Chongqing, the Yangtze and Zhangjiajie: 9 Days
Mountain-city Chongqing, three nights on the Yangtze through the Three Gorges, and the sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie.
Photo: JL Cogburn · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Route
- Chongqing → Yangtze cruise → Yichang → Zhangjiajie
- Best for
- Travellers who like landscapes and slower travel
- Pace
- Relaxed on the river, active in Zhangjiajie
About this route
This route combines two of China’s most dramatic landscapes with the slow pleasure of a river cruise. It works well as a second week after Beijing and Xi’an, or as a stand-alone trip starting from Chengdu or Chongqing.
After disembarking at Yichang, transfer by road or rail to Zhangjiajie for two days in the Wulingyuan pillar forest and a day on Tianmen Mountain.
The itinerary
- Day 1
Chongqing
Arrive, Three Gorges Museum, Hongyadong and the river cable car after dark.
- Day 2
Chongqing, board the cruise
Ciqikou old town and a hotpot lunch; board the ship in the evening.
- Days 3–4
The Three Gorges
Shore visits vary by ship — typically Shibaozhai or Fengdu, the Qutang and Wu gorges, and a smaller-boat trip on a tributary such as the Shennong Stream.
- Day 5
Three Gorges Dam, disembark at Yichang
Morning visit to the dam, then transfer to Wulingyuan.
- Days 6–7
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Day 6: Golden Whip Stream and Yuanjiajie. Day 7: Tianzi Mountain and Yangjiajie.
Field note: Take the first internal bus and work back towards the gates to beat queues.
- Day 8
Tianmen Mountain
Cable car from the city to Tianmen Mountain, the cliff walkways and Tianmen Cave.
- Day 9
Depart
High-speed train from Zhangjiajie West to Changsha or onward, or fly out of Zhangjiajie.
Before you book
- Cruise itineraries and shore excursions vary by operator and water level.
- Book Zhangjiajie lifts and Tianmen Mountain tickets online with your passport.
Regions on this route: Sichuan & Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise, Zhangjiajie. See also how to book trains and the visa checker.
FAQ
Can I do this route in reverse?
Yes, but upstream cruises (Yichang → Chongqing) take a night longer.
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