Cruises Yangtze : Offers and promotions 2026 - 2027

Most itineraries concentrate on the middle Yangtze, linking Chongqing with Yichang through the Three Gorges. The scenery unfolds in sequence: the short, sheer Qutang; the sinuous, peak-lined Wu; and the longer Xiling near Yichang. Downstream (Chongqing→Yichang) is typically faster and shorter at three nights; upstream takes about one night longer because ships move against the current. Spring (mid-March–May) and autumn (mid-September–November) bring milder temperatures and better visibility; summer is hot and humid, while winter is calmer with fewer sailings. Photography rewards arrive as river bends reveal cliff faces and hanging villages; morning mist and haze are common, especially near Chongqing, nicknamed the “foggy city.” Occasional longer routes extend east beyond Yichang toward Wuhan, Nanjing, or Shanghai on select dates. Infrastructure shapes the experience: the Three Gorges Dam lies within Xiling Gorge, and navigation passes either the five-step locks or, when operating, the high-capacity ship lift.