Yangtze River Cruise

• Three nights on the river, with a shore excursion at each gorge
• The Great Wall and the Terracotta Army come first, then the cruise, then Shanghai
• Upstream sailings give more time in the gorges than downstream
• Cabin upgrades priced separately, so you only pay for what you want
• Finishes in Shanghai, with the airport transfer timed for the direct flight home

Day by day

1. Day 1 · Beijing Arrival in Beijing

   Private transfer to a four-star hotel near Wangfujing. An easy evening, and a briefing on the week ahead. Most direct flights from LHR land in the late morning or early afternoon, so the first evening is unhurried.

2. Day 2 · Beijing Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

   Walk through Tiananmen Square and spend three hours in the Forbidden City, with its 980 buildings. Climb Jingshan Park for the view back over the palace roofs. About 7 km (4.3 miles) on foot today, at an easy pace.

3. Day 3 · Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall

   A 70 km (43 miles) drive to the Mutianyu section, quieter than Badaling. Cable car up, 2.4 km (1.5 miles) of restored wall on foot, toboggan down. Return for a Peking duck dinner, ordered in advance.

4. Day 4 · Beijing to Xi'an Temple of Heaven, then rail to Xi'an

   A 07:00 visit to the Temple of Heaven park, where locals practise taiji under the trees. Then the 4h30 high-speed train from Beijing West to Xi'an North. Dinner in the Muslim Quarter food street on arrival, in time to see the evening crowds.

5. Day 5 · Xi'an The Terracotta Army and the city wall

   Reach the Terracotta Army before the 10:00 coaches and see Pit 1 with its 6,000 figures. Return for the Shaanxi History Museum, then cycle the 13.7 km (8.5 miles) Ming city wall in about 90 minutes. The old town is level and lit up at night.

6. Day 6 · Chongqing To Chongqing and board the ship

   Fly from Xi'an to Chongqing, about 1h40, and transfer to the river port. Board in the late afternoon and sail overnight. Chongqing is the largest city on the Yangtze and the start point for upstream cruises through the gorges.

7. Day 7 · Yangtze cruise Fengdu and Shibaozhai

   A shore stop at Fengdu's 'Ghost City' temples, or the 12-storey red pagoda at Shibaozhai, leaning against its cliff. Meals and evening entertainment are on board. The river narrows as you climb upstream toward the gorges.

8. Day 8 · Yangtze cruise The gorges and Shennong Stream

   Pass through Qutang Gorge, the shortest and steepest at 8 km (5 miles), then Wu Gorge and its Twelve Peaks. A small sampan takes you up the Shennong Stream, and there is an excursion to the hanging coffins and the Daning river. Upstream sailings spend longer in the gorges than downstream.

9. Day 9 · Yangtze cruise Three Gorges Dam, disembark at Yichang

   Visit the Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping, the world's largest power station, 2,335 m (7,660 ft) long. Disembark at Yichang and transfer to a hotel. A short stop at the ship locks shows how vessels are lifted between river levels.

10. Day 10 · Yichang to Shanghai High-speed rail to Shanghai

    Board the high-speed train from Yichang East to Shanghai, a run of about seven hours at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). Settle into a hotel near the Bund. Arrive in the early evening, in time to see the riverside lights.

11. Day 11 · Shanghai The Bund, Yu Garden and Pudong

    Walk the 1.5 km (0.9 miles) Bund promenade and the Yu Garden old town in the morning. Cross to Pudong for the view back across the Huangpu, then take the world's fastest lift, if you like, up a tower such as Shanghai Tower. Dinner is Shanghainese, with soup dumplings to finish.

12. Day 12 · Shanghai Departure

    A free morning, then a private transfer to Pudong or Hongqiao for the flight home. Direct services to LHR and MAN leave in the afternoon, so there is no forced early start on the last day.

What stands out

Practical

Cruise length	3 nights on the river, Chongqing to Yichang
Best months	March–May and September–November
Internal flights	One: Xi'an to Chongqing, about 1h40
Rail legs	Beijing–Xi'an 4h30, Yichang–Shanghai about 7h
Cabin upgrades	Priced separately; standard cabins have private shower and WC
Group size	2–12 travellers
Trip length	12 days / 11 nights
Shore excursions	One at each gorge, included in the cruise fare

Common questions

Which direction does the cruise run?

Upstream, from Chongqing to Yichang. Upstream sailings are slower through the gorges, which gives more time on deck and at the shore stops than the faster downstream route.

What are the cabins like?

Standard cabins have twin beds, a private shower and WC, and a window or small balcony. Suites and balcony upgrades are available and priced separately, so you only pay for what you choose.

Is the cruise suitable if I get seasick?

The Yangtze is a river, not open sea, and the ships are large and stable. Motion sickness on board is rare; the main change is the noise of the locks and the evening entertainment.

How much walking is there on shore?

Shore excursions are 2 to 4 km (1.2 to 2.5 miles), often with steps down to the water. The crew and guides pace the groups, and a gentler option is usually available at each stop.

Where to next

• Beijing city guide
• Grand China Odyssey: 15 days
• China Essentials: 8 days
• Practical China guides
• Build a cruise-and-rail trip