Yangtze River Crusie Route Comparison
Yangtze River Cruise routes are divided into 4 kinds according to cruise length and days. They are 4-5 days Chongqing and Yichang Route, 4 days Shanghai and Nanjing Route, 10 days Chongqing and Shanghai route, 4-6 days Chongqing and Wuhan route, .
Latest news for Yangtze Cruise route: we are sorry to inform you that there is no ship sailing between Chongqing and Wuhan in 2018. If you are interested in shorter Yangtze River cruising, you can take the popular itinerary between Chongqing and Yichang which covers all the essence of Yangtze River.
Here we compared the routes as well as the upstream and downstream of each route, hoping to give you a clearer mind about the difference so that you can choose a more suitable ship for your need.
No.1: Chongqing and Yichang - the most popular Yangtze cruise route
This route is chosen by 95% travelers. Rich shore excursions, including White Emperor City, Fengdu Ghost City, Lesser Three Gorgers and Shennong Stream, offer you the best of the Three Gorgers in one go.
You can choose from the top deluxe Yangtze Explorer, popular Victoria Cruises, Century Cruises and Yangtze Gold Cruises, to the budget President Cruises. Wild choices of ships and sailing dates, please check the Yangtze Cruise Calendar.
Chongqing - Yichang (4D & 3N) Yangtze Downstream Cruise
- Duration: 4 Days and 3 Nights
- Shore excursion:
Shibaozhai Pagoda, Shennv Stream, Three Gorges Dam Site, Fengdu Ghost City (optional) and White Emperor City (optional) - Chongqing is well connected by air and train with many cities in China.
Down stream
Yichang - Chongqing (5D & 4N) Yangtze Upstream Cruise
- Duration: 5 Days and 4 Nights
- Shore excursion:
Three Gorges Dams Site, Shennong Stream or Shennv Stream, Shibaozhai Pagoda , Fengdu Ghost City (optional), White Emperor City (optional) and Tripe of Three Gorges (optional) - Yichang is less conveninet in traffic, but well connected with Shanghai
- The price of Upstream is CHEAPER than that of downstream.
Up stream
No.2: Chongqing Roundtrip - the inspiring newly designed trip for in-depth Yangtze nature & culture
The brand-new cruise route takes only Century Legend cruise visitors to discover the classic and new terrific natural landscape and cultural & historic relic sites between Chongqing and Wu Gorge. The relatively shorter distance but wonderful arrangements offer great experience of Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Shennv Stream and top sites in Fuling, Fengjia, Yunyang counties, such as 816 Nuclear Military Plant, White Emperor City, Yunyang Longgang National Geological Park, and so forth for a new sailing experience on essential Yangtze!
4D & 3N Chongqing Roundtrip Downstream Yangtze Cruise
- Duration: 4 Days and 3 Nights
- Shore excursion:
Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Shennv Stream, White Emperor City, 816 Nuclear Military Plant, and Mt. Wuling. - Visitors will embark at Chongqing Chaotianmen Dock on Day 1 night and disembark in Wanzhou Port and take the shuttle bus back to Chongqing downtown on Day 4 morning.
Down stream
5D & 4N Chongqing Roundtrip Downstream Yangtze Cruise
- Duration: 5 Days and 4 Nights
- Shore excursion:
Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Shennv Stream, White Emperor City, Fengdu Ghost City, Yunyang Longgang National Geological Park, and Zhang Fei Temple. - Visitors will take the shuttle bus in Chongqing downtown to Wanzhou Port for boarding at late afternoon on Day 1 and disembark at Chaotianmen Dock on Day 5 morning.
Up stream
No.3: Chongqing and Shanghai - the most relaxing route but needs more time and money
Century Sky is the ONLY ship sailing between Chongqing and Shanghai. The longest and most relaxing cruise route including further shore excursions to Yangzhou city, Chizhou city, Jingdezhen town, Jingzhou city, Wuhan city, Three Gorges, etc. which offers a deeper exploration about the local culture along different regions of the Yangtze.
Chongqing - Shanghai (10D & 9N) Yangtze Downstream Cruise
- Duration: 10 Days and 9 Nights
- 16 Shore excursions including Shennv Stream, Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam Site, Five-stages Ship Locks, Gezhouba Dam, Hubei Provincial Museum (in Wuhan), Jingdezhen porcelain kilns (in Jingdezhen), Xinghuacun Ancient Village (in Chizhou), Dongguan Old Street and Geyuan Garden (in Yangzhou), etc.
Down stream
Shanghai - Chongqing (10D & 9N) Yangtze Upstream Cruise
- Duration: 10 Days and 9 Nights
- 15 Shore excursions including, Geyuan Garden, Dongguan Ancient Street, Xinghuacun Village, Jingdezhen ancient kiln porcelain yard, Jingzhou Ancient City Wall, Hubei Provincial Museum, East Lake, Three Gorges Dam, Five-stages Ship Locks, Shennv Stream and Shibaozhai Pagoda, etc.
Up stream
No.4: Chongqing and Wuhan - Special Cruise Line on Yangtze
Since Victoria Sophia offers lines between Chongqing and Shanghai, and it stops in Wuhan City. Guests could board and disembark in Wuhan for 4-day downstream cruise from Chongqing to Wuhan and 6-day upstream cruise from Wuhan to Chongqing. For the itinerary details, please view the itinerary offered by Victoria Sophia.
2024/2025 Cruise Calendar
Top Yangtze Cruises
Compare Yangtze Ships
New to Cruising?
Do you have any questions about planning or booking a Yangtze cruise? The following articles introduce you to what makes cruising such a unique and memorable way to travel the Yangtze River, when is the best time to cruise Yangzi, how to choose your best route, how to choose a Yangtze ship, how to choose a cabin, what you can do onboard and ashore...
Not easy to find the right cruise ship/itinerary for you? Please contact one of our Yangtze cruise specialists to save your time and money. Click the right button to send an online inquiry and we will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hours.