6 Days Shanghai and Yangtze River Cruise Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai
   Optional Activities: Experience the Fastest Land Transportation / Enjoy a Spectacular Acrobatic Show

   A warm welcome to our 6-day Yangtze River Cruise tour departing from Shanghai, China's most bustling metropolis. Upon your arrival at the airport, a local driver and guide will be waiting for you at the exit to escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own pace. We can arrange activities for you (at extra cost) as follows:

   Experience the Shanghai Maglev train, which is currently the fastest land transportation in the world. The total length of the route is 30 kilometers, with a one-way travel time of only 8 minutes and a maximum speed of over 400 kilometers per hour. The train is equipped with soft seats and a stable 5G commercial terminal inside the carriage, allowing passengers to engage in mobile office, video conferencing, high-definition video, interactive gaming and other services on the train. Running time: 06:45 to 21:42.

   

   Enjoy a wonderful Acrobatic Show, which combines traditional Chinese acrobatic art with modern technology to present a visual feast. Performance time: 19:30 to 21:00.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

2. Day 2: Shanghai City Tour
   Discover the History and Prosperity of the Cosmopolitan City

   Your Shanghai tour begins at the Shanghai Museum, which houses a collection of over 120,000 fine artifacts from all dynasties, featuring ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings. In addition, you will also enjoy the art of ancient Buddha sculpture, traditional handicrafts of ethnic minorities, exquisite jade, and furniture of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1616-1912).

   Then, proceed to Yuyuan Garden, a well-known classical garden in Jiangnan (the south of the Yangtze River). Covering an area of 2 hectares, Yuyuan Garden has been in existence for more than 450 years. It is characterized by a variety of pavilions and trees, and is famous for its seclusion and exquisite beauty. Adjacent to the garden is the Yuyuan Bazaar, where you can taste local snacks and pick up some traditional handicrafts.

   

   Afterwards, head to the Shanghai World Financial Center, the fourth tallest building in China, to enjoy the breathtaking skyline as well as panoramic views of the city.

   Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is one of Shanghai's calling cards and a must-see for tourists. Here you can experience the bustling commercial atmosphere, explore the rich history and culture, and sample the culinary delights. Next, take a stroll along the Bund, enjoying the architectural diversity and the night view of the Huangpu River. You can experience an optional activity - a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

   

3. Day 3: Shanghai to Chongqing by Flight
   Discover Chongqing's Culture, History & Night View before Cruising the Yangtze River

   After breakfast, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to the "Mountain City" of Chongqing. The city is known nationwide for its spicy hot pots, beautiful night scenery, and gateway to the Yangtze River cruise ships.

   Upon arrival, your local guide will first take you to visit the Ciqikou Ancient Town, which has a dozen or so streets and alleys lined with Ming and Qing style buildings. You can taste many delicious snacks here.

   

   Continue your exploration of the Three Gorges Museum, which houses tens of thousands of various cultural relics such as the Bashu bronzes and the Han Dynasty sculpture artifacts. Here you will learn about the changes in the Three Gorges area over the past hundred years.

   Afterwards, visit the city's most famous night scene - Hongya Cave. There are densely packed stilted buildings with restaurants, snack streets, bars, cafes, and local specialty shops. From the viewing platform on the top floor, one can see the scenery of the confluence of the two rivers from afar.

   

   At the end of the day, your tour guide will escort you to Chaotianmen Dock to board your Yangtze River Cruise. Check-in time is 18:00 - 20:00.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: on Cruise

4. Day 4: Yangtze River Cruise Tour
   Being in the Midst of the Splendid River Scenery

   Your Yangtze River cruise tour begins early in the morning with a Tai Chi class on deck. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial arts program. People can exercise their bodies and hearts through slow, continuous movements and breathing exercises. Then, attend a historical and cultural lecture about the Yangtze River to learn about the development of this area. Afterwards, you can enjoy a cup of coffee while admiring the beautiful scenery on both sides of the river.

   In the afternoon, you will have a shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda. Standing at a height of 56 meters, it is an impressive 12-storey wooden structure built on a hill and surrounded by water. Here, you will find a white jade relief wall depicting the story of Guan Yu (deified as God of War) during the Three Kingdoms period. Climbing to the top of the pagoda, you can visit the Hall of Heavenly Kings, with a history of over 400 years, the earliest surviving building in Shibaozhai.

   

   In the evening, you will attend a welcoming banquet and party on board and enjoy local cuisine as well as cultural performances.

   Optional Activity:

   You may consider visiting Fengdu Ghost City, famous for its exquisite temples and mysterious Chinese myths (additional fees apply).

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

   Accommodation: on Cruise

5. Day 5: Yangtze River Cruise Tour
   Admire the Splendor of the Three Gorges

   Your tour today will take you through the breathtaking Three Gorges (including Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge), during which you can see towering peaks and lush vegetation along the riverbanks. Grab your camera to capture the picturesque natural scenery.

   

   After sailing for a while, you will change to a smaller boat to explore the narrower Shennv Creek. Here you can enjoy the most pristine valley. You will also have the chance to experience the culture of the Tujia people through local music and dance performances.

   Afterwards, return to the cruise ship for the Captain's Farewell Party in the evening, featuring music, dance, and farewell toasts to celebrate the end of your Yangtze River cruise in a joyous atmosphere.

   Optional Activity:

   Today, you have a chance to visit White Emperor City. During the Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties (960-1279), famous poets such as Li Bai and Du Fu visited this place and wrote a lot of poems. Therefore, White Emperor City has the reputation as a "Poetry City". Surrounded by water on all sides, the highest point of the City allows one to overlook the Yangtze River and the surrounding spectacular scenery.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

   Accommodation: on Cruise

   

6. Day 6: Departure from Yichang
   Admire the World's Largest Water Conservancy Project

   After breakfast, check out and you will disembark at Maoping Port. Your tour guide will then take you to visit an engineering miracle, the Three Gorges Dam. You will climb the 262.48-meter-high Tanzi Ridge, where you will enjoy the panoramic view of the Three Gorges Dam. In addition, you can also climb up to the 185 Viewpoint to get a closer look at the dam. After the visit, you will take the bus arranged by the cruise company to the Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. A dedicated driver will escort you to the airport for your flight to your next destination. Safe journey!

   

   Ideas for departure: At Yichang Three Gorges Airport you can take flights to Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Hangzhou.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A