A Yangtze cruise is the only way to experience the legendary Yangtze River. The heart of China and the third longest river in the world (after the Nile and Amazon), the 3,915-mile Yangtze plunges from the Tibetan plateau to flow through the exquisitely beautiful and dramatic Three Gorges region on its way to Shanghai and the East China Sea. Your river cruise will take you through a variety of beautiful areas in the region, giving you a closer look at the many faces of China. As will be explained on your cruise, the Yangtze has long supported—and sometimes threatened—the people who live along its banks. Find itineraries for our Yangtze river cruises.
Yangtze River cruise travelers will be happy to learn that the Yangtze’s Three Gorges region boasts some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes, with misty mountains, breathtaking gorges, lush green bamboo groves and serene riverbanks. Along its long and winding course lie some of China’s greatest cultural treasures and natural wonders—unforgettable destinations on any Yangtze cruise.
The great Yangtze River rises in the Tibet Plateau and flows east across the entire width of China until it empties into the East China Sea near Shanghai, one of the many destinations on your China cruise tour. It bisects the country and has historically marked the division between north and south China.
The most dramatic part of the River is the Three Gorges region; all Viking’s Yangtze cruise itineraries include a cruise along this 150-mile stretch. The three larger gorges on the Yangtze are the Qutang Gorge, the shortest and narrowest of the three with the most spectacular scenery; the Wu (Witches) Gorge, noted for its magnificent lush green mountains frequently shrouded in mist, and the Xiling Gorge, at 47 miles the longest of the three, with narrow, precipitous cliffs. In addition to the three large gorges, you will take a special cruise boat up the Daning through the Lesser Three Gorges. Narrower than the great gorges, the canyon scenery is even more dramatic, and Yangtze River cruise travelers can see a number of historical sites along the way like hanging coffins and the ancient plank road carved into the cliffside. The Three Gorges experience on your Yangtze cruise also includes a visit to the dramatic 12-story red Shibaozhai Temple perched alongside the Yangtze, and a tour of the immense Three Gorges Dam project site and museum.
The Three Gorges Dam, originally envisioned by China’s first president Sun Yat-sen, will help control flooding along the Yangtze River, which has been a major problem for people living nearby. The rainy season in China is May and June south of the Yangtze River and July and August north of it, creating a four-month flooding season. Disastrous flood seasons in 1911 killed around 100,000; in 1931, 145,000; in 1935, 142,000; and in 1954, 33,000—this last flood covered the city of Wuhan for over 3 months. In 1998, flooding resulted in several thousand deaths, 14 million left homeless and $24 billion in economic losses. Touring the Three Gorges Dam is one of the highlights of any Yangtze River cruise; because of the monumental scale and ambitious nature of the project. In addition to flood control, the Dam is expected to produce 22,500 MW of hydroelectric power and to facilitate shipping by raising the water level. The specifics of the dam will be furthered explained by your knowledgeable local guide as you cruise through the dam’s five-level locks and tour its museum.