6 Days Yangtze River Cruise Tour from Chengdu

Highlights: Welcome to Chengdu---home of giant pandas. Upon arrival, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Rest of the day will be free for you to relax.

Highlights: Today you will visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, followed by a trip to the Wenshu Temple, then wander around Jinli Old Street for shopping.                                                                                                           

Chengdu Panda Base: Which is 10km from Chengdu downtown, and takes 35 drive to get there. The panda based was founded in 1987 with with 6 giant pandas that rescued from the wild. Through 2015, it has had 161 panda births, and its panda population has grown to 108. Located in the base, the Giant Panda Museum is the world’s only museum that focuses entirely on the critically endangered giant panda.

Wenshu Temple: Located in the northwest of Chengdu, the Wenshu Temple is a famous Buddhist temple in China. The present temple grounds were built in 1697 of the Qing Dynasty. Wenshu is the Chinese word for the future Buddha Maitreya, whose presence was found during the construction of the original temple in the form of persistent lights. Here you can find a fine cup of green tea and the best vegetarian food in the city. A tourist district called Wenshufang is around the temple, it is great place for food, souvenirs ,etc. 

Jinli Old Street: Originally built in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Jinli Street is 350m long and a concentration of Chengdu nightlife, snacks and folk culture. There are many cafes and bars here - including Starbucks. They blend modern elements with the old buildings harmoniously. It is enjoyable to sit on a wooden or bamboo chair with a cup of delicious coffee. When night falls, the whole street is decorated with beautiful red lanterns on the each eave of the ancient buildings. 

Recommended paid add-on Sichuan Opera show (RMB260=USD43/per): As one of the oldest and most interesting opera forms in Southwestern China, Sichuan Opera is an important part of Chengdu culture and a perfect combination of local dialect along with the customs, folk music, and dances from other regions. Besides the normal singing, and martial arts, Sichuan Opera has many unique features that set it apart, features such as fire breathing, changing faces, and juggling pottery. When enjoying the performance, visitors always amaze at different facial make-ups that are changed fast and mysteriously.

Highlights: Today you will be escorted to the train station for a 2-hour high speed train to Chongqing. Welcome to Chongqing! Upon arrival, be met by our tour guide and escorted to visit Ciqikou Old Town, Three Gorges Museum. Then board your lifetime Yangtze cruise around 20:00-20:30.  

Ciqikou Old Town: Perched on a hill overlooking the Jialing River in the west of the city, Ciqikou Old Town, which means Porcelain Village in Chinese, dates back to the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). You will see lots of Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture, local shops, tea houses, local Sichuan street performance and more.

Three Gorges Museum: Opened in 2005. Chongqing Three Gorges Museum is the largest monographic museum in China occupies 40,000 square meters. The exterior of the museum has cambered walls and vitreous dome, representing the history & culture of Three Gorges Project and its origins. It is near People’s Square and the Great Hall of the People. It is also called the Chongqing Museum. 

Highlights: Today is the shore excursion to visit Fengdu Ghost City. This ancient complex is full of shrines to the gods of the underworld. Surrounded by misty mountains, this area was revered as a crossing-over point, a mix of the material and spiritual worlds. On this day, you will also enjoy Captain’s Farewell Party, Chinese Folk Dance and other cultural activities onboard. 

Note: Some cruise ships make the shore excursions to Shibaozhai Pagoda, a Pearl on Yangtze River. The 12-storey, 100-foot high red pagoda stands in front of a mountainous area full of shrubs and trees. It needs some walk to climb up the pagoda stairs to experience the spectacular scenery from above. (Note: Wear comfortable shoes when visit Shibaozhai ashore.)

Highlights: Today is the shore excursion to visit Fengdu Ghost City. This ancient complex is full of shrines to the gods of the underworld. Surrounded by misty mountains, this area was revered as a crossing-over point, a mix of the material and spiritual worlds. On this day, you will also enjoy Captain’s Farewell Party, Chinese Folk Dance and other cultural activities onboard. 

Note: Some cruise ships make the shore excursions to Shibaozhai Pagoda, a Pearl on Yangtze River. The 12-storey, 100-foot high red pagoda stands in front of a mountainous area full of shrubs and trees. It needs some walk to climb up the pagoda stairs to experience the spectacular scenery from above. (Note: Wear comfortable shoes when visit Shibaozhai ashore.)

Highlights: Today you will have a shore excursion to visit the well-known Three Gorges Dam. As the biggest hydropower project in the world, the dam provides tremendous power generation and flood control service. Visit the Tanziling Park, Gorges Exhibition and have close look at the dam to know better of the largest construction projects.  The ship will keep sailing to Yichang Pier for disembarkation; you will arrive in Yichang around 13:00-13:30. Then be met by our guide and escorted to airport for the flight to next city.