Yangtze River Cruise Tour on Victoria Selina in Winter

How much do you about Yangtze River Cruises? Are you interested in River Cruises? Do you know the Three Gorges Dam? If Yangtze River Cruise once was on your bucket list, now follow me to enjoy my downstream Yangtze River Cruises tour from Chongqing to Yichang.

Do you know anything about Yangtze River Cruises? To take the Yangtze River Cruises, you will travel on the Yangtze River, the longest river in both China and Asia and the third-longest river in the world. And you will sail through the Three Gorges Dam, which is the world’s largest hydroelectric dam.

On Yangtze River Cruises, usually, you can choose 2 trips including downstream from Chongqing to Yichang and upstream from Yichang to Chongqing. It takes 4 days and 3 nights from Chongqing to Yichang, while 5 days 4 nights from Yichang to Chongqing. Taking your travel days and start&end cities into consideration, you can choose what you like. If you need more information or advice, please feel free to contact us, we very much would like to help you customize your China tour. There are many ships to choose on Yangtze River Cruises, not only Chinese-managed Cruises Company, but also American-managed Cruises company.

Now, let us start the Yangtze River Cruises tour with me.

Map of 13 sub-piers of Chaotianmen Port

Day 1, Embark on the Ship Between 18:00-21:00.

I took Victoria Selina from Nov. 21st to Nov.24th. Victoria Cruises is the only American-managed cruise company, owing to great service, as they know what the western customers want. I took a bullet train from Chengdu, taking about 2 hrs. 

Before your embarkation, if time permits, you can seize the chance to see famous Ciqikou Ancient Town and Hongya cave which is famous for its splendid night view. 

I embarked on Selina after dinner at Chaotianmen port. You can find some local restaurants there, but only for Chinese meals. The boarding time is 18:00--21:00, ship departs Chongqing at 21:00. Although the boarding was supposed to start at 18:00, the staff at the port would like to let you aboard the ship if you arrive there a little bit early than 18:00. 

It is very convenient to take a taxi from the train station to the port. Following sighs there, you will find a taxi easily at the train station. 

There are 13 sub-piers of Chongqing Chaotianmen Port. I walked about 15 mins to the #5 pier which Victoria Selina stops. Usually, Victoria cruises stop at #5 pier. With warm welcome by staff lining up, I checked in and finally saw my cabin.

Embarking Victoria Selina

Cozy Cabin on the Ship

I took Superior Cabin on 3rd Deck equipped with a bathroom and balcony. It is clean and tidy. All staffs on the ship is friendly and always willing to offer help with sweet smile. There is no dinner included today, you can have dinner on the ship at around 19:00 with extra cost or bring some snacks. I had dinner at Chaotianmen port before embarkation.

At around 8:15, you will be informed to join in a Safety & facilities onboard Briefing in which you will know details about safety onboard and more details about the ship. 

At around 9:00, ship left Chaotianmen port. You will see an amazing night view of the Chaotianmen port. 

After the Briefing, I came to Sun Deck where I saw fabulous nightview of Chongqing, which is a must-see activities in Chongqing. It is said that night view of Chongqing is more amazing than Hong Kong and Shanghai. When I saw it today, I think it deserves its praise. The city lights when it is getting dark, Chongqing becomes a sea of lights from a distance on the ship. Against mountains, all bridges and building are lit by colorful neon lights. Those tall buildings near Chaotianmen makes the night view more spectacular and modern.

Nightscape of Chaotianmen port

Day 2 Fengdu Ghost City & Jade Emperor Scenic Area&Three Kingdoms Open Air Show

Our ship stops at Fengdu, and I was so excited to start my shore excursion.

Jade Emperor Scenic Area today has been included in my tour, while you can take an optional shore excursion with extra cost when you are on the ship. I took all the shore excursions. After breakfast, passengers who took optional shore excursion are divided into small groups. We visited Fengdu Ghost City first, where you can learn about Chinese ghost culture and the afterlife. It is very interesting to see kinds of statues that lead up to “hell.” There are various ghosts, such as we called alcoholics as a “ghost” or some heavy smoker. Besides, some good ones, such as you will see a status call Shiman ghost who eat vines and breast-feeding animal in the forest.

As the King of hell, Yama are in charge of the judgement of all ghosts who died and under the overall leadership of him, there are many those ghost officials, such as famous White ghost and Black ghost.

Attraction in Fengdu - "Ghost Torturing Pass"

After that, another guide took us to Jade Emperor Scenic Area which is a giant statue, and it is a typical combination religious culture of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism in China. I learnt many traditional knowledge about Zodiac, five elements, etc, which never attracts me so much. I can’t help but highly praise that Chinese culture is so broad and profound.

Jade Emperor Scenic Area

After visiting it, we are driven back to our shop to have lunch. This afternoon, we joined in Captain's welcome party. Just enjoy it!

At night, I took another optional shore excursion, Three Kingdoms Open Air Show, which in my opinion is the highlight of today. It is a large-scale real landscape show about the culture and history of the Three Kingdoms, equipped with a 180-degree rotating auditorium, enriching with songs, dances, aerobatic shows, which makes it a good chance to feast my eyes.

Three Kingdoms Open Air Show

Day 3. White Emperor City & Qutang Gorge & Wu Gorge & Shennv Stream

Wake up in the morning and enjoy a wonderful breakfast, then we start at 8:15 forward to White Emperor City, which is an ancient temple, as well as the best place to overlook “Kui Gate”. Kuimen Gate is the highlight of Qutang Gorge, where its true essence lies. It also appears on the 10 Yuan bill.

Me at Kuimen Gate

Wake up in the morning and enjoy a wonderful breakfast, then we start at 8:15 forward to White Emperor City, which is an ancient temple, as well as the best place to overlook “Kui Gate”. Kuimen Gate is the highlight of Qutang Gorge, where its true essence lies. It also appears on the 10 Yuan bill.

Images of Kuimen on 10 Yuan Bill

Feast of the Eyes for Nature Lovers

After White Emperor City, we got back to our ship to have lunch. Western and Chinese meals are both available on the ship. You can try to learn how to use chopsticks if you are interested in. And then here comes the most exciting part, we would sail through the real Three Gorges, Qutang Gorge & Wu Gorge. As the most precipitous and magnificent one, Qutang is the shortest gorge among the three. Since I was a kid, I learnt about Three gorges from our textbook and poems. It was very cold because of the high wind in Nov.

Food on the Cruise Ship

After we sailed through Wu gorges, we came to the Shennv stream. We changed into a small boat. Water there is clear and green. Throw yourself into the stunning views, you won’t be regret visiting Shennv Stream on a small boat. Hearing the sounds of nature, feel the breeze, I feel so relaxing and there is such silence and that I enjoyed a more serene possession of myself, which is such a pleasure, and I am too delight to be homesick.

Shennv Stream

Day 4 Three Gorges Dam Site & Ship Lift

Today is the last day of our Yangtze River Cruises tour. We consigned our large luggage at night of day 3. At around 8:00, we disembark our ship. We took ship lift with a smaller ship. It was rainy and foggy. It is not only the largest but also the most sophisticated ship lift in the world. After ship lift, we visited Three Gorges, which is the world’s largest hydroelectric dam based on generating capacity. It is 1.3 miles wide, over 600 feet in height, and has a reservoir that stretches 405 square miles.

Ship Lift at Three Gorges Dam

At around noon, we finished our Yangtze River Cruises tour. After 1 hr driving, we arrived at Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal.

My Yangtze River Cruises tour is about to end. I read about Three Gorges many times in books and poems. This is the first time I visit it. It is so steep, quiet and impressive as I always dreamed of. At the same time, if offered me such relaxing time and a chance to enjoy the peace and serenity. Anyway, I had no choice but to reluctantly leave. I was going to take train back to Chengdu at around 2:30PM, taking about 6 hrs by high speed train. You can take taxi to airport, taking about 40mins-1hr, while 20-30 mins to train station.

If time permits, you can visit Yiling park, Sanyou Cave,etc or just have rest at the shopping mall and have a couple of coffee on the opposite side of Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal.