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This is for the 4 Nights Yangzi Explorer itienrary sailing from Yichang to Chongqing via Badong.
Welcome aboard Yangzi Explorer.
You will be met by a representative at Yichang Three Gorges Airport or Yichang East Railway Station and transferred to Yichang Maoping Port to board Yangzi Explorer. Prepare for your cruise upstream through this stunning section of the Yangtze River, famous for its impressive scenery and historic and culture importance to China.
16:00-18:00 Embark the cruise ship in Yichang.
18:00-20:00 Embarkation buffet dinner
21:00-21:30 Safety Briefing in the Explorer Bar
Est. 21:30 Captain’s Welcome Reception in the Explorer Bar
If you’d like to join the complimentary pre-cruise tours, we suggest you arrive in Yichang in the morning. Please be aware that there will be no refund if you can not join this complimentary pre-cruise tour in Yichang.
Insider Tips: If you arrive in Yichang on ship departure date, we suggest you arrive before 15:00. If you’d like to join the complimentaty pre-cruise tour, you may arrive in the morning or one day in advance.
Start your morning with a traditional Tai Chi lesson, led by our Tai Chi Master and work up an appetite for the buffet breakfast.
In the morning, travelers can experience passing through the Three Gorges Dam Ship-Lift (except under maintenance period) onboard the Yangzi Explorer, and the cruise ship will go through the Xiling Gorge (west section) in the morning.
In the afternoon, travelers can choose one of the two tours:
Wuyuan Cave is located in the Chinese Forest Oxygen Bar- Bashan Park and features mountains, water, forests, springs and caves. Experience a wooden sampan ride on the river inside the cave and enjoy tea brewed from a mountain spring with Enshi Yulu and special snacks from Tujia.
Alternatively, you can choose to visit to the Badong Museum and Entrance to Wu Gorge Lookout.
The Badong Museum is a hidden gem in Hubei Province, offering a rich tapestry of local history, culture, and heritage. Set in the heart of Badong County, this museum serves as a gateway to understanding the unique traditions and stories of the Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities who have called this region home for centuries. The museum’s carefully curated exhibits showcase everything from ancient artifacts and traditional clothing to vibrant folk art and historical documents, painting a vivid picture of the county’s diverse cultural landscape.
Entrance to Wu Gorge Lookout is a captivating destination nestled along the Yangtze River in Hubei Province. This scenic area is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, featuring towering cliffs, emerald-green waters, and lush forests that create a breathtaking backdrop for any adventure. Visitors can explore the glass hanging bridge leading to the lookout point offering an exhilarating and awe-inspiring experience like no other.
In the evening, enjoy a night show “Badong: A Journey through a Thousand Years” in a cultural relic protection park (weather permitting) or Cultural Performance onboard.
It is more than just a cultural show – it’s an experience that connects you with the heart and soul of Badong. As the performers weave together tales of integrity, love, bravery, and tradition, you’ll be captivated by the artistic expression and cultural pride that shine through every scene. Whether you’re a visitor to the region or a local, this show offers a unique opportunity to witness the cultural treasures of Badong come alive, making it a must-see event for anyone looking to experience the true essence of this remarkable area.
※ Should the show at Badong be unexpectedly unavailable, a performance will instead be held at the Tang Theatre.
Start your morning with an early bird tea or coffee and a traditional Tai Chi Lesson, led by our Tai Chi Master and work up an appetite for the buffet breakfast.
In the morning, while Yangzi Explorer passes through Wu Gorge, and Qutang Gorge, you can enjoy leisure time onboard.
Travelers can choose one from the three excursions provided today:
You can choose to take a 15-minute coach ride to White King Town and enjoy the history of Fengjie and the poem written by famous poet Li Bai from Tang Dynasty.
You can choose to meander along the Poetic Trail in Qutang Gorge. It is the first part of the Trail from White King Town winding uphill to Three Gorges Summit, which is one of the classic hiking routes in the Three Gorges Region.
Visit the Three Gorges Summit and enjoy a magnificent sunset. It is one of the most beautiful landscape forms of the Yangtze River and the highest peak of the famous Three Gorges.
After dinner, you have the opportunity to enrich your understanding of local culture by attending a lecture by a local scholar. This engaging presentation will explore both the historical and contemporary aspects of the city, known as the “City of Poems.” The lecture will be delivered in Chinese, with translations provided by our cruise director if needed.
Today, Yangzi Explorer will dock at Shibao Pier in Zhongxian (Loyal County). It is a county with rich history and culture for more than 2300 years and its “loyalty culture” is well-known in China.
After breakfast, there are two shore excursions for you to choose from.
Shibaozhai, which was founded in Wanli period of Ming Dynasty, is one of the only remaining ancient wooden structures in China. Shibaozhai’s Pavilion represents a gem of Chinese architecture to be encountered on the Yangtze River cruise journey. After the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam, Jade Seal Hill was surrounded by the rolling Yangtze River water and became an island on the Yangtze River, so it is also called “Yangtze River Bonsai in the Three Gorges Reservoir”.
A short ferry ride across the river from Shibaozhai takes you to Xituo Ancient Town. Nestled among stunning natural landscapes, Xituo offers a glimpse into the daily life and rich cultural tapestry of its inhabitants. Known historically as the western border of Bazhou, the town provides a serene backdrop to explore centuries of tradition and local customs.
The Huanghua Island is an enchanting natural wonder on the mainstream of the Yangtze River in Zhongxian County, uniquely positioned at the geographical heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The island boasts a rich historical legacy dating back to the Song Dynasty. During this period, a fortified city was established on the island, creating one of China’s rarest isolated island-type defense systems. Huanghua Island, once known as “Huanghua City,” became the seat of Xianchun Prefecture, still preserves the ruins of the ancient state government offices and city walls.
At 9:00 am, disembark the boat at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port. Chongqing, a city of towering buildings, is the world’s largest municipality with a population of over 33 million people.
You will be transferred to Chongqing Airport, Railway Station, or downtown Chongqing for your onward journey or you can join one of the Optional Experiences in Ch0ngqing:
* All post-cruise tours are with minimum group sizes required, and please book onboard.
Insider Tips: If you leave Chongqing on ship disembarkation date, please book a train departing after 12:00, or a flight departing after 14:00.
Special Notice: According to the river water level, the disembarkation location may change to Fengdu Port for safety concern. Under this situation, the cruise line will arrange a cruise shuttle transfer from Fengdu Port to Chongqing downtown.
Cruise itinerary is subject to change due to weather, water level, navigation and seasonal conditions. Viewing of Xiling Gorge from the cruise ships may not always be available in daylight hours, depending on river and traffic conditions, and time of the year.
Included meals as noted in itinerary: (B) = Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Dinner
