Three Gorges Family · Three Gorges Dam · Two Dams & One Gorge Cruise One trip. Three days. The gorges, the river life, and a world-class engineering wonder.
Tour at a Glance
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Start & Pickup | Yichang, Hubei — pickup available at both the high-speed rail station and Yichang Three Gorges Airport |
| Highlights | Three Gorges Family (National 5A) · Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower project · Two Dams & One Gorge cruise through the Gezhouba ship lock |
| Hotels | Selected quality hotels throughout, twin rooms |
| Meals | 2 breakfasts + 2 lunches/dinners, including the festive “Tai Gezi” steamed platter, a welcome dinner and local rustic specialties |
| Transport | Air-conditioned tour coach throughout, guaranteed seat for every guest |
| Guide | Chinese-speaking guide included; an English-speaking guide can be arranged on request |
Tours can also be customized to your requirements — just ask.
Why You’ll Love This Tour
1. The Three Gorges Dam — an engineering marvel on a world scale The largest hydroelectric project on Earth. Take the scenic elevators up Tanziling for a panorama of the dam, stand on tHotel: selected hotel in Yichanghe 185 Platform level with the dam crest, and view the world’s most remarkable five-stage twin ship locks — the longest flight of locks on any inland river, where vessels rise and fall like elevators between stages.
2. Ride the Gezhouba ship lock — a rare “ship in an elevator” experience On Day 3 your cruise enters the Gezhouba ship lock: watch the giant gates close behind you, the water slowly drop, and your ship descend to the river below. Gezhouba is known as the first dam on the Yangtze, and the experience is one you can only have here.
3. Sail into the poetry of Xiling Gorge “With monkeys’ sad wails on both banks, my skiff has left ten thousand mountains behind.” The longest of the Three Gorges, Xiling Gorge is where the Yangtze is at its most dramatic — sheer cliffs, emerald water, ancient cliff-side plank roads and wooden boats drifting past.
4. Meet the living culture of the gorges — Three Gorges Family (National 5A) The most authentic and best-preserved riverside village of the Three Gorges region. Explore stilt houses built into the cliffs, watch Tujia songs between young men and women, the famous “weeping bride” wedding ritual, shadow puppetry and the Palace of the Ba Kings, and listen to the intangible-heritage Nanyang Tune. Look out for cliff coffins, river trackers hauling boats, and wild monkeys.
5. Taste the flavors of the gorges A steaming “Tai Gezi” festive platter carried to your table, a welcome dinner, and rustic local banquets — every meal is a taste of riverside life.
6. Travel with total peace of mind Seamless pickup, licensed coaches with experienced drivers, expert guides and 24/7 guest support. You just enjoy the scenery — we handle the rest.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Yichang, Free Time
Meals: on your own ｜ Hotel: selected hotel in Yichang
Welcome to Yichang — gateway to the Three Gorges and the “City of Hydropower.” Our staff will meet you at the station or airport and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours: take a stroll along the Yangtze riverfront, watch the city lights, or simply rest up for the gorge adventure ahead.
Day 2 — Three Gorges Family → Three Gorges Dam
Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner ｜ Hotel: selected hotel in Yichang
Morning: a 1.5-hour drive to Three Gorges Family (National 5A), where you’ll spend about 6 hours:
- Climb Dengying Rock, the “First Rock of the Yangtze,” and view Bright Moon Bay, the “First Bend of the Three Gorges”
- See the famous Stone Tablet, explore the Palace of the Ba Kings and the story of the last Ba king of the gorges
- Watch Tujia song-and-dance, the “weeping bride” wedding ritual and shadow puppetry, and listen to the intangible-heritage Nanyang Tune
- Wander Longjin Creek: boat trackers hauling junks, river work songs, stilt houses, wild monkeys and thousand-year-old cliff coffins
- Admire the twin “lovers’ waterfalls” — Huanglong and Qinying — before crossing back by ferry
Afternoon: visit the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric project (about 3 hours):
- Ride the scenic elevator up Tanziling for sweeping views of the dam and Xiling Gorge
- See the five-stage twin ship locks — the world’s longest and highest flight of inland-river locks
- Stand on the 185 Platform, level with the dam crest at an elevation of 185 meters
- Capture your photos at the Memorial Garden of the River Closure
Day 3 — Free-Trade Zone Showroom → Three Gorges Agriculture Exhibition Center → Two Dams & One Gorge Cruise
Meals: breakfast ｜ Tour ends, no hotel
- Morning: visit the Yichang Free-Trade Zone Commodity Exhibition Center, a China–Myanmar cross-border trade platform featuring jade, rosewood, specialty produce and handicrafts — browse and shop freely, no forced purchases
- Continue to the Yichang Three Gorges Agriculture Exhibition Center to learn about the region’s selenium-rich food culture and local specialties
- Midday: board a “Yangtze Three Gorges” cruise ship at Sandouping Wharf and sail the magnificent Xiling Gorge — passing ancient plank roads, Bright Moon Bay, Dengying Rock, the stilt houses and old junks of Three Gorges Family, and the ancient Huangling Temple, with panoramic views of the Three Gorges Dam in the distance. Then your ship enters the Gezhouba ship lock for the unforgettable lock-passage experience. Cruise past Yichang’s riverside skyline to Three Gorges Tourist Center, where the tour ends.
What’s Included
- Transport: air-conditioned tour coach throughout, guaranteed seat for every guest
- Meals: 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches/dinners (hotel breakfasts; main meals include the Tai Gezi platter, welcome dinner and local rustic banquets)
- Tickets: entrance tickets to all scenic spots listed in the itinerary
- Hotel: quality twin-room accommodation for 2 nights
- Guide: local Chinese-speaking guide
- Insurance: travel agency liability insurance
What’s Not Included
- Mandatory on-site fees: Three Gorges Family shuttle + ferry CNY 60/person; Three Gorges Dam shuttle CNY 35/person
- Optional: escalator up the mountain at Three Gorges Family, CNY 30/person
- Single-room supplement (for solo travelers or one adult with one child); travel accident insurance (recommended); personal expenses and other items not mentioned
Good to Know
- Please bring a valid ID document (Chinese ID card or household registration booklet)
- Children under 1.2 m are covered for coach seat and guide service only; all other costs are paid on site. Every child must occupy a seat regardless of age — please inform us of any children when booking
- A single-room supplement applies for solo travelers or one adult with one child; hotels require a deposit at check-in
- An English-speaking guide can be arranged on request — please let us know in advance
- The itinerary can be customized to your requirements — we’re happy to tailor it for you
- Additional costs caused by force majeure such as transport delays are paid by the guest
Pricing & Booking
For pricing, please contact us via the email on the right. Customized itineraries are also available — we’d love to hear about your plans.
