Yangtze River Cruise

Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam

Cruise the magnificent Yangtze River with 5-Star Century Cruises and China Discovery Tours.

Zoom A compelling way to add to the exciting adventure of China is to include the Yangtze River in your travel plans. As the longest river in China, the Yangtze is a significant part of China's history, culture and economy. Its picturesque gorges, valleys and vistas have been admired and written about in Chinese lore for thousands of years. As "the cradle of Chinese civilization", the Yangtze and Three Gorges Dam provide for cargo shipping, hydroelectric power, flood control, and water for agriculture - all of which are vital to China's economic growth. A downstream cruise on the Yangtze starts in Chongqing - a municipality of nearly 30 million people. From here the cruise passes through the beautiful Three Gorges: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. It then passes through the Three Gorges Dam site, which many regard as the largest construction project in China since the Great Wall. The cruise ends in Yichang, an ancient city with more than 4,000 years of history. Yichang is also known as the "Throat between Sichuan and Hubei" where it acts as a transportation center that connects Eastern and Western China. Daily shore excursions are also available to allow travelers to get an up-close look at life in rural China.

Cruise the Yangtze with Century Cruises

China Discovery Tours is proud to announce that we are working exclusively with Century Cruises, the only cruise line with its five cruise ships all built after 2003. Century Cruises is also the only cruise line with its spacious cabins all installed with private balcony for viewing the Three Gorges scenery. Century Cruises offers a highly advanced water filtration process that enables the use of purified water throughout all aspects of the cruise. It is the only cruise line that has installed a superb bar on deck with a panoramic view. The cruise ship is also endowed with midship observation elevators providing convenience and an unparalleled view of the Yangtze. The facilities include a business center, reading room, fitness area, sauna and massage room, internet café, gift shop and beauty salon. Onboard activities feature lectures on Chinese history and culture, Tai Chi lessons and calligraphy demonstrations. Narratives by knowledgeable river guides, latest satellite communications and HBO/CNN make it that much more enjoyable onboard. In each cabin is a deluxe king-sized bed (or two large single beds) with 5-Star Hilton Hotel Standard linens and personal grooming articles. A good night's sleep is further assured by the distance of each cabin from the engine. Century Cruises brings you a sophisticated restaurant with a capacity of more than 300 people, serving both Chinese and Western cuisine. The vessels are also installed with advanced central ventilation systems and anti-vibration systems onboard. According to the China National Tourism Administration, all its cruisers have been recognized as 5-Star cruisers on the Yangtze. About the ships: Century Legend (Luxury 5-Star Cruise)is one of the two newest ships from Century Cruises. The Century Legend ship accommodates 398 passengers and features a choice of accommodations that include 160 deluxe staterooms, 34 executive suites and 2 presidential suites. The standard deluxe staterooms on the ship are 301 square feet, the largest standard cruise ship cabins or suites currently on the Yangtze. All have balconies and amenities such as a direct dial phone, LCD Satellite TV, automatically controlled air-conditioning and a bathroom with a separate bathtub. The Century Legend is a brand-new luxurious ship with incredible amounts of space to enjoy and relax on. M.S. Yangtze 2 launched in September of 2011 by the international designer team who worked with Carnival Cruises to enhance their ships. M.S. Yangtze 2 has taken the standard for five-star sea cruising and has been elaborately crafted as the top-ranking inland river cruise line. "Water" was selected as its principal design element to illustrate its concept focusing on low carbon emissions and eco-friendly technology to preserve the natural ecosystem in the Yangtze River, while also providing an enjoyable, leisured space for tourists.