DAY 1 YICHANG – ON BOARD THE YANGZI

Upon embarkation, settle into your cabin/suite and enjoy the sumptuous dinner. The ship will set sail on its upstream course through the Three Gorges region. The total length of this cruise is 660 kilometers (402 miles) and is considered by most Chinese to represent the single most scenic area in all of China. Centuries of poetry, essays and paintings have instilled a great reverence for the region lending it a special place in the heart of all Chinese travelers.

DAY 2 XILING GORGE/THE THREE GORGES DAM PROJECT

Your Yangzi cruise begins when the ship passes through the eastern part of the Xiling Gorge, then followed by a cruise briefing and safety orientation.

This morning, the ship will pass through the ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam Project and continue westward to Chongqing. The average passage time for a ship through this lock system takes approximately 3-4 hours. When a boat from the lower level enters one of the sluice gates, the gate is closed and the boat is "locked in" between two gates. The water level rises gradually until it reaches the height level needed to move the ship upwards. At the same time a ship – traveling downstream – can be “locked in” and moved down to the lower downstream level. Passage through the ship lock has quickly become one of the highlights of the cruise itinerary.

After lunch, you will be transferred overland to the site of the Three Gorges Dam Project, currently the largest dam construction project on earth. Your visit to the dam will include a stop at the highest point above the project for some panoramic views of the site. Continue on to the scale model where a comprehensive description of each phase of construction is given. Finally a stop will be made near the ship locks for a look at how this phase of the project is proceeding.

The Three Gorges Dam Project was begun in 1992 and will be completed and operational in 2009. The dam will be the largest dam on earth, generating 18,200 megawatts of hydroelectricity (almost 50% more than the world’s current largest dam, the Itaipu Dam in Brazil and Paraguay). The dam will be 1.2 miles in length and measure 600 feet (185 meters) in height. The dam will have 26 generators that, once in operation, will generate enough clean energy to reduce China’s reliance of highly polluting coal by up to 50 million tons annually. The dam will submerge 13 cities, 140 towns, 1,352 villages and over 600 industrial factories not to mention the more than 1,200 archeological projects and the 1.2 million people that will be resettled as a result of the flooding.

Following your visit to the Dam Site you will return to the pier and re-board your ship. The vessel will then set sail on her upstream course through the Three Gorges region. The ship will pass through the western part of the Xiling Gorge. The longest of the Gorges, the Xiling is 76 kilometres (47 miles) in length. One of the most memorable passages in the Xiling Gorge is through the Yellow Ox Gorge (Huangniu Xia) where the river widens and sweeps under the Huangling Temple. The temple stands amid groves of orange and pomelo trees (a variety of citrus related to the grapefruit).

DAY 3 XILING GORGE/SHENNONG STREAM EXCURSION/WU GORGE/QUTANG GORGE

This morning, the ship will reach Badong, a bustling river port which lies at the confluence of the Yangzi River and the Shennong Xi, an important tributary river. You will disembark from the ship (at Badong) and will board local longboats poled by Tujia boatmen, the traditional mariners of the great junks, which once plied the waters of the Yangzi above the Xiling Gorge.

The scenery is unrivaled anywhere along the middle course of the River – crystalline waters, rich forest and towering rock formations – the original landscape little altered for thousands of years.

The Shennong region is home to several species of endangered flora and fauna including the elusive Golden Hair Monkey and many varieties of medicinal plants.

Your longboat will travel for approximately two hours before beaching on a bend in the river and allowing you some time to explore the shore before returning to its confluence with the Yangzi. After arriving back at Badong, you will disembark from your long boat and return to the ship.

You will spend the balance of the day sailing through the last two gorges, the Wu Gorge and the Qutang Gorge.

The Wu Gorge is noted for the sheer, looming appearance of the numerous peaks, which mark this portion of the river. The cliff faces rise so sharply that legend relates that the “sun rarely penetrates to the river”. The most famous of the peaks is the Shennu Peak (Goddess Peak ) (also called the “Observing the Clouds Peak”) which is believed to represent the figure of the maiden Yao Ji, the 23rd daughter of the Queen Mother of the West. According to Chinese folklore, Yao Ji descended to earth when she was 18 and so loved the region of the Wu Gorge that she built a palace there. She also promised to guard travelers through the treacherous rapids and dangerous rock faces of the gorge by turning into the protective peak while her 12 handmaidens became the 12 sentinel peaks found throughout the gorge.

Your cruise continues upstream when you pass through the last and most scenic of the gorges, the Qutang Gorge. Just 8 kilometres (6 miles) in length, the Qutang Gorge is the narrowest stretch of the river on your cruise itinerary, only 150 metres (485 fee) at its widest point. The banks are guarded by sheer cliffs soaring 1,200 metres (3,900 feet) in height while the river water gushes forward channeled along by the great force built up at the “Kui Men” which marks the western extremity of the gorge. So famous is this imposing scene that its image appears on the Chinese RMB 5.00 Yuan banknote.

Once the ship has cleared the Qutang Gorge it has now entered the upper course of the river, from here the Yangzi begins its last major phase the journey to its source, high on the icy plateau, which dominates Tibet and Qinghai province.

DAY 4 FENGDU

This morning, disembark in Fengdu, a charming river village known as “Ghost City” and noted for its elaborate Daoist temple and bustling markets. During your stop here, you will have the option to travel overland for 30 minutes to one of the major tributaries in the area – Dragon River. Further upstream along the river valley is the Snow Jade Cave – an impressive karst formation cave, with a total length of 1,644 meters, containing a range of stalagmites and stalactites. This cave was formed more than 55,000 years ago, but was only found a couple of years ago by local farmers.

You can also opt to visit a Relocated Family and a local market.  You will also stop at a supermarket to compare and contrast produce with the local market and be able to observe a local dance troupe of retired/relocated people. 

Your visit to Fengdu, should give you a great insight into real life in rural China.

After returning to the Yangzi Explorer this afternoon, the ship will continue westward to Chongqing, your final port of call on this Yangzi cruise.

DAY 5 DISEMBARK IN CHONGQING

Upon embarkation, settle into your cabins and enjoy a sumptuous dinner. The ship will set sail on its downstream course through the Three Gorges region. The total length of this cruise is 660 kilometers (402 miles) and is considered by most Chinese to represent the single most scenic area in all of China

Disembark for a shore excursion in Fengdu, a charming river village known as “Ghost City” and noted for its elaborate Daoist temple and bustling markets. During the Tang Dynasty, two princely families, the Yin (Hell) and Wang (King) were joined in marriage. They then became the Yinwang (King of Hell). Since that time, local residents of Fengdu have believed that the town is populated by ghosts.

During your stop here, you will have the option to travel overland for 30 minutes to one of the major tributaries in the area – Dragon River. Further upstream along the river valley is the Snow Jade Cave – an impressive karst formation cave, with a total length of 1,644 meters, containing a range of stalagmites and stalactites. This cave was formed more than 55,000 years ago, but was only found a couple of years ago by local farmers.

You can also opt to visit a Relocated Family and a local market.  You will also stop at a supermarket to compare and contrast produce with the local market and be able to observe a local dance troupe of retired/relocated people. 

Your visit to Fengdu, should give you a great insight into real life in rural China.

Early this morning your ship will enter the Qutang Gorge through the majestic Kui Men two imposing cliffs, which resemble a towering door into some otherworldly destination. Just 8 kilometers (6 miles) in length, the Qutang Gorge is the narrowest stretch of the river on your cruise itinerary, only 150 meters (485 feet) at its widest point. The banks are guarded by sheer cliffs soaring 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) in height while the river water gushes forward channeled along by the great force built up at the Kui Men which marks the western extremity of the gorge.

Once the ship has cleared the Qutang Gorge it has now entered the treacherous course of the Gorges region, which, without question, is one of the most famous geographic sights in China. Countless painters, poets, travelers and scholars have taken up brush and pen to describe – through painting, poetry and prose – the wondrous nature of this most scenic of landscapes.

The Wu Gorge is noted for the sheer, looming appearance of the numerous peaks, which mark this portion of the river. The cliff faces rise so sharply that legend relates that the “sun rarely penetrates to the river”. The most famous of the peaks is the Shennu Peak (Goddess Peak) (also called the “Observing the Clouds Peak”), which is believed to represent the figure of the maiden Yao Ji, the 23rd daughter of the Queen Mother of the West. According to Chinese folklore, Yao Ji descended to earth when she was 18 and so loved the region of the Wu Gorge that she built a palace there. She also promised to guard travelers through the treacherous rapids and dangerous rock faces of the gorge by turning into the protective peak while her 12 handmaidens became the 12 sentinel peaks found throughout the gorge.

Once the ship has cleared the Wu Gorge it will arrive at Badong a thriving River port that lies near the confluence of the Yangzi and one of its tributaries, the Shennong Xi.

You will disembark from the ship (at Badong) and will board local longboats poled by Tujia boatmen, the traditional mariners of the great junks, which once plied the waters of the Yangzi pulling the great trading junks through the dangerous passages, which marked the upstream voyage to Chongqing.

The scenery is unrivaled anywhere along the middle course of the River – crystalline waters, rich forest and towering rock formations – the original landscape little altered for thousands of years. The Shennong region is home to several species of endangered flora and fauna including the elusive Golden Hair Monkey and many varieties of medicinal plants.

Your longboat will travel for approximately two hours before beaching on a bend in the river and allowing you some time to explore the shore before returning to its confluence with the Yangzi. After arriving back at Badong, you will disembark from your long boat and return to the ship.

Continue your downstream passage where, this afternoon, the ship will begin its passage through the majestic Xiling Gorge stopping, during its course at the site of the Three Gorges Dam, currently the world’s largest dam construction project.

The Xiling Gorge (the Three Gorges Dam sits in the first part of the Xiling Gorge) is the longest of the Gorges, measuring some 76 kilometers (47 miles) in length. One of the most memorable passages in the Xiling Gorge is through the Yellow Ox Gorge (Huangniu Xia) where the river widens and sweeps under the Huangling Temple that stands amid groves of orange and pomelo trees (a variety of citrus related to the grapefruit).

This evening, the ship will pass through the ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam Project and continue eastward to Yichang. The average passage time for a ship through this lock system takes approximately 3-4 hours. When a boat from the upper level enters one of the sluice gates, the gate is closed and the boat is "locked in" between two gates. The water level drops gradually until it reaches the height level needed to move the ship downwards. At the same time a ship – traveling upstream – can be “locked in” and moved up to the higher upstream level. Passage through the ship lock has quickly become one of the highlights of the cruise itinerary.

Early this morning, you will disembark from the Yangzi Explorer for your shore excursion to the site of the Three Gorges Dam Project.

Arrive at the Three Gorges Dam Project site and embark on a tour of the area – this tour will serve as a general introduction to the project site, which, currently, is the world’s largest engineering project.

The Three Gorges Dam Project was started in 1992 and will be completed and operational by 2009. The dam will be the largest dam on earth, generating 18,200 megawatts of hydroelectricity (almost 50% more than the world’s current largest dam, the Itaipu Dam in Brazil and Paraguay). The dam will be 1.2 miles in length and measure 600 feet (185 meters) in height. The dam will have 26 generators that, once in operation, will generate enough clean energy to reduce China’s reliance of highly polluting coal by up to 50 million tons annually. The dam will submerge 13 cities, 140 towns, 1,352 villages and over 600 industrial factories not to mention the more than 1,200 archeological projects and the 1.2 million people that will be resettled as a result of the flooding.