11 DAYS YANGZI EXPLORER: FROM WUHAN TO CHONGQING

Arrive in Wuhan & Discover Its Historic Landmarks

Arrive in Wuhan by morning flight and begin your exploration of the city. Visit the iconic Yellow Crane Tower, one of Wuhan’s most celebrated landmarks, followed by Qingchuan Pavilion, set at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers. Later, stroll along Lihuangpi Road, a historic street lined with elegant architecture and former residences.

Hubei’s Cultural Treasures & East Lake

Begin the day at the Hubei Provincial Museum, home to an exceptional collection of artefacts showcasing the rich history and culture of the region. Continue to Tingtao Scenic Area, East Lake, a tranquil lakeside setting with landscaped gardens and scenic walking paths. This evening, enjoy dinner at a Black Pearl-rated restaurant featuring the distinctive flavours of Hubei cuisine.

From Wuhan to Yichang via the Ancient Kingdom of Chu

After breakfast, travel by road from Wuhan to Jingzhou, approximately 2.5 hours away, to visit the Chu King’s Chariot and Horse Array. Explore this important archaeological site associated with the ancient Chu Kingdom, with its remarkable collection of ancient chariots and horse remains.

Continue by road for approximately 1.5 hours to Yichang, gateway to the spectacular Three Gorges region.

The Legacy of Qu Yuan in Zigui

Travel approximately 1.5 hours from Yichang to Zigui, the hometown of the celebrated Chinese poet and statesman Qu Yuan. Visit Qu Yuan Temple, situated on Fenghuang Mountain overlooking the Yangtze River and the surrounding Three Gorges landscape.

Next, visit the Hubei Three Gorges Migration Museum, which explores the history and human stories behind the large-scale resettlement brought about by the Three Gorges Project. Afterwards, return to Yichang.

Three Gorges Dam VIP Experience & Embarkation

Today, enjoy an exclusive VIP experience at the Three Gorges Dam. Visit the Three Gorges Project River Closure Park, where you can appreciate the immense scale of this landmark engineering project from the front of the dam. The park preserves construction materials, machinery, and other remnants from the dam’s construction, offering a fascinating insight into the project's monumental undertaking.

Proceed to the Three Gorges Project Museum, located approximately 1 kilometers from the dam. The museum presents the planning, design, construction, and operation of the Three Gorges Project through a comprehensive collection of exhibits.

Later, transfer to Huangling Temple Port to board the Yangzi Explorer for a four-night cruise through the spectacular Three Gorges.

Shennongjia’s Primeval Forests & Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys

Set out on a full-day excursion to Shennongjia, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site renowned for its rugged mountains, pristine forests and remarkable biodiversity. Rising above 3,000 metres, its peaks have earned the region the evocative nickname “Roof of Central China.”

Explore the Guanmen Mountain Scenic Area, home to a natural exhibition hall, botanical garden and giant panda pavilion, where you can encounter an extraordinary variety of plants and wildlife. Venture into the ancient forest landscapes, characterised by bamboo, vines and vibrant flora, and learn about the conservation of the region’s rare golden snub-nosed monkeys, one of China’s protected species.

The Legends of the Three Gorges & White Emperor City

Begin the day with an early morning tea or coffee, followed by a traditional Tai Chi session on board. After breakfast, relax and take in the magnificent scenery as the Yangzi Explorer sails through Wu Gorge, renowned for its forest-clad peaks and ethereal beauty, and the dramatic Qutang Gorge, the shortest and narrowest of the Three Gorges, where towering cliffs rise steeply above the Yangtze.

After lunch, take a 15-minute coach ride to historic White Emperor City, perched on Baidi Hill at the western entrance to Qutang Gorge. Explore its exhibition halls, featuring calligraphy, paintings, and displays that reveal the region's rich cultural heritage and its association with the celebrated Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. From here, enjoy one of the finest views of Kuimen, the imposing gateway to Qutang Gorge, famously depicted on China's 10-yuan banknote.

Shibaozhai & Riverside Heritage

Discover Shibaozhai, a remarkable feat of ancient wooden architecture perched atop a 220-metre hill on the north bank of the Yangtze River. Its striking pavilion, soaring 56 metres high with twelve floors, is often likened to a towering piece of jade. Legend attributes the hill’s formation to the goddess Nuwa, who shaped the landscape while repairing the heavens after a celestial battle.

Originally built as a nine-storey structure, the pavilion gained its upper three floors during a 1956 restoration, earning the nickname “Nine Heavens.” Today, it remains one of the few surviving wooden structures of its kind in China, offering a fascinating glimpse into the ingenuity of traditional Chinese architecture.

Chongqing & the Dazu Rock Carvings

Disembark the Yangzi Explorer at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port and travel approximately 2 hours by road to Dazu.

Explore the Beishan Rock Carvings and the Museum of Dazu Rock Carvings, followed by the remarkable Baodingshan Rock Carvings. Renowned for their exquisite Buddhist sculptures and intricate reliefs, these UNESCO-listed masterpieces offer an extraordinary insight into the religious art of medieval China.

Return to Chongqing after the excursion.

816 Project & the Living Traditions of Chongqing

This morning, travel approximately 2 hours by road from Chongqing to Fuling to explore the 816 Project, an extraordinary underground complex constructed during the Cold War. Carved deep into the mountains, the vast complex offers a remarkable insight into one of China's most ambitious underground engineering projects.

Return to Chongqing and visit the historic Huguang Guild Hall, an important reminder of the city's history as a centre of migration and commerce. This evening, enjoy a specially arranged performance at its century-old traditional theatre, featuring the celebrated Sichuan opera art of face-changing.

Departure from Chongqing

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight, concluding your journey through Wuhan, the Three Gorges, and Chongqing.