Beijing & environs wonders
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Lama Temple
Summer Palace
Temple of Heaven
Tiananmen Square
Hong Kong & environs
Hong Kong Harbor/Cityscape
Hong Kong Restaurants & Shops
Tian Tan Buddha Po Lin
Shanghai & environs
Bund River Front
Jade Buddha Temple
Pudong/Shanghai Skylines
Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Old City
Shaanxi
Qin Terra Cotta Warriors
Wild Goose Pagodas
Xi'an City Walls
Sichuan & Chongqing
Dazu Rock Carvings
Jiuzhaigou
Leshan Great Buddha
Shibaozhai Temple
Yangtze River Cruise
Tibet
Ganden Monastery
Jokhang Temple
Mount Everest with
Nepal
Potala Palace of Lhasa
Sera Monastery
Tashilumpo Monastery
Yunnan
Baishui Terrace
Lijiang & Shangri-La
Stone Forest
Three Pagodas
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Xishuangbanna
Yuan Yang Rice Terraces
Wonders in other China regions
Chengde Mountain Resort
Hanging Monastery
Huangshan Mountain Range
Jiayuguan Fort
Kaifeng Historical Sites
Labrang Monastery
Li River Cruise
Long Ji Rice Terraces
Longmen Caves
Mogao Caves
Mount Taishan
Pingyao Ancient City
Reed Flute Cave
Sanjiang Bridges
Shenyang Imperial Palace
Shouxi Lake
Silk Road
Suzhou Gardens & Canals
Three Gorges Dam
West Lake
Wudang Ancient Complex
Wulingyuan Scenic Areas
Yangshou
Yungang Caves
My other China pages
China wonder map
China home page
Chinese phrases
Chinese cuisine
World wonders
More
Site map
About me and my credentials
About my website
Reader testimonials
Email me your opinion
Yangtze River
cruise
Three Gorges tips
The Three Gorges
The Yangtze River cruise passes through three spectacular river gorges in the middle of China.
What
you see
Craggy, sheer mountain peaks along the riverside tower up to 1000 meters (3300 feet) above you. And interesting river barges pass by as you sit on the deck.
How
the
Three Gorges differ
Listings are in downstream order:
Qutang
Gorge
It is 8 kilometers (5 miles) long, making
it the shortest of the three gorges. It is also the narrowest and has the highest peaks.
Wu Gorge
This one measures 44
kilometers (28 miles). It is the widest gorge, and has the most tranquil
surrounding setting.
Xiling
Gorge
It's the longest (66 kilometers or 40 miles in length). Before the nearby Three Rivers Gorges dam was
built, Xiling Gorge had treacherous rapids, whirlpools, rocks, and shoals that trashed small
boats and, occasionally, large ships.
Shore excursions
Cost
They are typically included in the cruise fare. This compares favorably against ocean-going cruises, where they can sometimes be expensive extras.
These
are three most
popular shore excursions
Lesser
Three Gorges
They are scenic tributary gorges with
narrow canyons. To see the Lesser Three Gorges, visitors transfer from
their cruise ships to mid-size river boats.
Shennang
Stream
It is similar to the Lesser Three Gorges,
but much smaller and shallower. Visitors transfer
to small sampan type boats to travel up Shennang Stream.
Shibaozhai Temple
This 12-story wooden pagoda rests against a tall rock outcropping. You climb
up its steep interior stairs. Shibaozhai Temple is a Hillman Wonder Bronze Medal winner.
Best 5 boats
When to go + Routes
Three Gorges + Shore excursions
Three Gorges Dam
What it's like aboard
Other tips & insights
World's
10 best river cruises
Wonders
of China
World's
Top 100 wonders
World's
Top 1000 wonders
sponsored ad
Explore my
candid country, region
and other travel guides
Click links for tips & insights
WONDERS OF ... | WONDERS OF ... | CRUISE GUIDES | SAFARI GUIDES | WORLD'S TOP WONDERS |
| ||||
| OTHER TIPS & INSIGHTS | ||||
|
| |||
SPECIAL TOPICS | MORE | |||
| ||||
|
| |||
|
| |||
|
| |||
|
| |||
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
©2012 HQP - Hillman Quality Publications / hillmanwonders.com
