Yangtse River Cruise (2002) Last Updated: July 16, 2024
As I wrote earlier in my Guilin post, our flight from Guilin to Chongqing was delayed – late arrival at Chongqing .
It appeared that the ship was waiting for us -and we were directly taken to the port to board our ship “ YANGTZE Angel “ . To enter the ship we had to walk down several steps to reach the ship. Along with our baggage the staff held our hands and quickly we entered ship. Fortunately our cabin was at the same level and across was the dining hall. Since we boarded at night, the real feel of being in a big cruise ship was felt only when we woke up next morning. On waking up we realised that our cabin was almost at the level of river’s surface. Dining hall was right across from our cabin. This arrangement suited us. In the dining room tables were already allotted. On our table all were English speaking foreigners . One of them was an American couple travelling with a young Chinese who was working in their firm. Having him was a big advantage as he could describe more details in English. Next morning after breakfast we were invited to gather on the open deck . A young gentleman was waiting for us to fly a kite as the ship was getting ready to take off. He greeted the crownd saying nin hao – meaning welcome.
A Yangtze River cruise offers an unforgettable way to explore one of China’s most iconic rivers. Our cruise line was named Presidential cruises.
Our itinerary consisted of 4 days ‘ The Three Gorges ” tour from Chongqing to Yichang, The most popular route, typically lasting 4-5 days, focusing on the Three Gorges and the dam.
Our itinerary included following places –
As the Yangtze flows through eastern Sichuan and into western Hubei, it traverses for a distance of 125 miles (200 km) the famous Three Gorges region before debouching onto the plains to the east.
Fengdu Ghost City originates back to the Han Dynasty.
Fengdu Ghost City:
A cultural site with temples and statues that depict the afterlife, providing insights into traditional Chinese beliefs about the spirit world.
North of the Yangtze River, on Ming Mountain in the Chinese province of Chongqing, you’ll find Fengdu, Ghost City. This city is one large collection of temples, memorials and monasteries. And they are all about life after death.
Since Tang Dynasty, forty-eight temples have been built in this place, such as the “Hall of the Jade Emperor”, ” the “Palace of Hell”, “Boundary Between the Living and the Dead”, ” the “Ridge of Helplessness” and the “Balcony of Nostalgia”.
As we proceeded we entered the stretch of river that passes through the Three Gorges
Three Gorges:
- Quatang Gorge: The shortest but most dramatic gorge, known for its towering cliffs and narrow passageways.
- Wu Gorge: Famous for its serene beauty, with deep valleys and lush forested mountains.
- Xiling Gorge: The longest of the three, featuring numerous rapids and rock formations.
Three Gorges Dam:
The world’s largest hydroelectric project. Tours often include a visit to the dam and its impressive ship locks.
Shennong Stream:
A tributary of the Yangtze, offering excursions on smaller boats to see the beautiful scenery and traditional hanging coffins.
Lesser Three Gorges:
Smaller gorges on the Daning River, known for their picturesque landscapes and historical sites.
Next morning after breakfast we all gathered on the deck for a ‘Kite Flying Show “. This followed by explaining all the site seeing places we will be visiting
Water towns in China
Last we visited what is known as Water Cities in China – Zhouzhuang. There are several of these.
Water Towns, also called Canal Towns , are certain ancient and historic towns in China known for their bridges, rivers, and canals. They are located towards the south of the Yangtze River. These river-based settlements are widely advertised as tourism destinations because of their historical and cultural representations of China. The idyllic small-town setting, which demonstrates the harmonious relationship between nature and its residents, is also another attractive factor.
They are located towards the south of the Yangtze River. These river-based settlements are widely advertised as tourism destinations because of their historical and cultural representations of China. The idyllic small-town setting, which demonstrates the harmonious relationship between nature and its residents, is also another attractive factor.
Zhouzhuang
Zhouzhuang is known as “China’s No. 1 Water Town” all over the world.
It was selected as one of the “Top Ten Most Beautiful Towns in the World” by CNN in the United States, and won the title of “Global Excellent Ecological Scenic Spot” by the United Nations.