Chongqing to Yichang Three Gorges Cruise Options: Local Blogger’s Guide
- DolphinUnion
- Sep 15
- 6 min read
Everyone’s talking about Chongqing’s 8D magic—trains through buildings, stairs that go to the 10th floor… but as a local who’s lived here 30 years (and helped over 200 foreign friends plan trips in 8 years), I can tell you: the best way to see the Three Gorges isn’t just any cruise. Most visitors book the first ship they find and miss out—different docks mean different ships, and the right one depends on your time, budget, and what you want from the trip.
I’ve seen friends pick a luxury cruise when they only had 2 days (total waste!) or a budget ship when they wanted comfort. That’s why I made this guide: to break down the top cruises from Chongqing’s main docks to Yichang. No more guesswork—this is how I match my foreign friends to their perfect Three Gorges cruise.（Chongqing to Yichang Three Gorges cruise options）
1. Cruises from Chongqing Downtown Chaotianmen Port – Chongqing to Yichang Three Gorges cruise options
Chaotianmen Port is my top pick for convenience—it’s right in downtown, no extra bus rides. I recommend this dock for anyone who hates long transfers.
1.1 Star Athena (Xingji Yadianna Hao)
Departure Time: 5:00 PM (arrive by 4:00 PM to check in—don’t be late, it sails on time!).
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights.
Price: Starts at ¥1,999 per person (standard room; suites cost more).
Key Stops: Fengdu Ghost City (Fengdu Guicheng), Shibaozhai, Baidi City (Baidicheng), then arrives in Yichang.
Facilities: Spacious rooms with big windows (great for views!), a scenic restaurant (try the Yangtze River fish—so fresh!), and a theater with nightly shows (Chinese folk dances are my favorite).
Best For: People who want quality without overspending. My friend from Canada took this last year—she said the room was “way bigger than expected” and the staff was super helpful with her luggage.
Avoid This: Don’t skip the Fengdu Ghost City tour—it’s spooky but fun, and the guide tells great stories. Some travelers skip it, but they miss the best cultural stop.
Pro Tip: Book a room on the starboard side (right when facing forward)—you’ll get better views of Shibaozhai.
1.2 Century Myth (Shiji Shenhua Hao)
Departure Time: 5:30 PM (check-in by 4:30 PM).
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights.
Price: Starts at ¥2,699 per person (it’s super luxury, so worth the extra if you can afford it).
Key Stops: Fengdu Ghost City, Qutang Gorge (Qutang Xia), Wu Gorge (Wu Xia), Shennuxi (Goddess Stream), Baidi City, Xiling Gorge (Xiling Xia), Three Gorges Dam (Sanxia Daba).
Facilities: A gym (I used it every morning—great for working off dinner!), a small pool (perfect for hot afternoons), a cinema (shows both Chinese and English movies), and a rooftop bar (sunset drinks with gorge views? Yes please!).
Best For: Travelers with a bigger budget who want lots of activities. My cousin took this cruise for her honeymoon—she said the pool was “a nice surprise” and the rooftop bar had the best cocktails.
Hidden Trick: Ask the front desk for a “late checkout” on the last day—they usually let you stay in the lounge until 12:00 PM, so you don’t have to carry your bags around Yichang early.
2. Cruises from Fengjie Port – Chongqing to Yichang Three Gorges cruise options
Fengjie Port is 2 hours from downtown Chongqing, but the cruises here are shorter and cheaper. Great if you only have a weekend.
2.1 Royal Three Kingdoms (Huangjia Sanguo Hao)
Departure Time: Departs Fengjie Port at 4:00 PM (but meet at Chaotianmen Haike Yingzhou Building at 8:00 AM for the bus to Fengjie).
Duration: 2 days / 1 night.
Price: Starts at ¥1,149 per person (cheapest 2-day option!).
Key Stops: Changshou Ancient Town (bus stop), Baidi City (before boarding), Shennuxi, Wu Gorge, Three Gorges Dam, arrives in Yichang by 6:00 PM next day.
Facilities: It’s designed like an ancient Chinese warship—super cool! Rooms are basic but clean, with private bathrooms. The dining hall serves simple but tasty food (fried rice and veggies are good).
Best For: Busy workers or students with limited time. My friend from Brazil took this—she only had 2 free days and said it was “the perfect quick trip” to see the gorges.
Avoid This: Don’t skip the Changshou Ancient Town stop—it’s small, but the street food (sweet potato soup, ¥5) is amazing. Some people stay on the bus, but they miss the best snack stop.
Personal Touch: I took this cruise last spring— the ancient ship design made me feel like I was in a Chinese history book. The staff even dressed up in traditional clothes for dinner!
3. Cruises from Wanzhou Port – Chongqing to Yichang Three Gorges cruise options
Wanzhou Port is 1.5 hours from downtown. The cruises here are a mix of comfort and value—great for middle-aged travelers or business people.
3.1 President No.2 (Zongtong 2 Hao)
Departure Time: 7:00 PM (arrive by 6:00 PM; take a bus from Chongqing to Wanzhou—1.5 hours, ¥50 one-way).
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights.
Price: Starts at ¥950 per person (super cheap for a 5-star foreign-style cruise!).
Key Stops: Baidi City (next morning), Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Three Gorges Dam (third day).
Facilities: Refurbished in 2019 with European-style decor (chandeliers and soft sofas—very fancy!). It has an observation deck (I spent hours there watching the gorges) and a sun deck (great for reading). Rooms are small but cozy, with comfortable beds.
Best For: Middle-aged travelers who like European style but don’t want to spend too much. My mom took this last year—she said the decor was “like a fancy hotel” and the bed was “so comfortable she slept like a baby.”
Pro Tip: Bring a jacket for the sun deck—even in summer, the wind gets chilly in the evening.
3.2 US Cruises Kelei (Meiwei Kelei Hao)
Departure Time: 7:30 PM (check-in by 6:30 PM).
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights.
Price: Starts at ¥1,299 per person.
Key Stops: Baidi City, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Maoping Port (for Three Gorges Dam or optional ship lift experience—¥200 extra).
Facilities: 5 passenger decks with practical facilities—no frills, but everything works. A small dining hall (meals are simple but filling) and a meeting room for the safety briefing and captain’s meet-and-greet (the captain speaks basic English!).
Best For: Business people traveling between trips. My colleague took this—he said the “no-fuss” service fit his busy schedule, and he loved the optional ship lift experience.
Avoid This: Don’t pay for the ship lift unless you love engineering—some travelers say it’s “just a big elevator,” but I think it’s cool to see how ships get over the dam.
3.3 Royal Prosperity (Huangjia Shengshi Hao)
Departure Time: 8:00 PM (check-in by 7:00 PM).
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights.
Price: Starts at ¥949 per person (newly refurbished, so great value!).
Key Stops: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge (view from the ship), optional stops: Baidi City (¥80 extra), Shennuxi (¥100 extra), Three Gorges Dam.
Facilities: 6 passenger decks, fully refurbished in 2024—everything looks new! Rooms have fresh bedding and clean bathrooms. The top deck has benches for watching the gorges.
Best For: Backpackers on a budget who want a new ship. My friend from Thailand took this—she said she “couldn’t believe how new it was for the price” and loved the optional Shennuxi trip.
Hidden Trick: Book the optional Baidi City tour with a group—you’ll get a ¥20 discount per person. The guide speaks English, so you won’t miss the stories.
Final Recommendation: My Go-To Guide for Your Three Gorges Cruise
I spent 2 months helping put together DolphinUnion’s Chongqing guide—even I use it when my foreign friends visit, because it has all the little details I can’t fit in this blog. The guide has hidden photo spots (like the quiet corner on Century Myth’s rooftop for sunset photos I told you about earlier) and a step-by-step dock transfer tutorial (with photos, so you won’t get lost taking the bus to Wanzhou or Fengjie—trust me, I’ve seen friends miss their cruise because they took the wrong bus).
Last week, a reader from Australia messaged me saying our guide saved his trip. He was going to book a 1-day cruise from Fengjie, but the guide told him he didn’t have enough time for the bus. Instead, he took the Star Athena from Chaotianmen and said it was “the best decision he made”—he got to see all the key stops without rushing.
If you don’t want to scribble down notes from this blog, or worry about missing those hidden spots, grab our DolphinUnion guide—it’s like having a local friend with you the whole time, sharing all the cruise hacks that make the Three Gorges trip smooth and fun. You’ll save time, skip the stress, and actually enjoy every moment on the water.
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