cabin for four days. The cruise mixes quiet time on deck with guided visits ashore.

The Century ships used for this departure are Century Oasis, Century Victory, and Century Glory. They are described as Chinese five-star cruise ships, and the main experience is designed around a comfortable cabin, dining on board, luggage handling, and guided excursions. A captain’s welcome reception is part of the ship experience, so bring smart casual clothing if you want to attend.

The quoted price is $768 per person. That is not a cheap sightseeing transfer, but it covers three nights of accommodation, seven listed meals, a bilingual guide, luggage handling, and three shore excursions. You are paying for the cruise setting as much as for transport. The value is strongest if you want a settled base and a guided introduction to the Yangtze rather than an independent trip pieced together stop by stop.

Boarding at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier

Your cruise begins at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier. Boarding takes place from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, with departure scheduled for about 9:30 pm.

You will receive the precise boarding location in Chinese and English after booking. That detail matters because you must make your own way to the pier. Hotel pickup and pier transfer are not included, so plan on using a taxi and allow enough time to find the correct entrance.

The first evening is more about getting settled than sightseeing. Once aboard, you can find your cabin, hand over luggage through the included handling service, and learn the ship’s routine. Since the boat leaves late, avoid arriving at the pier at the last minute. Chongqing is a large city, and a small delay can become a serious problem when you are working around a fixed sailing time.

The twin-sharing cabin price is based on two people in a standard room. If you are alone, you may be paired with another person unless you pay the single supplement. A private cabin costs 75 percent more, and the information provided says solo passengers cannot share a cabin above the upper floor. Ask about this before paying if cabin location or privacy is important to you.

Day two at Fengdu Ghost City

After breakfast, the ship arranges a shore visit to Fengdu Ghost City. The excursion lasts about two hours and is included in the package.

Fengdu is presented as a 1,900-year-old site connected with Chinese ideas about the afterlife. That gives the stop a very different character from the river views. You are not just looking at buildings or taking photographs. The visit introduces traditional beliefs about judgment, spirits, morality, and the journey after death.

The two-hour duration keeps the stop manageable. You can see the principal sights without giving up the whole day. I would treat this as a cultural introduction rather than a complete study of the site. The guide will be useful here, since the meaning of the statues, halls, and symbols is not always obvious if you walk through on your own.

The rest of the day is described as relaxed. That is a benefit of cruising, especially after boarding late on the first evening. You can return to the ship, eat, rest, and watch the river change from the deck. If you prefer a packed schedule with constant activity, this may feel slow. If you like having time to enjoy the ship, it is a sensible pace.

Day three enters the Three Gorges

The third day is the scenic heart of the cruise. The ship enters Qutang Gorge first, then continues through Wu Gorge and later toward Xiling Gorge.

Qutang Gorge is the shortest of the three, but it is described as the grandest. Its compact passage gives the river scenery a concentrated feel. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole passage looking at a screen. The point of this section is to watch the river narrow and the cliffs close around the ship.

Wu Gorge follows, known for its lofty scenery and dramatic river corridor. This is a good time to use the open deck or find a viewing area where you can remain outside for a while. The exact viewing conditions depend on the ship’s schedule and weather, so keep your plans flexible.

The cruise then continues through the Three Gorges region toward Xiling Gorge. The scenery is not a single short attraction. It unfolds over hours, and that slow pace is the reason to choose a river cruise. You get repeated chances to look, rest, eat, and return outside as the view changes.

Still, you should not expect every minute to be scenic. The ship has a set timetable, and parts of the route may be spent inside, at meals, or waiting for the next activity. The best approach is to treat the river as the day’s main program, not as background decoration between attractions.

Shennv Stream and the pea boat ride

After the gorge sailing, you disembark at Badong for the Shennv Stream excursion. The stream originates on the southern slope of Shennongjia, and the visit includes a ride in a small pea boat.

This is one of the more distinctive parts of the itinerary. Instead of viewing the Yangtze only from the large cruise ship, you move onto a smaller craft and follow a narrower, clearer waterway. The excursion lasts about two hours and is included.

The pea boat ride gives you a closer view of the stream and its surrounding scenery. It also breaks up the scale of the main cruise. After spending much of the day on a large ship, the smaller boat should feel more intimate and direct.

The schedule can change, so do not assume Shennv Stream will appear on every departure in exactly this form. The operator notes that the three included sites may be altered according to the boat schedule and that the final excursions will be confirmed before the cruise. That is worth checking before you travel, especially if this stop is a major reason for booking.

Day four at the Three Gorges Dam

The final morning begins early with breakfast, followed by disembarkation at Maoping Pier in Yichang’s Zigui County. From there, you join the included excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Project.

The dam is described as the largest water power project in the world. You will see a large piece of modern infrastructure rather than an old town or natural site. That contrast is important. The cruise shows you the river’s cliffs and waterways, then ends by showing how people have reshaped the Yangtze on a huge scale.

The excursion lasts about two hours. A golf cart transfer may be available or required at a cost of CNY 10 per person, which is not included. Bring a little Chinese currency or confirm the payment method ahead of time.

Because you leave the ship after breakfast, keep the final morning organized. Check your cabin carefully, make sure all luggage is accounted for, and allow time to join the shore visit. The cruise ends at Maoping rather than central Yichang, so you will need to arrange your onward transport from there. The listed end point is Maoping, Hubei, in Zigui County, Yichang.

Life aboard the Century ship

The three possible ships are Century Victory, Century Oasis, and Century Glory. The departure pattern is listed as Wednesday for Century Victory, Saturday for Century Oasis, and Sunday for Century Glory.

Those days are useful when planning, but schedules can vary by year. If you are booking for a future season, confirm the ship and sailing date before making fixed travel arrangements. The operator specifically warns that boat schedules change from year to year.

Your package includes breakfast on all three mornings, two lunches, and all three dinners. That covers the main meals during the cruise, though the information does not state that every drink, snack, or special menu item is included. If you have dietary needs, ask before departure rather than assuming the dining room can adjust at short notice.

A bilingual Chinese and English guide is available on board. This is particularly useful during Fengdu Ghost City and the dam visit, where cultural meaning and technical details add much to what you see. The group cap of 15 also helps. You are less likely to lose time gathering a large group at each landing.

The captain’s welcome reception calls for smart casual dress. You do not need a formal wardrobe for the cruise, but pack one neat outfit if you want to join that event.

What the $768 price really covers

At $768 per person, the package makes the most sense when you value convenience. You receive a cabin for three nights, meals, luggage handling, a bilingual guide, and three included shore excursions. You also avoid changing hotels while moving through a large stretch of central China.

The price does not include transportation to Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier or onward travel from Maoping. Optional excursions, the single-room supplement, and the CNY 200 cruise service charge per adult age 12 and older are also extra.

That service charge is easy to overlook. Add it to the advertised price when working out your real budget. Solo passengers should add the 75 percent supplement as well, which makes this a much more expensive choice for one person than for two people sharing a cabin.

The package is best value for couples, friends, or family members who can share a standard twin cabin. It is also a good fit if you want a guided, organized route and would rather spend your time watching the river than comparing local transport options.

Who should book this cruise

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a comfortable introduction to the Yangtze and prefer a fixed plan. The schedule includes major river scenery, a historic cultural site, a smaller-boat excursion, and a major engineering project.

It suits people who enjoy scenic travel at an unhurried pace. You will have time on board between shore visits, so bring something to read, a camera, and clothing suitable for spending time outside. The ship is the base for most of the trip, not merely a bus that moves you between attractions.

It may be less suitable if you need complete control over your daily schedule. The cruise timetable determines when you sail, when you go ashore, and which three excursions operate. You should also think carefully about the non-refundable booking terms. Once booked, the experience cannot be changed or refunded if you cancel.

The tour is described as suitable for most people, but the supplied information does not provide detailed accessibility information. Ask specific questions if you need step-free access, special cabin arrangements, or help boarding smaller boats.

Should you book the Chongqing to Yichang cruise?

Book it if you want the Three Gorges to be the center of your China trip, not just a quick viewpoint along a busy itinerary. The combination of a Century ship, included meals, luggage handling, bilingual guidance, and three shore excursions makes the route easy to manage.

Before paying, confirm four things: the exact ship, the final three excursions, the cabin-sharing arrangement, and the extra CNY 200 service charge. If you are traveling alone, price the single supplement carefully. For two people sharing a standard cabin, this is a well-structured way to see the Yangtze from Chongqing to Yichang without rebuilding the trip at every stop.

FAQ

How long is the Chongqing to Yichang cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately four days and three nights, beginning in Chongqing and ending at Maoping Pier in Yichang.

Where do I board the ship?

Boarding is at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier. The boarding window is from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, with departure scheduled for about 9:30 pm.

Which Century ship will operate the cruise?

The possible ships are Century Oasis, Century Victory, and Century Glory. Century Victory is listed for Wednesdays, Century Oasis for Saturdays, and Century Glory for Sundays. Schedules can change by year, so confirm the ship before booking.

Are the shore excursions included?

Three shore excursions are included. The planned visits are Fengdu Ghost City, Shennv Stream, and the Three Gorges Dam Project, but the final three sites can change according to the boat schedule.

What meals are included?

The package includes three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners. It also includes three nights of cruise accommodation.

Is a private cabin included for a solo passenger?

No. The listed price is based on two people sharing a standard cabin. A solo passenger who wants a cabin alone must pay a 75 percent single-room supplement.