Yangtze Cruise

    China A&G Travel specialize in providing Yangtze River Cruise with the top experience and lowest price. 

                                                    Yangtze River Map  

From the top class China Regal Cruises, Victoria Cruises, to the 3 star budget cruises like Galaxy and Yangtze Dragon, we provide the biggest variety for you to choose. On a Yangtze River cruise you can participate in the onboard cultural activities, go exploring the riverside ancient towns, or simply relax on deck, breathe some fresh air, view the stunning passing scenery and take photos.   

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

l  Yangtze River  

       The Yangtze River which is the longest River in Asia snakes its way over 6,300 kilometers from Western China's Qinghai-Tiber Plateau to the East China Sea. The Yangtze River generally flows south and passes through Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces and is the third longest river in the world. The longest being the Amazon, and the Nile. The climate ranges from 96 degrees in the summer, to cold, brisk temperatures in the winter. Precipitation is relatively high due to its high altitudes. The river has over 700 tributaries, and crosses so many regions that it has acquired over half a dozen names. Only in the lower reaches does it go by its name commonly known to foreigners: Yangtze.

        For over two centuries the Yangtze River has served as a transportation and commercial highway. Ocean-going vessels can navigate up the river for over 1,000 kilometers. A quarter of China's ocean-going cargo enters the river between Shanghai and the sea.its economic and agricultural importance the Yangtze River winds through some of China's more beautiful areas. There is a common Chinese saying which states: If you have not traveled up the mighty Yangtze River, then you have not been anywhere. At the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, are mighty glaciers and everlasting snow which are the source for the Yangtze River? Winding South from the high country the river passes through the world-renown Three Gorges which tower above it. Besides its natural wonders the Yangtze River has an almost uncountable number of animal species frequent its shores, and approximately 350 Million people inhabit the Yangtze region.

       Serious archaeological research began in the difficult terrain around the Yangtze River in the 1970's. Recent discoveries could prove that civilizations of the Yangtze region could predate even those of China's Yellow River making them the oldest civilizations in China. It has also been recently theorized that the Yangtze River valley was home to the earliest known cultivation of rice anywhere in the world. The waters of the Yangtze River are often used for rice and wheat irrigation. It also has inexhaustible hydroelectric resources. In 1995 construction began on the Three Gorges Dam near Yichang and is scheduled to be completed in 2009. Upon completion the Three Gorges Dam will measure over 182 meters high, with a width of almost 2.5 kilometers. The dam is expected to help control the annual flooding of the Yangtze River valley, and will be the largest electricity generating facility in the world. The hydroelectric generators in the Three Gorges Dam will provide one ninth of China's total power output. 

l   Three Gorges     

        The Three Gorges Scenic Spot was named after the Qutang, Wuxia, and the Xiling gorges. Located in Hubei Province these three gorges are over 193 kilometers long and cover an area of over 1208 square kilometers. They begin at Baidicheng, Chongqing and end at Nanjin Pass in Yichang. Due to its magnificent scenery the Three Gorges has been a source of inspiration for poets and artists, and one of the hottest tourist destinations for centuries. It was designated one of the first Key National Scenic Spots by the Chinese government in 1982. The Three Gorges Scenic spot contains many different ecological environments and has abundant species of wildlife. In the Three gorges area over 570 species of vertebrates have been documented, and many Biologists believe that there are many more yet undiscovered. Two of which have been listed as National Class 1 Protected Wild Animals. Nine different species have been listed as National Class II Protected Wild Animals, and two have been listed as National Class III Protected Wild Animals.  

This area is one of the earliest tourist destinations in China. Li Daoyuan (472-527 AD), a geographer made a detailed investigation of the Three Gorges are over fourteen hundred years ago and gave detailed descriptions of the Three Gorges in his treatise. Many ancient officials, poets and painters have visited the Three Gorges area for many centuries. Each was deeply touched by the beautiful scenery and many of their paintings and poems featuring the Three Gorges have survived.

The Three Gorges has a long history. Recent archaeological studies have discovered that the Damiao culture was in the area over 2 million years ago. The area's most well-known ancient civilization the Daxi had built thousands of graves in the Three Gorges area over 5,000 years ago. A large amount of artifacts have recently been unearthed giving us a better understanding of this ancient culture. To date 2830 ancient graves have been discovered in the Three Gorges area. One of the most famous ancient features of the Three Gorges area is the suspended coffins. These coffins were suspended on the cliff faces 120 to 150 Meters above the ground. Archaeologist theorize that these suspended coffins were built during the late Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–9 AD) to the early Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD). How these ancient people got the coffins to such an inaccessible place has remained a mystery for centuries. A visit to the Three Gorges area is a must for any visitor to China. Whether you are a lover of natural beauty, or a student of history this is an area that will leave you spellbound. The only way to visit the three gorges is through a boat tour since most of the Three Gorges area is inaccessible by foot.

Wuxia Gorge
Wuxia Gorge is the longest of the three gorges at over 42 kilometers long. It is famous for its deep valley, and soaring peaks mountain peaks rising from the river's banks. It is a serene and secluded place which presents a panorama of lovely scenery. Within Wuxia Gorge are eight famous natural scenes, and twelve famous peaks.

Xiling Gorge
Xiling Gorge is 66 kilometers long and is well-known for its dangerous rugged shoals and turbulent waters. The mountain peaks in Xiling Gorge rise straight out of the river each one appearing higher than the previous. Located in this gorge are strange peaks and peculiar rock formations. Karst caves can be found everywhere. There are over 170 documented caves in this gorge alone.

Qutang Gorge
Qutang gorge is 8 kilometers log making it the shortest among the three gorges. At the Western entrance the sharp cliffs rise hundreds of meters on both sides of the Yangtze River. An ancient narrow footway that meanders around the steep cliffs follows the river through the gorge. This footpath was built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) using manpower and the simplest tools. Its width ranges from only 0.4 to 1.5 meters with nothing below but the swirling turbulent water. 

l   Three Gorges Dam    

     China's Yangtze River, Three Gorges Dam upon completion, will be the largest hydroelectric complex in the world. It is located in China's rural heartland on the third largest river in the world, the Yangtze. The Three Gorges Dam towers 182 meters (600ft) high and stretches over 2.4 kilometers (1.5miles). The reservoir created by the dam will extend nearly 400 miles upstream. The project consists of a river dam, spillway structures, powerhouse, and buildings for navigation.

The dam's construction will take 17 years and has been divided into three phases. The first phase dealt with preparations for construction of the dam. The diversion channel was built so that the river could be blocked. The second phase mainly focused on construction of the spillway, left bank power houses, and ship's locks. The first batch of generators started producing power during this phase. The third phase involves construction of the right bank's powerhouse, which will be the completion of the entire project.

The Three Gorges hydroelectric power plant contains 26 turbine generator units. Currently the generated electricity is being sent to Central and East China, Guangdong, and Chongqing. It is predicted that over one-ninth of China's electrical power will be created at the Three Gorges Dam. 

The idea for the dam was first proposed by Dr. Sun Yetsen in 1918, and has been under consideration ever since. The Three Gorges Dam is a marvel of engineering, and the greatest challenge its designers have ever faced. The dam has been designed to store over 5 trillion gallons of water and to withstand an earthquake of 7.0 on the Richter scale. Ocean-going vessels of over 10,000 tons will now be able to enter the nation's interior, which will redefine how products and technology move around China.

The three gorges dam not only creates electricity, but will also control the annual floods that have devastated vast portions of China for millennia. Each year 15 million people and 1.5 million hectares of farmland will be protected from flood threats, thanks to the Three Gorges Dam.

The Three Gorges Dam project will not only fulfill its utilitarian needs, but will also serve as a symbol of pride for the Chinese people.  

l    Ship Lock  

The Three Gorges' Dam Project holds many world records. One of the most impressive is the world's largest ship lock. The Three Gorges Dam's Five Stage ship lock can raise, or lower ships to cross the Three Gorges Dam. Essentially it is a giant ship elevator. It is capable of lifting a passenger line, or cargo ship of 14,000 tons to a maximum height of 113 meters. Last year alone this ship lock handled over 40 million tons of cargo. It is estimated that by 2010 its volume will rise to 60 million tons, and over 100 million tons by 2020. This is due to the economic boom in China's Western region. Because of the giant ship lock a ship can pass through the dam in about forty minutes.

Design and construction of the ships lock was exceptionally difficult. Because a ship would have to be raised, or lowered over 100 meters, the water pressure is enormous. There is no existing gate that can withstand such pressure. In order to solve the ship lock's designers designed five locks, instead of one. This way the water pressure is greatly reduced. Each lock raises or lowers a ship approximately 20 meters. The entire process takes over half an hour. The basic idea behind a ships lock is actually quite simple. When lowering a ship a ship is moved into a watertight compartment called a lock. The gate is closed behind it, and the water in the compartment is released into the next watertight compartment, which is lower than the first. As the water is released the ship is lowered. When the water level in the ship's lock is the same as the next lock's a gate opens between the two locks and the ship is moved forward into the next lock. The door is closed behind it and the process repeats itself until the ship has been lowered to the level of the river. Raising a ship is essentially the same, but instead of releasing water to lower the ship, water is pumped into the lock to raise the lock.

The Three Gorges Dam's Five Stage Ship Lock is truly a modern marvel. It is just one of the many world records held by the Three Gorges Dam.