15 Days Panoramic Yangtze Tour: Shanghai to Chongqing Cruise with City Highlights

Ni Hao! Welcome to Shanghai, the largest and the most developed metropolis in the Chinese mainland! You’ll be met by our local guide at the arrival hall of Shanghai airport / train station and escorted to your hotel in downtown area by a private, comfortable and non-smoking vehicle. The rest of today is on your own to explore the “Pearl of the Orient”.

Arrival Ideas: Shanghai has airlines connecting with 282 cities and regions, linking almost every part of the world and China. Also, travelers can take high speed trains to Shanghai from Beijing (about 5~5.5hrs), Xian (about 6~7.5hrs), Suzhou (about 0.5hr), Hangzhou (about 1hr), Huangshan (about 4hrs), etc.

After breakfast, you’ll take a full day to explore the west-meet-east, modern-blend-tradition culture of Shanghai. First, take an educational trip to Shanghai Museum, one of the Four Greatest Museums in China. From outside, you’ll appreciate the beautiful appearance in the style of “Ding” which symbolizes “a round heaven and a square earth”. While entering into the exhibition rooms, you’ll treat your eyes with large number of collections of historic relics from Bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphic works to jades, coins, furniture, seals, sculptures, etc.

Then, head to Yu Garden, a typical ancient Chinese garden in Jiangnan area similar to the classical Suzhou Gardens! This garden fully embodies the traditional design of Chinese architecture with jagged pavilions with elegant decorations, glittering pools with roving fish, and pine trees sprouting to the sky, all designed to refresh your mood and spirit. Adjacent to the garden is the Yuyuan Bazaar where you can savor tasteful local snacks and explore elaborate traditional Chinese handicrafts and art works.

Next, drive to Pudong New District to the third tallest building in China - Shanghai World Financial Center. Stand on the 100^th floor (474 meters) to have panoramic view of Shanghai downtown, Huangpu River as well as nearby towering buildings. Later, take a wonderful stroll along the Bund with a rich collection of buildings and structures of various architectural styles. Feel the perfect fusion of Chinese and Western cultures while at the same time take in the stunning Shanghai skyline with your own eyes! (Note: If time and energy permits, you can have a nice walk along Nanjing Road to experience the modern atmosphere of Shanghai.)

Optional activities: 1) Take a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise to see the city’s most significant edifices and streets sparkling under the atmospheric cover of darkness (about 50 minutes);  2) Enjoy an entertaining and breathtaking Acrobatic Show at Shanghai Circus World or other acrobatic theatres (usually performs during 19:30~21:00).

Walk through the Zigzag Bridge of Yu Garden

The Bund - An Exhibition of International Buildings

Shanghai Museum on the People's Square

Tall Buildings in Pudong New District

Want to deeply know the past, today and future of Shanghai? This morning’s visit to Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center will show you everything about Shanghai. You will see the amazing transformation of Shanghai that was originally a small fishing village and now surprisingly a super modern world metropolis. Different usages of photography, models and interactive multimedia displays make your visit enjoyable and entertaining. The best features are the old rare photos of landmarks, such as the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden, during the international settlement, and the large scale model showing the detailed layout of Shanghai.

Then you will be followed a trip to Jade Buddha Temple, a famous Buddhist Temple peacefully situated in the bustling Shanghai downtown. It is famous for the two pieces of Jade Buddha - one is the sitting Jade Buddha of 1.95 meters tall and the other is the smaller reclining Jade Buddha of 0.96 meters tall. Besides appreciating the Jade Buddha, you can have a basic understanding about Chinese Buddhism by visiting the Buddhist halls.

After the tour, your guide will escort you to Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal for boarding your cruise.

Onboard Activity: Safety Briefing.Captain’s Welcome Party

Jade Buddha Temple

See the Future of Shanghai in Urban Planning Exhibition Center

Begin your day with a morning tea and coffee session paired with Tai Chi exercises. Following that, indulge in a diverse buffet breakfast on board until lunchtime, featuring local Yangzhou tea specialties. Morning cultural activities are on the agenda as well. Post-lunch, embark on an excursion to the celebrated Slender West Lake, where you can take in the harmonious blend of southern delicacy and northern magnificence in the form of various gardens and historical sites. As the day transitions into evening, savor a variety of dishes at the cruise ship's buffet dinner, accompanied by free-flowing beverages. Conclude the day with an entertaining cultural show by the staff, highlighting the spirit of unity and welcome.

Shore excursion visit: Slender West Lake

Slender West Lake is the symbol of the dignified and graceful Yangzhou and the must-visit site in this city. The verdant trees with branches and flowers dancing in the wind dress the lake into a pretty and gorgeous lady who will arouse your interest to enjoy the seasonal scenery. Moreover, the old garden architectures, multiple bridges of different shapes, remaining literary works of those historically famous scholars and poets would offer very suitable opportunity to go into the history and cultural connotation of Yangzhou. To discover the romance of famous and dreaming city, it is not to be missed.

Onboard Activity: Crew Gala Event on board to end the beautiful night.

Huaiyang Cuisine

Yangzhou Slendar West Lake

Yangzhou Slendar West Lake

Start your day with tea, coffee, and Tai Chi in the morning. Enjoy a buffet breakfast on the cruise ship before setting off to explore Niushou Mountain, a significant site in Nanjing’s history and a sacred Buddhist destination. Return for a specialty lunch on the cruise ship, complete with free drinks. In the afternoon, engage in cultural activities. Later, savor a buffet dinner with complimentary drinks as the sun sets. Cap off the evening with a live music masquerade ball.

Shore excursion visit: Niushou Mountain

Niushou Mountain, named from its two peaks seeming two ox horns. It boasts the parietal Sarira of Shakyamuni, attracts numerous visitors to feel its rich Buddhist culture and its peculiar building that has won "Luban" Prize, a high prize of architecture in China.

Onboard Activity: Live Music Masquerade will amuse you at night.

Nanjing Niushou Mountain Cultural Park

Today in Chizhou, you can choose between a full-day tour of Mount Jiuhua or a visit to Jindizang Temple.

Option A: Begin the day with morning tea, coffee, and Tai Chi, followed by a buffet breakfast on the cruise ship. Then, explore Mount Jiuhua, visiting ancient temples and taking a cable car to Baishou Palace. Enjoy a vegetarian lunch before continuing your tour and returning to the cruise ship in the afternoon.

Option B: After breakfast, go ashore to visit Jindizang Temple in the morning. Admire the temple’s grand architecture and enjoy a traditional Huizhou cuisine lunch by the lake before heading back to the cruise ship in the afternoon.

In the evening, enjoy a Chizhou specialty dinner on the cruise ship with complimentary drinks, and conclude the day with a movie night.

Shore excursion visits: Mount Jiuhua OR Jindizang Temple

Mount Jiuhua is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China. Step into the hallowed grounds frequented by Buddhists and pay a visit to the mountain’s most venerable establishment, “Hua Cheng Temple,” to light incense and seek blessings for safety. Following this, head to “Zhantan Forest,” Jiuhua Mountain’s most expansive temple, and then to the three revered halls: Huayan Hall, Great Vow Hall, and Great Compassion Hall, to bow before the mountain's most significant indoor Buddha statue. Indulge in a Jiuhua-style vegetarian lunch at the scenic area. After lunch, take the cable car up to “Baisui Palace” to honor the preserved body of the Wuxia Zen Master, who achieved Mahasthama at 124 and has kept his body undecayed for a century on Jiuhua Mountain. Finally, explore additional sites such as the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats and Dongya Temple.

Jindizang Temple facing Mount Jiuhua and backing the elegant mountain is a magnificent temple site to admire the rich royal flavored religious architectural set as well as tranquil nature view. Giant Buddha statues can be found in each hall. During this excursion visit, you will enjoy the authentic Anhui Cuisine at lunch arranged at Pingtian Lake.

Onboard Activity: Enjoy your movie time in the cinema or join in the Happy Hour in the bar.

Chizhou Pingtian Lake Restaurant

Mount Jiuhua

Sacred Buddha in Mount Jiuhua

Today in Jiujiang, you can choose between a tour of Jingdezhen, known for its porcelain, or a trip to Mount Lu.

Option A: Begin your day with morning tea, coffee, and Tai Chi, followed by a buffet breakfast on the cruise ship. Then, disembark for a day exploring Jingdezhen, including the Ancient Kiln Folk Customs Exhibition Area. Experience the ceramic culture and observe the process of making porcelain by hand. Enjoy a Jiangxi-themed lunch and continue your tour before returning to the cruise ship in the afternoon.

Option B: Or, start your morning with a trip to Mount Lu, which includes a cable car ride to the top. Visit the Flower Path Park, Brocade Valley, and Mei Lu Villa, taking in the stunning scenery of this famous mountain and UNESCO World Heritage site. After a Jiangxi-themed lunch, head back to the cruise ship in the afternoon.

In the evening, enjoy a Jiujiang fish head specialty dinner on the cruise ship with complimentary drinks, and then participate in a karaoke contest.

Shore excursion visits: Jingdezhen OR Mount Lu

Lushan Mountain is listed as one of the 10 Famous Mountains in China and is famous for having long been complimented by many famous ancient Chinese poets in their masterpieces to describe its peculiar beautiful sightseeing and many kinds of looks from different angle of view.

Jingdezhen Town has been especially famous for over 1,000 years and reputed as “City of Ceramics” for its excellent skill of porcelain production. Visit this elegant town in Jiangxi Province to watch in person the real ancient porcelain factory, ancient kiln porcelain yard, Expo area and various exquisite artistic porcelain works.

Onboard Activity: Karaoke.

Jiujiang Lushan Mountain

Jiangxi Jingdezhen

Today in Wuhan, start your morning with tea, coffee, and Tai Chi, followed by a Wuhan-style breakfast on the cruise ship. In the morning, disembark to explore the Yellow Crane Tower, a landmark that has inspired poets and writers throughout Chinese history. In the afternoon, enjoy a Wuhan fish feast lunch and then visit the Hubei Provincial Museum, home to over 260,000 precious cultural relics, including the famous Sword of Goujian and the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng. In the evening, savor a buffet dinner on the cruise ship with complimentary drinks, followed by a “Dance of Youth” group dance class.

Shore excursion visits: Yellow Crane Tower AND Hubei Provincial Museum

Yellow Crane Tower is one of the most renowned towers south of the Yangtze River. It enjoys the fame of “The First Scenery under Heaven”. And its cultural significance led to its being made the symbol of Wuhan City.

Hubei Provincial Museum, one of the 8 national class museums in China, displays nearly 1,000 pieces of state-level historic and cultural relics. It currently holds over 240 thousand objects to logistically introduce the history and culture of the ancient Chu State and the ancient Yangtze River, among which the most astonishing are the objects excavated from the Zenghouyi Tomb which was built about 2,400 years ago.

Onboard Activity: Line Dance Party with classic music in the bar to amuse your night.

Yellow Crane Tower

Hubei Provincial Museum

Kick off your morning with a soothing session of tea, coffee, and Tai Chi in Yueyang, then savor a diverse breakfast buffet on the cruise. Following breakfast, step ashore to explore the historic Yueyang Tower, celebrated as one of the three great towers south of the Yangtze River, and take in the breathtaking vistas of Dongting Lake. Wander through Bianhe Street near the tower to soak in the scenic beauty of the lake and surrounding mountains. Back on board, relish a lunch buffet accompanied by an array of drinks on the house. Spend the afternoon at a delightful tea time before feasting on an exquisite dinner, with selected beverages flowing freely. Conclude your night with a cinematic experience under the stars.

Shore excursion visits: Yueyang Tower AND Bianhe Street

Yueyang Tower, a member of the trio of renowned towers in the Jiangnan area, stands as a genuine ancient structure, historically celebrated with the saying, “Dongting’s waters are unparalleled, and Yueyang’s tower is peerless among towers.” Climbing to the top provides a sweeping vista of Dongting Lake and a distant view of Junshan Mountain.

Afterward, a walk along Bianhe Street in front of the tower allows one to appreciate the seamless expanse of the lake’s waters stretching for hundreds of miles, a view as magnificent as a finely crafted painting.

Onboard Activity: Enjoy your movie time in the cinema.

Yueyang Tower

Yueyang Bianhe Street

This morning, as the cruise ship moors at Jingzhou, a city steeped in history, you’ll have the choice between two excursions.

Option A: Discover the The Chariot and Horse Mausoleum of the King of Chu, known as the “Terracotta Army of the South,” which predates the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang by over two centuries. This site offers a glimpse into the grandeur of the Chu Kingdom with its well-preserved chariots and horses, along with other rare burial artifacts.

Option B: Explore the Jingzhou Museum, home to an impressive collection of artifacts from the Warring States period to the Five Dynasties, including the famous Sword of King Goujian of Yue from the Warring States period to the Five Dynasties and the Western Han Dynasty Male Mummy. After the museum, visit the well-preserved Jingzhou Ancient City Wall, a cultural landmark of the south.

Both options include a return to the ship for a lunch buffet with complimentary drinks. In the afternoon, enjoy a fun-filled amusement session. Later, savor a dinner of Jingzhou fish sticks on the cruise ship, again with free-flowing drinks. The day concludes with a showcase of the crew’s professional skills and talents.

Shore excursion visits: The Chariot and Horse Mausoleum of the King of Chu OR Jingzhou Museum & Jingzhou Ancient City Wall

The Chariot and Horse Mausoleum of the King of Chu (Xiongjia National Archaeological Site Park) has the precious largest chariot and horse pit even over 200 years early than that of the Terracotta Warriors discovery. The 43 warrior horses and 163 horse skeletons as well as a rich array of high value burial objects presents the brilliant history of the King of Chu more than 2000 years ago!

Jingzhou Museum is one of the top National First Class Museums in China with over 130 thousand pieces of historical cultural relics. Admire the top best silk and colorful lacquer exhibitions from the Warring States period, well preserved swords of famous ancient kings. Besides, it boasts the best preserved and most historic ancient male corpse buried in 167BC from the Western Han dynasty.

Jingzhou Ancient City Wall is one of the best preserved and larges scaled city wall in southern part in China, which is historic from the Warring States period. Visit this ancient site to admire its look kept from the Qing dynasty and understand the history of Jingzhou being the famous place in the past dynasties.

Onboard Activity: Demonstration of Hospitality & Service Skills by the Crew.

Chariot and Horse Mausoleum of King Chu in Jingzhou

Jingzhou Museum

Jingzhou Ancient City Wall

Today in Yichang, immerse yourself in a blend of engineering feats and cultural delights. Start your day with a tranquil morning routine of tea, coffee, and Tai Chi, then savor a buffet breakfast on the cruise. Watch the ship pass through the Gezhou Dam in the morning, and listen to a talk on the Three Gorges Dam and its locks. Lunch is a buffet with selected free drinks. Afternoon brings a visit to the Three Gorges Dam, where you’ll explore the River Closure Memorial Park and the Three Gorges Dam Project Museum, appreciating the “Great Wall of Steel on the Yangtze River” on-site. As evening approaches, enjoy a dinner inspired by Hubei cuisine with free-flowing drinks on the cruise. Later, experience the thrill of the ship moving through the Three Gorges Dam’s five-level locks, and join a festive party on the sun deck with complimentary beverages.

Shore excursion visits: Three Gorges Dam

The Three Gorges Dam is the No.1 must-see attraction arranged by every ship as the first or last shore excursion. Located in Yichang City, it has been the world’s largest power station. Three Gorges Dam is 3,335 meters long and the top of the dam is 185 meters above sea level. The dam consists of three parts - dam body, power plants and ship lift. It is used for producing electricity, but also increase the Yangtze River’s shipping capacity. Travelers with a Yangtze River cruise will spend about 2 to 3 hours visiting the River Closure Memorial Park and the Three Gorges Dam Project Museum. You will not only take a close look at the impressive huge dam, but also learn the history, social impact, economics about the dam.

Three Gorges Dam Five Stages Ship Locks is so far the largest ship locks globally. With a water height difference of 113 meters in total, it is the most complicated ship locks to construct universally.

Xiling Gorge is the longest part with 76 km and also the most beautiful one among all the three gorges. Known for its dangerous rugged shoals & turbulent waters, historically. Now tourists can hardly see the billowy waves, but the beautiful landscape will let you forget the worries and linger.

World-famous Three Gorges Dam

Xiling Gorge with Mists

Three Gorges Dam with Ship Locks

On the tenth day, you’ll be captivated by the scenic Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge as you cruise through Chongqing’s Wu County and Fengjie, the “City of Poetry,” with two cultural experiences to choose from.

Option A: In the afternoon, delve into the history of White Emperor City, where Li Bai, the immortal poet, once penned his works. This isolated yet magnificent site provides stunning views of the Qutang Gorge and a wealth of historical and cultural insights.

Option B: Also in the afternoon, ascend to the Three Gorges Summit for a bird’s-eye view of the Qutang Gorge. From this vantage point, take in the grandeur of the landscape, the imposing Kuimen, and the Yangtze River's flow, experiencing the region's natural splendor in a new light.

In the evening, savor a Three Kingdoms-themed dinner on board, followed by the grand poetic and cultural show “Return to the Three Gorges” from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

Shore excursion visits: White Emperor City OR Three Gorges Summit

Qutang Gorge at the western section is narrow and dramatic like an art gallery of nature, which offers superb magnificent scenery for all guests. Wu Gorge is the middle one gorge. It is a mysterious gorge site well-known for its frequently rising and passing mists, which is extremely beautiful and gorgeous with the leaves in red, yellow, golden and orange during autumn.

White Emperor City is located on the north side of Qutang Gorge, White Emperor City offers the best angle to view the magnificent Kui Gate. Known as the Poem City, White Emperor City has attracted many poets come and left many famous poems. What makes this place known to outside is the historical story of “Entrusting Zhuge Liang with an Orphan in Baidi Town”.

Three Gorges Summit is the highest peak of the famous Three Gorges area to catch the most beautiful gorge and winding river sightseeing

Onboard Activity: Enjoy the Return to the Three Gorges Show (Directed by Zhang Yimou) at night.

Return to the Three Gorges Show is an extravagant live spectacle masterminded by Yimou Zhang, which uses the natural backdrop and historical essence of the Three Gorges to bring classic verses to life through contemporary technology such as sound, light, and special effects. The show melds poetic recitations, dance performances, and visual projections to celebrate the allure of Chinese poetry.

Magnificent Qutang Gorge

Breathtaking Wu Gorge Scenery

Fengjie White Emperor City

Summit of Three Gorges at Fengjie, Chongqing

Greet the day in Fengdu, a locale famed for its Ghost City - a fusion of folklore, religious practices, and cultural expression. Begin your morning with a soothing session of tea, coffee, and Tai Chi, followed by a satisfying breakfast on the cruise ship. A briefing on disembarking sets the stage for the day’s adventures. While cruising, a lavish lunch buffet with an open bar is at your disposal. In the afternoon, embark on an exploration of Fengdu Ghost City, a tapestry of sites that bring the enigmatic world beyond life into focus. As evening falls, head back to the ship for a delightful dinner buffet with a range of complimentary drinks. The day concludes with a warm photography sharing and farewell event, where we reflect on our shared experiences and exchange the stories behind the snapshots we’ve taken during our voyage.

Shore excursion visits: Fengdu Ghost City

Fengdu Ghost City is a large complex of shrines, temples and monasteries dedicated to the afterlife located on Ming Mountain. You’ll have a learning about Chinese demons and beliefs of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

Onboard Activity: Photography Sharing Salon about the Yangtze & Cruise.

Fengdu Ghost City

In this morning, your ship will arrive at Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock around 09:00 where you will go through a check-out procedure and disembark.Upon arrival, your guide and driver will pick you up at the port and take you to fully experience the uniqueness of the Mountain City and culture of the Yangtze River!

First, visit Three Gorges Museum. The vast collection of over 280 thousand pieces of precious historical relics will let you have an amazing understanding of the great Yangtze River and formation of the magnificent Three Gorges. You'll also know the gradual thriving of Chongqing from 3,000 years ago, to its war defense in the 20th century, and developmental path to be one of the 4 prosperous municipalities in China. Step out of the museum for a nice look at the People’s Assembly Hall, popular with fancy classical exterior design and listed into the History of Architecture compiled in London in 1987.

Next, go to take Chonqing Rail Transit Line 2 from Huanghuayuan Metro Station to Liziba Metro Station to look at the city’s prototype from a different angle. Get off to have the never-seen scene of the train going through an 11-storey block of flats, which exists only in the fantastic mountain-leaning Chongqing!

Then, travel up to E’ling Park and embrace the impressive panorama of Chongqing City that has been highly praised as “Little Hong Kong” with its well-arranged row upon row of modern skyscrapers and two winding rivers flowing.

Go down to visit the must-see Hongya Cave to appreciate the layers of featured Ba and Shu regional wooden tilted houses overlapped leaning the mountain up to 11 storeys. The buildings look quite glittery with orange lights from nightfall. Continue to get up to the 11th level with vehicles and roads alongside and catch the sparkling nightscape.

Liziba Metro Station

Three Gorges Museum

Hongya Cave Night View

Erling Park

Board Yangtze Cruise Ship at Chaotianmen Port

Your guide will pick you up from the hotel to the airport/train stations in time for the scheduled flight/high-speed trains to your next destination. Before that, you can take a rest at the hotel or go for a walk nearby.

Departure Ideas: Travelers can take a flight from Chongqing Jiangbei Airport to Xian, Guilin, Lhasa, Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Shangri-La and Dali, etc. Or you can take a high speed train from railway stations in Chongqing to Chengdu (about 1.5hrs), Xian (5.5~6hrs), Guiyang (2~2.5hrs), Guilin (4~5hrs) and more cities in China.