Yangzi Explorer
Breaking News! Yangzi Explorer is going to sail its brand-new luxury cruise vessel in April 2025!
This “Newly constructed” ship will be the newest and unparalleled luxury cruise on the Yangtze! As its precious Yangzi Explorer with 30 years' experience and once selected by Warren Buffett and more global celebrities, the new one is your Best Choice for the ultimate luxury cruise vacation! Despite its name and all-suite design, it also strictly keeps the finest and most personalized one-on-one service (river highest crew to passenger ratio of 1:1) to ensure every level of comfort for an intimate cruising experience.
2025 Yangzi Explorer cruise booking: Select your favorite date and make your 2025 Yangzi Explorer early bird booking at a good price!
Yangzi Explorer Special Route to Shennongjia 2025: It is the 2025 only cruise offering routes to Shennongjia Nature Reserve (UNESCO World Natural Heritage) which is a vibrantly colorful home to rare animals and plants.
Cruise Route:
- 3N & 4D Chongqing - Yichang Cruise (to Lesser Three Gorges)
- 4N & 5D Yichang - Chongqing Cruise (via Badong)
- 4N & 5D Yichang - Chongqing Cruise (via Shennongjia UNESCO Heritage Site)
Yangzi Explorer Cruise Special Offer 2025
In the year of 2025, the proud luxury Yangtze Explorer takes the lead in creating offers the attractive visit to the famous Shennongjia National Nature Reserve during your leisure cruising on the Yangtze River cruise in summer period. Besides the highlighting Shennongjia, the cruise would take distinguished you to appreciate the magnificent Three Gorges, and picturesque Three Gorges Summit, poetic White Emperor City and more interesting cultural sites along the golden section between Yichang and Chongqing.
2025 Yangzi Explorer Shennongjia Special Route Sailing Dates: April 20, May 18, June 22, July 13, July 27, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 2.
Embarkation
- Highlights of Today
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- Upon your arrival at Yichang, either at the Three Gorges Airport or Yichang East Railway Station, you will be greeted by a representative and transferred to Yichang Huangling Temple Port to board the Yangzi Explorer.
- Before embarking, choose the complimentary pre-cruise tour between:
Option A: VIP Three Gorges Project Tour (Included)
(It is the world largest hydroelectric station and the biggest dam project in the whole China contributing a lot to the flood control, electricity generation, shipping, etc. and is the No.2 essence of a Yangtze River cruise trip. As part of Yangtzi Explorer's exclusive itinerary, you will have the opportunity to visit the River Closure Park and Three Gorges Project Museum.)
Option B: Qu Yuan Temple & the Hubei Three Gorges Resettlement Museum (Included)
(Visitors to Quyuan Temple can explore a beautifully preserved environment that echoes the ancient times, with traditional architecture, tranquil gardens, and exhibits that tell the story of Qu Yuan's life and contributions to Chinese literature. The view of the Three Gorges Dam from Qu Yuan Temple is nothing short of breathtaking, offering a panoramic glimpse into the harmony between nature and human achievement.)
(Hubei Three Gorges Resettlement Museum, offers a unique glimpse of the Three Gorges Dam. The museum not only honors the resilience and adaptability of those who were resettled but also provides a profound understanding of the environmental, social, and cultural impact of the Three Gorges Dam.)
- After you’ve settled into your cabin, enjoy your dinner at the Dynasty Restaurant (or any other prebooked dining venue available on board)
- Join the safety briefing and Captain’s Welcome Reception at the Explorer Bar.
- In the late evening, experience a marvel of modern engineering as the Yangzi Explorer navigates through the world's largest and most technologically advanced ship lift, the Three Gorges Ship Lift.
(This lift boasts a lift capacity of 15,500 tons and a vertical lift height of 113 meters, equivalent to a 40-story building. Yangzi Explorer is one of the select few vessels that can journey through this impressive structure on its own.)
- Dining
- Buffet diner
Shennongjia Exploration
- Highlights of Today
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- Start your morning with an early bird tea or coffee followed by Tai Chi lesson;
- Embark on a full day excursion to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, Shennongjia (Included);
(Shennongjia National Park, located between the Yangtze River and the Han River. The park is renowned for its towering peaks that rise above 3000 meters and are often referred as “Roof of Central China”. At the Guanmenshan Scenic Area, a unique botanical garden and a giant panda pavilion, you can encounter a variety of rare animals and plants, offering a live tableau of Darwin's theories.)
- Entertainment Onboard
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- Band performance at the bar
- Movie
- Dining
- Morning (Early Bird Tea or Coffee); Breakfast (Chinese & Western Buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western Buffet); Dinner (Chinese & Western Buffet)
Fengjie
- Highlights of Today
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- Start your morning with an early bird tea or coffee followed by Tai Chi lesson;
- Sail through Wu Gorge (Included).
(Characterized by majestic peaks crowned by lush forests, Wu Gorge is said to be celestial. Legend has it that Yao Ji loved this area so much that she and her 12 attendants were transformed into the graceful peaks.);
- Sail through Qutang Gorge (Included).
(Qutang Gorge is the shortest, most dramatic and magnificent gorge among the three gorges and lets you admire the view of Kui Gate printed on the 10 RMB Chinese Note.);
- After lunch, choose from three excursions in Fengjie:
Option A: White Emperor City (Included)
(A famous Chinese Ancient “Poem City” mentioned in about 1,400 Chinese poems. It tells the touching story of Liu Bei entrusting his son to his prime minister, Zhuge Liang and has the best location to admire Kuimen Gate of Qutang Gorge.)
Option B: Poetic Trail in Qutang Gorge (Included)
(This trail meanders up to the Three Gorges Summit offering one of the most classic hiking routes in the region, typically taking six hours to complete. In order to spare guests from too much fatigue, Yangtze Explorer select the essence of one hour.)
Option C: Three Gorges Summit (Included)
(Three Gorges Summit is the highest peak of the famous Three Gorges area to catch the most beautiful gorge and winding river sightseeing.)
- Entertainment Onboard
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- Learn to play Tai Chi in early morning;
- Attend a lecture on Chinese poetry by a local scholar
- Dining
- Morning (Early Bird Tea or Coffee); Breakfast (Chinese & Western Buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western Buffet); Dinner (Chinese & Western Buffet)
Zhongxian
- Highlights of Today
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- After breakfast, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from three carefully curated excursions:
Option A: Shibaozhai Pagoda (Included)
(The 12-story red building is reputed as the gem of Chinese architecture and one of the top 8 most peculiar architectures in the world. Popular among cruise visitors to look at the pagoda leaning the hills and climb up.)
Option B: Xituo Ancient Town (Included)
(Nestled among stunning natural landscapes, Xituo offers a glimpse into the daily life and rich cultural tapestry of its inhabitants. Dating back to the pre-Qin era, Xituo served as a crucial salt transfer station. Scholars consider it among the world’s earliest commercial and trading towns.)
Option C: Huanghua Island (Included)
(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. It still preserves the ruins of the ancient state government offices and city walls.)
- After breakfast, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from three carefully curated excursions:
- Entertainment Onboard
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- Learn to play Tai Chi in early morning;
- Dining
- Morning (Early Bird Tea or Coffee); Breakfast (Chinese & Western Buffet); Lunch (Chinese & Western Buffet); Dinner (Chinese & Western Buffet)
Disembarkation
- Highlights of Today
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- Ship disembarkation at Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing around 09:00.
(Chongqing is known as the “Mountain City” because mant mountains converge here, adn the Yangtze, Jialing and Fu rivers surround it, forming a unique landscape of mountains and rivers. It was once an important military stronghold and political center.)
- Guests will be transferred to Chongqing Airport, Railway Station or downtown Chongqing.
- Ship disembarkation at Chaotianmen Dock in Chongqing around 09:00.
- Dining
- Breakfast (Chinese & Western Buffet)
- 2025 Yangzi Explorer Shennongjia Special Route Sailing Dates: April 20, May 18, June 22, July 13, July 27, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 2.
- Subject to Change:
Please note that all arrival and departure times, shore excursions and lectures are subject to change due to weather, river conditions and permission from the navigational authorities. The cruise company will arrange the same fabulous sightseeing if the prearranged sites cannot be visited in a particular case.
- ※ Cruise Declaration:
In case of force majeure such as flood, low water level, weather or other safety reasons, the cruise company has the right to cancel or adjust the sailing schedule or change the itinerary and scenic spots at any time. The cruise and our company (yangtze-river-cruises.com) will not be liable for any loss caused to the guests by cancellation, adjustment of flight schedule and change of itinerary and scenic spots due to the above reasons.
- Embarkation Tips:
(a) Please call the ship one day ahead or at least in the morning on the boarding day to have clear idea about which pier you are going to use; (b) It is better to arrive in Chongqing before 16:30 on the embarkation day; (c) There are 14 sub-pier of Chongqing Chaotianmen Port. As the car/taxi driver can only stop the car at the entrance of the port, you need to walk to your exact pier. Usually, it needs about 180 meters (about 3 minutes) to the nearest No.9 Dock, about 180-680 meters (about 3-8 minutes) to No.7, No.5, No.3 and No.1 Docks, and about 680-850 meters (about 10-15 minutes) to the No.2, No.4, No.6, No.8 and No.10 Docks from the east side, via the edge of the port to the west side; (d) The boarding time and departure piers may change based on the ship line, water level, season, weather and other factors. Please pay attention to the important info your travel consultants sent to you before your boarding.
- Disembarkation Tips:
Luggage Consigning for Chongqing - Yichang Disembarkation: For the national policy about the security of the Three Gorges Dam Project, no large luggage (exceeding 20cm*40cm*50cm or 5kg) is allowed to be taken into Three Gorges Dam scenic area. You could consign your luggage to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal and get the luggage consigning document from the cruise staff on the 4th cruising day morning and gather it after you are in Yichang downtown by showing that document. The service is offered by the cruise company.
- Arranged Shore Excursion:
The ARRANGED shore excursions are included in your quotation, so you could visit the sites without extra charge. However, if you do not visit the sites, the fees of arranged shore excursion sites are not refunded. If you do not visit the shore excursions, you could stay on the ship to enjoy some leisure time. And for your safety, you are not allowed to leave your ship on your own.
- About Three Gorges Project Ship Lift:
Please be aware that the passage is subject to weather conditions and water levels, which may affect the transit. Additionally, the ship lift will undergo annual maintenance at the end of August, during which it will be closed for approx. 35 days.
- Optional Shore Excursions:
The OPTIONAL shore excursion needs extra charge. The optional sites will be visited depending on the number of travelers who want to go. You can visit if there are 2-8 or more people interested (the number of visitors may be adjusted based on the real situation). You have the final decision where to go or not on your own. If yes, tell the reception desk who would register for you and receive your pay in site.
- Physical Demands:
There are many stairs to climb up to Three Gorges Summit and reach the top of Shibaozhai Pagoda / White Emperor City / Three Gorges Summit. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended to visit these sites.
- Chongqing / Yichang Local Transportation:
To know detailed transportation in Chongqing and Yichang, please head to How to Get to/Leave Yangtze Cruise Ports in Chongqing and Yichang.
- Dressing Code for Parties:
Travelers who attend the Captain's Welcome Reception, Yangtze Pirate Night Show should wear smart casual or formal.
- More Travel Guide & Support:
To know more details your life onboard, like cabins, dining, drinking, service, onboard activities and lectures, please head to Yangtze River Cruise Guide 2025/2026. You’ll find everything here.
Schedule of Yangzi Explorer
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- The above price range is based on a standard cabin for twin sharing.
- The prices are valid by Dec.31 of the year.
- Please enquire us of the exact price according to your nationality, cruising time and cruising route.
- The cruise prices for holidays such as National Holiday (the first week of October), Labor Day, Spring Festival, etc., are quoted upon request.
- Limited winter schedules may be adjusted into other dates, cruise ships, etc. based on the arrangement of the cruise company.
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