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

The best part of this cruise is the steady passage through China’s Three Gorges, where the river does the work and you watch Qutang, Wu, and Xiling Gorges unfold from the deck. You board at Chongqing’s Chaotianmen Pier, sleep aboard a Chinese 5-star ship, and finish near Yichang after visiting the Three Gorges Dam.

I like the three included shore excursions, especially Fengdu Ghost City and the small-boat outing at Shennv Stream, also described as Shennong Stream in the tour details. I also like the easy package: three nights of lodging, seven included meals, luggage handling, and a bilingual Chinese and English guide onboard.

The main catch is that the ship and shore stops depend on the sailing date. You may be assigned Century Oasis, Century Victory, or Century Glory, and the final three excursions can change with the boat schedule. Add the service charge, possible single supplement, and pier transport before deciding if the $768 price fits your budget.

Key points to know before booking

• Three ships operate this route: Century Victory usually sails Wednesdays, Century Oasis Saturdays, and Century Glory Sundays.
• The boat travels downstream: You board in Chongqing at 6:30 pm or later and disembark at Maoping Pier near Yichang on the fourth day.
• Three excursions are included: Fengdu Ghost City, the Shennv Stream or Shennong Stream outing, and the Three Gorges Dam visit are planned, but the exact combination can change.
• The cabin price assumes twin sharing: A solo passenger pays a 75 percent single-room supplement and cannot share a room above the upper floor.
• A small service charge is extra: Adults aged 12 and older pay CN¥200 per person, while the Three Gorges Dam golf cart costs CN¥10 per person if you use it.
• The group is capped at 15 people: That gives the shore visits a more manageable feel than a large coach tour, though the ship itself is much larger.

Why a Chongqing to Yichang cruise works so well

This four-day, three-night trip gives you a simple way to see a long stretch of the Yangtze without changing hotels every night. You unpack once, eat aboard, and let the river connect the major sights.

The route is also well chosen. Chongqing provides a dramatic urban starting point, while Yichang puts you near one of China’s most famous engineering projects. Between them, the gorges provide the main visual event, with shore stops adding temples, local scenery, and history.

I like the downstream direction because it keeps the trip relaxed. Your ship leaves Chongqing at night, so the first full day begins after you have already settled into the cabin. You are not spending the opening hours on a bus or waiting to check into another hotel.

This is still a cruise, not a wilderness trip. You will view much of the scenery from the ship, and organized excursions shape the days. If you want long independent walks or a flexible schedule, this may feel structured. If you want comfort and a clear route through the Three Gorges, it makes good sense.

Boarding at Chaotianmen Pier in Chongqing

Boarding takes place at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier between 6:30 pm and 9 pm, with departure scheduled for about 9:30 pm. The exact pier instructions are supplied in Chinese and English, which matters because a large city terminal can be confusing if you arrive without the proper location details.

You arrange your own taxi to the pier. Hotel pickup, river pier pickup, and drop-off are not included, so leave enough time to reach Chaotianmen and find the boarding area. The operator says the precise boarding place will be provided after booking.

Once aboard, the ship becomes your base for the next three nights. Luggage handling is included, a useful touch at the start of a cruise, though you should still keep medication, documents, and anything needed for the first evening in your hand luggage.

The first night is mainly about getting settled. Since the ship leaves Chongqing after dark, you will not see much river scenery until the next day. That is not a flaw, but it is worth knowing if you are expecting an immediate evening cruise with city views.

Day two: Fengdu Ghost City and a gentle start

After breakfast on the second day, the ship arranges a visit to Fengdu Ghost City. The site is described as being about 1,900 years old and connected with Chinese ideas about the underworld, judgment, and the afterlife.

The name may sound theatrical, but the value of the visit is cultural. You get a glimpse of traditional beliefs and the way they appear in Chinese religious sites and public storytelling. The excursion lasts about two hours and is included in the fare.

This is a relatively easy first full day. You are not rushed into a chain of major attractions, and the cruise schedule gives you time to enjoy the ship between activities. That balance suits you if the scenery matters as much as the sightseeing.

Fengdu is also a reminder that shore excursions can be more interpretive than purely scenic. You may find the site more interesting if you listen closely to the bilingual guide and pay attention to the symbols and stories. If you prefer natural views to cultural themes, this stop may be less memorable than the gorges themselves.

Day three: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and the smaller waterways

The third day is the scenic heart of the trip. The ship first enters Qutang Gorge, the shortest of the Three Gorges and the one described as the grandest. Because the ship passes through it rather than stopping for a long walk, your best views come from the open deck or a good vantage point on the vessel.

Wu Gorge follows, known for its lofty scenery. This is the kind of day when the cruise format earns its keep. You can watch the river bend and the cliffs change while the ship moves at a steady pace, rather than viewing the gorge through a bus window.

The schedule also includes an excursion from Badong to Shennv Stream. The description calls the waterway Shennong Stream in places, so confirm the final name and timing with the onboard team. The planned activity includes a small pea boat ride along the clear stream, giving you a closer look at a narrower waterway than the main Yangtze.

That smaller boat ride adds variety. The main cruise offers broad views and scale, while the stream excursion brings you closer to the water and the surrounding cliffs. The shore visit lasts about two hours, so it is an outing rather than a full day away from the ship.

Keep your plans flexible on this day. The supplied information says the three included excursions may change according to the ship schedule. The gorge passage itself is central to the route, but the exact shore program is not guaranteed until the final schedule is sent.

Day four: Xiling Gorge and the Three Gorges Dam

After an early breakfast, you disembark at Maoping Pier in Yichang’s Zigui County. The final included excursion goes to the Three Gorges Dam Project, described as the largest water power project in the world.

This is an important contrast to the natural scenery. The gorges show the Yangtze as a powerful river shaped by geology, while the dam shows how modern China has reshaped the river for power, flood control, and navigation. The visit gives the cruise a clear ending rather than simply leaving you at a transport pier.

The route also passes through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges. Depending on the ship’s timing and the final schedule, you may see parts of it from the vessel before reaching Maoping. As with the other gorge passages, the ship provides the viewing platform, so bring your camera and plan to spend time outside when conditions are suitable.

A golf cart at the dam costs an additional CN¥10 per person. That is a small extra, but the fact that it is excluded is worth noting for a precise budget. The tour ends at Maoping, not necessarily at your hotel or at Yichang airport, so you must arrange your onward transportation.

Life aboard Century Oasis, Victory, or Glory

The operator uses three Century Cruise ships: Century Oasis, Century Victory, and Century Glory. The sailing day determines the vessel listed in the schedule: Victory on Wednesdays, Oasis on Saturdays, and Glory on Sundays.

The fare is based on a standard cabin with twin sharing. If you book alone, the standard price does not automatically mean private use of the room. You may share with another person, or you can pay a 75 percent supplement to have a cabin to yourself.

There is an unusual solo-room rule: a solo passenger cannot share a room above the upper floor. If deck level matters to you, ask for the exact cabin arrangement before payment. Suite-level rooms may be available, but you need to contact the operator in advance.

The ship’s appointments and cleanliness received particularly strong praise in the available feedback, along with friendly crew service. That matters on a three-night cruise. A cabin is not simply a place to sleep here, it is your room, storage space, and retreat between excursions.

Smart casual clothing is required for the captain’s welcome reception. You do not need formal evening wear, but pack something neater than hiking clothes for that event.

Meals, guiding, and what the $768 price covers

At $768 per person, the price includes three nights of cruise accommodation, breakfast on all three mornings, two lunches, and three dinners. It also includes a professional Chinese and English guide onboard, luggage handling, and three shore excursions with admission.

That is a fair amount of value if you would otherwise pay separately for hotels, meals, river transport, local guiding, and entry tickets. The price is less attractive if you are mainly buying a cabin and plan to skip the included visits, since much of the appeal comes from the complete package.

The service charge is separate: CN¥200 per person for anyone aged 12 or older. Hotel transfers and pier transfers are also excluded, as are optional excursions, the golf cart at the dam, and any single-room supplement.

The cruise price is based on twin sharing, so couples and friends get the clearest value. Solo passengers should calculate carefully. A 75 percent room supplement can change the total considerably, especially after adding transport and the service charge.

The group size is limited to 15 people for this tour activity. That should make the guided shore visits easier to follow than a large group outing, though the ship itself will naturally have more people aboard.

Timing, schedule changes, and practical planning

This cruise is booked an average of 57 days ahead, and confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The boat schedule changes from year to year, so you should check the sailing date before booking for a future season.

The exact three shore excursions may also change. The advertised plan includes Fengdu Ghost City, Shennv Stream or Shennong Stream, and the Three Gorges Dam, but the operator will send the final three stops before the trip.

That condition is important. Do not book this as if every stop is fixed. Book it for the overall Chongqing to Yichang river journey, the gorge passages, and the cruise format. Treat the shore program as planned but subject to the vessel’s timetable.

The tour is described as suitable for most people, and no special physical restriction is listed. Still, you should expect boarding, disembarking, and short shore excursions. Ask about the final arrangements if mobility is a concern, since the available details do not explain accessibility at each pier.

The cancellation policy is strict. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so check your dates, cabin choice, and sailing day carefully before paying.

Who should book this Yangtze cruise?

I would choose this cruise if you want the Three Gorges without arranging a separate sequence of trains, hotels, guides, and tickets. It suits you especially well if you enjoy viewing scenery from a comfortable ship and prefer a planned route with meals and excursions included.

It also works for couples and friends who are happy to share a standard cabin. The modest group cap helps on shore, while the bilingual onboard guide gives you a clearer connection to the places you pass.

I would hesitate if you need a fully flexible trip, private transport from door to door, or a guaranteed list of every shore stop. Solo passengers should also price the single supplement before treating $768 as the final cost.

Should you book it?

Book this Century Cruise if your main goal is an easy, scenic passage from Chongqing to Yichang, with the Three Gorges, Fengdu, a smaller stream boat ride, and the Three Gorges Dam built into one four-day plan. The clean, well-appointed ships and friendly crew service add real value to the three nights aboard.

Before paying, confirm the sailing date, assigned ship, cabin arrangement, final excursions, service charge, and onward transport from Maoping. If those details suit you, this is a practical way to see the Yangtze at a steady pace without turning the trip into a logistics project.

FAQ

How long is the Chongqing to Yichang cruise?

The cruise lasts four days and three nights.

Where does the cruise begin?

It begins at Chongqing Chaotianmen Pier. Boarding is scheduled from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, with departure at about 9:30 pm.

Where does the cruise end?

You disembark at Maoping Pier in Zigui County, near Yichang, Hubei.

Which ships operate this route?

The cruise company uses Century Oasis, Century Victory, and Century Glory. The usual schedule lists Victory on Wednesdays, Oasis on Saturdays, and Glory on Sundays.

Are meals included?

Yes. The fare includes three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners.

Are the shore excursions guaranteed?

Three shore excursions are included, but the exact sites may change according to the boat schedule. The final three excursions are sent before the tour.

Is the cruise price based on a private cabin?

No. The price is based on a standard cabin with twin sharing. A solo passenger who wants the cabin alone pays a 75 percent single-room supplement.

Are transfers included?

No. River pier and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You arrange your own transport to Chaotianmen Pier and onward transport from Maoping.