Yangtze River, Three Gorges & Cruises

Yangtze River is the mother river of China and known as Changjiang River in China. It was named after an ancient ferry called Yangtze Jin. Initially Yangtze River just referred to the lower reaches of Changjiang River. But the early western missionaries misunderstood that Yangtze River referred to the entire Changjiang River. As a result, Yangtze River became the international name of Changjiang River. But the Chinese still prefer to call it Changjiang River. With a total length of 6397 kilometers, it is the longest river in Asia and the third longest river in the world. Originated from Tibetan Plateau, Yangtze River passes through Yunnan Province, Sichuan Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Jiangxi Province, Anhui Province, Jiangsu Province and Shanghai City and eventually flows into the East China Sea. The whole drainage area of Yangtze River is more than 1,800,000 square kilometers and it covers 20% of China’s territory. The section of Yangtze River in-between Chongqing and Yichang is challenging in sail due to its complicated water condition. Yet its scenery is the most magnificent. The area is generally known as Three Gorges area, including Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge, and Xiling Gorge.

Three Gorges Area refers to the reach of the River in-between Chongqing and Yichang. Awesome mountains and valleys, fantastic legendary stories, ancient architectural mysteries… have made the area one of the most frequently visited destinations in China. It is one of the world's largest grand canyons and considered as one of China's top 10 scenic spots. Geographically speaking, Three Gorges area starts from Chongqing City to Yichang City, Hubei Province. It is 193 kilometers long. As the most beautiful part of Yangtze River, it has a lot to offer. There are various cultural sites scattered along the journey from Chongqing to Yichang. Three Gorges area is the birth place of many early civilizations. Daxi Civilization, a famous Neolithic Civilization, blossomed in this area in the period between 4400 B.C. and 3300 B.C. Three Gorges area is also the hometown of Qu Yuan, the great patriotic poet during the period of Warring States. The majority of people are Han people and Tujia minority. They both well preserve their local custom. The average annual temperature in Three Gorges area is 18.4 degree Celsius, and January is the coldest month. The average temperature is about 7.1 degree Celsius. July is the hottest month. The average temperature is about 29.3 degree Celsius. The annual average rainfall is about 1400 mm, and rainfall mainly happens in July and August. The climate in Three Gorges area is mild in winter, hot in summer, with abundance of rainfall and 4 distinct seasons. It is not quite different from the Sichuan Basin, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. However, due to the fact that there are many deep valleys, duration of sunshine is shorter. Averagely people can enjoy sunshine just for 2 or 3 hours per day in winter and for 5 or 6 hours per day in summer.

Three Gorges Dam Project is the world's largest and grandest water conservancy project. Many of its records break through the world record of water conservancy project. The effectiveness of water control is most notable in the world. Three Gorges Dam does well in control flooding from the upper reaches of Yangtze River. It enhances the capacity of flood-fighting. The Dam is the worldwide largest power station and hardest water conservancy project at the most cost of work. The Dam with the largest water conservancy has the sluice of world's largest flood discharge capacity. A large number of emigrants leaves their hometown due to the Three Gorges Dam project. The total number of emigrants ultimately reaches about 1,130,000. Three Gorges Dam project plays a key role in flood control in the midstream and downstream reaches of Yangtze River. It is also used for flood control, electricity generation, shipping, tourism and ecological protection, environmental purification, irrigation and south-north water transfer. It is an unparalleled power plant in the world nowadays. Exhibition of Three Gorges Dam Project was opened in 1992 with the whole coverage of 6600 square meters. The exhibition could be divided into the special zones of the construction of Three Gorges Dam, environmental protection, emigration, advancement of science and technology, power production, calligraphy and painting as well as photography.

Yangtze Cruise is absolutely a unique experience in China. The Yangtze River Cruise will take you through the cradle of China, while giving you the opportunity to see some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable. Highlights of a Yangtze River cruise tour are not only the magnificent waterside scenery of the gorges, but also shore excursions to Fengdu Ghost Town, Shennong Stream, Three Gorge Dam…etc. There are three parts divided for Yangtze Cruise, which are The Upper Reaches, The Middle Reaches and The Lower Reaches.