5-Day Yangtze Cruise Programme: Chongqing City, Old Town & the Three Gorges

Morning — Arrival in Chongqing
Your guide and driver will meet you and transfer you into the city, with a brief orientation to its mountainous riverside layout.

Afternoon — Hongya Cave & Jiefangbei
Explore Hongya Cave, an 11-story stilted complex of Bayu-style shops and teahouses that glows at night above the Jialing River. Then visit Jiefangbei, the Liberation Monument district, for malls and street food such as chuanchuan skewers or xiaomian noodles.

Evening — Yangtze River Night Cruise
Board a cruise to see Chongqing's neon skyline, the Great Hall of the People, and the Chaotianmen Gate where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers converge.

Morning — Ciqi Kou Ancient Town
Step into Ciqi Kou, a 1,000-year-old riverside town of cobblestone alleys and Ming–Qing architecture. Browse stalls for Sichuan embroidery and porcelain, and sample snacks like maoxuewang (spicy blood-curd stew) or sticky rice cakes.

Afternoon — Liziba Monorail & Eling Park
At Liziba Station, watch the light rail pass directly through a residential high-rise—a famous feat of Chongqing's mountain-city design—from the viewing platform below. Then hike Eling Park for panoramas where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet, amid gardens, pavilions, and WWII-era relics.

Evening — Hotpot Experience
Indulge in Chongqing's fiery mala hotpot, cooking duck intestine, beef tripe, and lotus root in a chili-and-Sichuan-peppercorn broth at a local favorite such as Decheng Hotpot—a quintessential culinary adventure.

Afternoon — Chongqing Transfer and Boarding
Your private guide and driver will meet you at Chongqing airport or your hotel and escort you to the cruise terminal. Check into your cabin — a balcony cabin is recommended for the scenic views — and attend a short safety briefing before the ship sets sail.

Evening — Welcome Dinner and Onboard Entertainment
A welcome dinner features Sichuan and Chongqing specialties such as hotpot, with an optional spice level, or twice-cooked pork. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional Chinese music performance, or relax on the sundeck and watch Chongqing's glittering skyline as the ship departs.

Accommodation — Onboard
Overnight on board your Yangtze River cruise ship.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
All three meals are included on this day.

Morning — Fengdu Ghost City
Fengdu is an ancient riverside site built around Taoist and folk beliefs of the afterlife, often called the “City of the Dead.” Stone statues depict underworld judges, and the “Bridge of Helplessness” symbolizes the soul's passage. Climb the Ming-era temples for sweeping views of the Yangtze.

Afternoon — Shibaozhai Pagoda & Onboard
Shibaozhai is a 12-story wooden pagoda built against a riverside cliff in the 18th century, famed for its interlocking architecture without nails. Cross the swinging bridge to the hilltop temple while your guide explains its river-navigation history. Back onboard, join a Chinese calligraphy class or a lecture on the Three Gorges' geology.

Evening — Captain's Dinner
The day closes with a Captain's Dinner of local delicacies such as steamed river fish and stuffed lotus root. Optionally, step onto the deck to stargaze as the ship enters the narrow cliffs of Qutang Gorge, the first of the Three Gorges.

Morning — Wu Gorge and Shennong Stream
Cruise through Wu Gorge, one of the Three Gorges, known for its mist-shrouded peaks and dramatic vistas; watch for waterfalls and ancient plank roads carved into the cliffs along the way. Then transfer to a small wooden peapod boat for a tranquil ride along Shennong Stream, a tributary where local Tujia rowers sing folk songs as you pass hanging coffins, karst formations and emerald-green waters. The hanging coffins were placed high on the cliffs by the ancient Ba people as a mark of respect for their dead.

Afternoon — Onboard Relaxation and Cultural Talk
Back on board, unwind with a Tai Chi session or a dip in the ship's pool. Later, an onboard expert gives a cultural talk on the engineering achievements and social impact of the Three Gorges Dam, providing context for the landscapes you are sailing through.

Evening — Farewell Party
Enjoy a costume show featuring ethnic dances from Yangtze communities such as the Tujia and Miao, and sip a cocktail while the ship sails through Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges.

Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
All three meals are included on this day.