Three Gorges cruises sail between Chongqing and Yichang, with cabin stays, meals and scenic river stops. Choose downstream for 4 days and 3 nights, or upstream for 5 days and 4 nights.

Chaotianmen朝天门
Yichang宜昌
Map · Sights

Pick the experience you want

The phrase "Yangtze cruise" covers two completely different travel experiences. A city night cruise stays within central Chongqing. It offers views of skyscrapers, lit bridges, and glowing stilt houses from the water in a single evening.

A Three Gorges cruise (三峡游轮) is a multi-day voyage along the river toward Yichang (宜昌). It takes you through hundreds of kilometres of mountain canyons and stops at historic riverside sights.

Cruise Main reason to book Time needed
Chongqing two-river cruise City skyline, Hongya Cave, and bridges One evening
Chongqing to Yichang (downstream) Gorge scenery, relaxing ship life, and shore trips 4 days and 3 nights
Yichang to Chongqing (upstream) The same river journey sailing against the current 5 days and 4 nights

For this river journey, you can book a Golden-series Three Gorges cruise.

Multi-day sailings can vary by company, ship, and timetable. Confirm the exact sailing before you book.

A city cruise for one evening

The city two-river cruise (两江游) sails around the downtown Yuzhong peninsula along parts of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River. From the boat, you get open views of the illuminated skyline and the glowing stilt buildings of Hongya Cave (洪崖洞).

See the Two Rivers night cruise guide for boats, piers and boarding.

Three Gorges: several nights aboard

Steep cliffs frame the deep green Yangtze River at Qutang Gorge, viewed from Baidicheng.
Photo by Tan Wei Liang Byorn

A multi-day journey through the Three Gorges suits travellers who want a slower journey through nature. You sail past high limestone cliffs, mist-covered peaks, and three famous canyons:

  • Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡)

  • Wu Gorge (巫峡)

  • Xiling Gorge (西陵峡)

On the downstream Chongqing to Yichang route (4 days, 3 nights), you board in Chongqing in the evening. You spend two full days visiting canyon sights and finish with the Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝) before taking a bus transfer into central Yichang.

The upstream Yichang to Chongqing route (5 days, 4 nights) takes one extra night because the ship travels against the river current. Passengers meet at the Yichang Three Gorges Cruise Terminal (宜昌三峡游客中心) and take a transfer bus to Maoping pier (茅坪码头) to board.

Boarding docks can be far from train stations. Always confirm your exact dock, luggage drop-off point, and final bus drop location so you can connect smoothly to onward trains or flights.

Cabins and total price

Ship Cabin and onboard differences Best fit
Victoria Sabrina (美维凯悦) Superior cabin: 25.5 m² including balcony; queen or twin beds. Total passenger capacity: 572. More room in a standard cabin.
Victoria Katarina (美维凯蒂) Superior cabin: 19.11 m² including balcony. Total passenger capacity: 264. A smaller ship with a more compact standard cabin.
Century Glory (世纪荣耀) Private-balcony Deluxe cabins, panda and Hello Kitty family suites, and self-service laundry. Families looking for a themed suite, or travellers who want to wash clothes on a longer trip.

Compare ships by cabin space, balconies and open deck areas. A larger cabin is useful for sharing; a balcony gives you a private place to watch the gorges.

For your total budget, add port transfers, chosen shore visits and any listed service charge to the cabin price. Compare the total for the same number of travellers and nights.

  • Bed layout and space: Base cabins usually feature two twin beds. For three people sharing, check whether adding an extra fold-away bed leaves enough walking space.

Use our Chongqing travel budget guide to plan your spending on land.

Shore excursions and meals

Ship dining features rotating Chinese and Western buffet dishes. If you have food allergies or dietary needs, tell your booking agent or cruise company before departure so the kitchen can prepare.

Daily shore excursions visit historic temples, scenic tributaries on smaller boats, and the Three Gorges Dam. Keep two practical points in mind:

  • Walking and stairs: Many shore visits involve steep stone steps and floating ramps. If you prefer to skip the climbing, you can stay on board and enjoy the sundeck views.

Choose White Emperor City (白帝城) for history and views over the entrance to Qutang Gorge. Choose Goddess Stream (神女溪) for a smaller-boat trip through a tributary gorge.

If your cruise transfer drops you off at the Three Gorges Tourist Center (三峡游客中心), a taxi to Yichang East railway station (宜昌东站) takes about 25 minutes. This is a practical route if you have luggage and an onward high-speed train to catch.

Sources & updates