Yangtze Cruise

Yamgtze River Attractions :

Nanjing / Shanghai / Chongqing / Yichang/ Wuhan/ Fengdu / Qutang Gorge / Wu Gorge / Xiling Gorge / Wushan / Shennong Stream / Fengdu /

NANJING: Nanjing, with a total land area of 6,598 square kilometers (2,547.5 sq mi), is situated in one of the largest economic zones of China, the Yangtze River Delta, which is part of the downstream Yangtze River drainage basin. The Yangtze River flows past the west side of Nanjing City, while the Ningzheng Ridge surrounds the north, east and south side of the city. The city is 300 kilometers (186 mi) west of Shanghai, 1,200 kilometers (746 mi) south of Beijing, and 1,400 kilometers (870 mi) east of Chongqing.

Nanjing has a humid subtropical climate and is under the influence of the East Asia Monsoon. Seasons are distinct in Nanjing, with usually hot summers and plenty of rainfall throughout the year. Along with Wuhan and Chongqing, Nanjing is often referred to as one of the "Three Furnacelike Cities" along the Yangtze River for the perennially high temperature in summer.^{[citation needed]} The average temperature during the year is 15.7 °C (60 °F). The average high temperature in January is 19 °C (66 °F) while the average low is 2 °C (36 °F); the average high in July is 31 °C (88 °F) with an average low of 25 °C (77 °F).^[1] The highest recorded temperature is 43 °C (109 °F) (July 13, 1934), and the lowest −16.9 °C (2 °F) (Jan 6, 1955). On average it rains 117 days out of the year, and the average annual rainfall is 1,106.5 millimetres (43.6 in). The time from mid-June to the end of July is the plum blossom Meiyu season, during which the city experiences a period of mild rain as well as dampness.

Nanjing is endowed with rich natural resources, which include more than 40 kinds of minerals. Among them, iron and sulfur reserves make up 40 percent of those of Jiangsu province. Its reserves of strontium rank first in East Asia and the South East Asia region. Nanjing also possesses abundant water resources, both from the Yangtze River and groundwater. In addition, it has several natural hot springs such as Tangshan Hot Spring in Jiangning and Tangquan Hot Spring in Pukou.

Surrounded by the Yangtze River and mountains, Nanjing also enjoys beautiful natural scenery. Natural lakes such as Xuanwu Lake and Mochou Lake are located in the center of the city and are easily accessible to the public, while hills like Purple Mountain are covered with evergreens and oaks and host various historical and cultural sites. Sun Quan relocated its capital to Nanjing after Liu Bei's suggestion as Liu Bei was impressed by Nanjing's impeccable geographic position when negotiating an alliance with Sun Quan. Sun Quan then renamed the city from Moling (秣陵) to Jianye (建邺) shortly thereafter.

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SHANGHIAI:  Shanghai (Chinese: 上海) is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world, with over 20 million people in its extended metropolitan area.^[6] Located on China's central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the city is administered as a municipality with province-level status.^[7]

Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century due to its favorable port location and as one of the cities opened to foreign trade by the 1842 Treaty of Nanking.^[8] The city flourished as a center of commerce between east and west, and became a multinational hub of finance and business by the 1930s.^[9] However, Shanghai's prosperity ground to a sharp halt after the 1949 Communist takeover and the subsequent cessation of foreign investment. After being allowed economic reforms in 1990, Shanghai is booming once more with intense development and financing, and in 2005 became the world's largest port.^[10]

The city is an emerging tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as the Bund and Xintiandi, its modern and ever-expanding Pudong skyline including the Oriental Pearl Tower, and its new reputation as a cosmopolitan center of culture and design.^[11][12] Today, Shanghai is recognized as China's most important centre of commerce and finance, and is widely regarded as a future global city and as the showpiece of the world's fastest-growing economy

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CHONGQING :  Chongqing (simplified Chinese: 重庆; traditional Chinese: 重慶; pinyin: Chóngqìng; Postal map spelling: Chungking; Wade-Giles: Ch'ung-ch'ing) is the largest and most populous of the People's Republic of China's four provincial-level municipalities, and the only one in the less densely populated western region of China. Formerly (until 14 March 1997) a sub-provincial city within Sichuan Province, the municipality of Chongqing has a registered population of 31,442,300 (2005). The boundaries of Chongqing municipality reach much further into the city's hinterland than the boundaries of the other three provincial level municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin), and much of the municipality, which spans over 20 million acres (80,000 sq. km.) is rural. The population of the urban area of Chongqing proper was 4.1 million in 2005 although this figure is disputed owing to difficulties as to where the urban area of Chongqing begins and ends.

The municipal abbreviation, 渝 (Yú), was approved by the State Council on 18 April 1997. Chongqing was also a municipality of the old Republic of China. Its abbreviated name is derived from the old name of a part of the Jialing River that runs through Chongqing and feeds the Yangtze River.

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YICHANG:  Lying on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, Yichang covers an area of about 21,000 square kilometers (8,108 square miles). It is an ancient city and its history can be traced back for 4,000 years. During what is known as its Spring and Autumn Periods (770 BC-476 BC), Yichang was regarded as a city of great strategic importance. Many famous battles took place here, such as the Changbanpo Battle and the Yiling Battle during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). Relics of these battles can still be found in the area. Another interesting aspect of Yichang is that several eminent persons were born here in ancient times, such as the concubine Wang Zhaojun during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) and the patriotic poet Qu Yuan in the Warring States Period (476 BC - 221 BC).

Now, after thousands of years' development, the city stands out with its various unique characteristics. Located in the middle of China, Yichang is the transportation center which connects the eastern and the western parts of China. Sanxia Airport is not far from the city center and there are more than ten domestic airlines with services to the major cities of China, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xian. In addition, Yichang Port, Yichang Railway Station and Yichang Bus Station offer visitors convenient ways of traveling to and from other parts of the country.

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WUHAN:  Wuhan (help·info) (simplified Chinese: 武汉; traditional Chinese: 武漢; pinyin: Wǔhàn) is the capital of Hubei province, and is the most populous city in central People's republic of China. It lies at the east of Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han River. Arising out of the conglomeration of three boroughs, Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang, Wuhan is known as the "thoroughfare of nine provinces"; it is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and expressways passing through the city. The city of Wuhan, first termed as such in 1927, has a population of approximately 9,100,000 people (2006), with about 6,100,000 residents in its urban area. In the 1920s, Wuhan was the capital of a leftist Kuomintang (KMT) government led by Wang Jingwei in opposition to Chiang Kai-shek, now Wuhan is recognized as the political, economic, financial, cultural, educational and transportation center of central China.

SHENNONG STREAM:  Shennong Stream starts at Mt. Shennongjia in Hubei Province north of the Yangtze. It comprises of Parrot Gorge and Dragon Boot Gorge with breathtaking scenery. Sailing through the treacherous gorges with lush pine and translucent water, visitors can see spectacular sights like ancient plank roads, ancient suspension coffins, aqueous caves, rainbow fountain and wild lives. It is also perfect to experience the cultural of Tujia minority. Visiting Shennong stream on a "pea boat" is a sensational experience. 

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FENDU:  Fengdu County (Simplified Chinese:丰都县 Pinyn: Fēngdū Xiàn) is a county of Chongqing Municipality in China.  There is a necropolis called Fengdu modelled after the Chinese Hell in Taoist mythology, built over 1800 years ago. The famous ghost town will become an island after Three Gorges Dam project. Specifically, part of the ghost town of Fengdu will be submerged, but scenery above the "Door of Hell" will remain.

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QUTANG GORGE:  The Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡) is the shortest and most spectacular of China's Three Gorges. Immediately downstream of the ancient village Baidicheng (白帝城) the Yangtze River passes between the Chijia Mountain (赤甲山) on the north and the Baiyan Mountain (白盐山) on the south. The point where the river passes between these mountains is called the Kuimen Gate (夔门) and it is the entrance to the Qutang Gorge - the first of the three Yangtze gorges. The Qutang Gorge is only 8 kilometres (5 miles) long, but it is also the narrowest of the Three Gorges. The widest point measures only 150 metres (500 feet) wide. The mountains on either side reach as high as 1,200 metres (4,000 feet). This combination of narrow canyons among high mountains with several switchbacks in only 8 kilometres creates spectacular vistas, and the Qutang Gorge is often considered the most beautiful of all the Three Gorges. The coordinate of Qutang Gorge is 31.033826 north, 109.540160 east.

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XILING GORGE:  Starting from Xiangxi (Fragrant Stream) Kou of Zigui County in the west and ending at Nanjin Pass in the east, Xiling Gorge, zigzagging about 49 miles, is the longest gorge among the three gorges of the Yangtze River. Because of numerous reefs and odd-shaped stones existing in rapid shoals, the gorge is also well known for its danger. Scenery along the Xiling Gorge is spectacular. Some renowned streams, springs, stones and karst caves can be found along this section. As many historic celebrities such as Qu Yuan and Bai Juyi have been here and left numerous poems praising the natural scene of Xiling Gorge, it is bestowed with a great sense of history.

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WU GORGE : The Wu Gorge is the second gorge of the Three Gorges of Yangtze River and is famous for its elegance. Winding over 25 miles, it starts from the estuary of Daning River (east of Wushan) in the west and ends at Guandukou in Badong, Hubei Province. Also called Da Xia (Large Gorge), the Wu Gorge is comprised of Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge (Jinkui Yinjia Xia) and Iron Coffin Gorge. As strange peaks, grotesque rocks as well as fog and clouds surround the gorge, it is usually the most notable of the three gorges. Because of the long and deep canyons in the Wu Gorge, the daily period of sunlight is short which impedes the dispersal of air borne moisture within the gorge and so creates clouds and fog in a variety of fantastic shapes. How wonderful it is!

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WUSHAN : Wushan is a county located in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area through which Yangtze Cruise ships pass. As the eastern gate of Chongqing, Wushan has a long history and abounds with rich resources. During the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-221 BC), it was a shire of Chu State and in Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC- 220 AD) its name was changed to Wu County.
Of the counties of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Wushan has the most cultural relics and historic sites, over 40 historic sites and one thousand rare cultural relics in all.  Longgupo Pithecanthrope Site, found in Wushan, is the site of fossils of one of the earliest human beings - Wushan Man. About two million years ago, Wushan Man lived in Wushan Area. Daxi Town, where the Neolithic Site is located, has 5,000 years of history and is home to the famous Daxi Culture. The area of Wushan also contains the Ancient Town of Dachang (1368 - 1644), well-preserved Han Tombs, one of the Yangtze's ancient Tang Dynasty temples and Luyou Cave.  Of the cultural relics in Wushan, the ancient plank road and the suspended coffins are well-known.Besides boasting a long history, Wushan takes pride in its natural scenery. As Wushan traverses the whole part of Wu Gorge and most of Qutang Gorge, it combines many landscapes of the two gorges of Yangtze River. Among these are the twelve peaks of Wushan along the two banks of Wu Gorge. The Goddess Peak is the most prominent and has many beautiful legends. Near Wushan are the Three Little Gorges of Daning River. Because of its unique beauty and dangers shoals, it has been visited by numerous tourists and celebrities and praised as one of the marvelous spectacles of China. Yangtze River cruise ships usually stop here to give visitors a chance of drifting along the Three Little Gorges. Since the instigation of the Three Gorges Dam Project, a new, more charming, scene has been appeared in Wushan. Don't miss Wushan and its scenery while cruising along the gorgeous Yangtze River.