Along the Yangtze 

The mighty Yangtze, largest river in China, is said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. The "Ten Thousand Li River" flows 6.300 kilometers from the snowy heights of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the East China Sea, just north of Shanghai. It goes by many local names, but to the Chinese it is most common name is simply Chang Jiang (Long River). 

An old saying goes "If you haven't traveled up Chang Jiang, you haven't been anywhere", because the river winds through some of China's most spectacular scenery. In the western Wu Shan (Witch Mountains) it meets the world-famous Three Gorges renowned for their dramatic beauty, cultural treasures, religious and historical sites, and most recently for the building of the controversial Three Gorges Dam. 

The stunning scenery makes the Three Gorges cruise along the Yangtze a "must do", either alone or as part of a longer trip.The Rising waters means that some sights have been lost but the phenomena has created newly navigable tributaries with amazing new sights and of course, the Dam itself, which is due for completion in 2009. The world's largest hydroelectric power plant will generate the equivalent of 15 nuclear plants, control the centuries-old problem of devastating floods and allow navigation well into the interior. (25% of China's ocean cargo enters the river between Shanghai and the sea.) 

Chang Jiang has always been a major means of transport and has a colorful and exciting history. Ships were pulled by hand through some of the more dangerous reaches by "trackers" working from narrow paths cut into the steep cliffsides. The pilots and captains that picked their way through the whirlpools, rocks and wildly fluctuating water levels have achieved legendary status. 

These days, however, you can cruise the Yangtze in comfort and take in various sites and shore excursions along the way. The following are the attractions between Chonqing and Yichang listed from west to east: Chongqing, Fengdu, Zhongxian, Shibaozhai, Wanxian, Yunyang, Fengjie, Badong, Zigui, Maoping, Yichang, Plus Three Gorges, Lesser Three Gorges , Shennong Stream, Three Gorges Dam. If you choose to continue to Wuhan, there are will be more attractions to visit including Yueyang & Yellow Crane Tower. By cruising all the way to Shanghai, you will be able to do shore excursion to Nanjing and Yellow Mountain. 

Apart from the beautiful Scenery, you will enjoy a lot from the particular local culture like: Burial Custom, Festivals, Ghost City, Peddlers, Relics, Remains and the Trackers. 

Three Gorges Dam  site is 27 miles upstream from YichangCity proper, at SandoupingTown, 38km upstream from the Gezhouba Dam Lock, inside the third of the Three Gorges. It is planned to be by far the largest hydroelectric project in the world. The Project calls for the construction of a concrete dam, a hydroelectric power plant and a series of locks just below the scenic Three Gorges region. The project is designed to be built in three phases and is scheduled for completion in year 2009. Upon arrival at Sandouping, passengers will take a bus across the ThreeGorgesBridge, which leads toward the top of the hill for a birds-eye view of the construction from the observation deck. Visitors will observe the five-step ship lock, the diversion canal, the dam in construction, and the power station. English speaking professional guides will be on hand to provide detailed information on the history of the dam and facts on its construction. In addition, an exhibition room displays a model of the dam, and offers passengers another opportunity to ask questions and learn about the benefits of this amazing project. One of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the world, the Three Gorges Project will forever change the face of the Yangtze River as we know it today. Possessing comprehensive utilization benefits mainly for flood control, power generation and navigation improvement. It will be a vital important and backbone project in harnessing and developing of the Yangtze River. Measures have been taken to preserve and move the historical and cultural relics found along its banks; however many scenic spots will be adversely affected. The most dramatic section of the river, what we refer to as "the heart of the Yangtze"-the area from the Three Gorges all the way upstream to Chongqing-will eventually be drowned by the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, an integral part of the Three Gorges Project.