11 days Yangtze River Cruise from Chongqing to Shanghai

Make your way to Chaotianmen Port in Chongqing and board Century Legend for your 11-day Yangtze River cruise to Shanghai.

Embarkation is generally between 15:00 and 18:00. A shared shuttle is available at scheduled times from designated Chongqing airport and railway station locations, or you can make your own way to the port.

After boarding, check into your cabin and settle in for the journey. Enjoy dinner onboard, followed by a safety briefing and the Captain's Welcome Party. The ship is scheduled to depart Chongqing at around 21:00.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Century Legend

We recommend arriving in Chongqing by early afternoon to allow plenty of time for the transfer and embarkation.

This morning, take an approximately 3-hour shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City, a historic complex of temples and shrines known for its traditions and legends about the afterlife, influenced by Taoism, Buddhism and Chinese folk culture.

Return to the ship for lunch and continue cruising along the Yangtze. In the afternoon, visit the Captain’s Bridge to learn how the ship is navigated, join other onboard activities, or simply relax and enjoy the river scenery.

After dinner, you can join an optional excursion to Feng Yan San Guo (War Fire of the Three Kingdoms) in Zhongxian, a large-scale outdoor show inspired by stories from China’s Three Kingdoms period. The excursion lasts approximately 2 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

Today is one of the scenic highlights of your Yangtze River cruise as the ship enters the Three Gorges.

In the morning, choose one of two shore excursions, each lasting approximately 3 hours:

White Emperor City – Visit this historic site overlooking Kuimen, the dramatic entrance to Qutang Gorge and one of the best-known views along the Yangtze River.

The Three Gorges Summit – Travel into the mountains above the river for panoramic views over Qutang Gorge and the surrounding peaks.

Back onboard, cruise through Qutang Gorge, the shortest and most dramatic of the Three Gorges, followed by Wu Gorge, known for its steep, forest-covered mountains and beautiful river scenery. Then the west section of Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges.

In the evening, the ship passes through the Five-Step Locks of the Three Gorges Dam. You can watch from onboard as the ship makes its way through this impressive lock system.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

This morning, spend approximately 3-4 hours visiting the Three Gorges Dam, including the River Closure Memorial Park and Three Gorges Project Museum. Learn about the construction of this enormous project and how the dam and ship lock system works.

Return to the ship and cruise sails through Gezhouba Ship Lock and the east section of Xiling Gorge, completing your journey through all three of the Yangtze's famous gorges — Qutang, Wu and Xiling.

An onboard lecture about the Three Gorges Dam and ship locks provides more background to what you have seen along this section of the river. After dinner, enjoy the Crew Cabaret Show onboard.

Most classic Three Gorges cruises finish in Yichang, but your journey continues from here along the Yangtze toward Shanghai.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

Today, arrive in Jingzhou, an ancient city with more than 2,000 years of history and strong connections to the ancient Chu State.

Spend approximately 3.5 hours ashore, with a choice of two excursions:

Xiongjia National Archaeological Site Park – See the large chariot-and-horse burial site associated with a King of Chu and learn about ancient Chinese burial traditions.

Jingzhou Museum & Ancient City Wall – Explore the museum's collection of historical artifacts before visiting Jingzhou's well-preserved ancient city wall.

Return to the ship for lunch and continue cruising along the Yangtze. The afternoon is free to relax onboard and enjoy the passing river scenery.

Evening activities are available onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

Spend much of today exploring Wuhan, one of the major cities along the middle Yangtze. Allow approximately 7 hours for sightseeing and lunch.

Visit Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan's best-known landmark, for panoramic views across the Yangtze River, Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge and the city.

Enjoy a Wuhan-style lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Hubei Provincial Museum, known for its important collection of artifacts from Hubei and ancient China.

Return to the ship in the late afternoon and continue cruising toward Shanghai. Evening activities are available onboard after dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

Morning the cruise arrives in Jiujiang, where you can choose from three different shore excursions:

Jingdezhen Porcelain town – approx. 8 hours: Spend a full day exploring China's famous Porcelain Capital. Visit the Ancient Kiln Porcelain Factory and ceramic exhibition area, see how traditional Chinese porcelain is made and learn about the city's long history of porcelain production.

Mount Lu (Lushan) – approx. 8 hours: Take the cable car into Mount Lu, one of China's best-known mountain areas, and enjoy its mountain scenery, including Flower Path Park and Splendid Valley.

Donglin Temple & Xunyang Tower – approx. 4.5 hours: For a shorter excursion, visit Donglin Temple, a historic Buddhist temple founded in AD 386, together with Xunyang Tower. Afternoon relax on the cruise.

Lunch is served ashore or onboard depending on the excursion you choose.

Return to the ship and continue cruising along the Yangtze. In the evening, live music and a masquerade ball are arranged onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

Continue along the Yangtze into Anhui Province and arrive in Chizhou, where you can choose between two shore excursions:

Mount Jiuhua – approx. 8.5 hours: Spend the day exploring Mount Jiuhua, one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, known for its temples, forested peaks and Buddhist culture. A vegetarian-style lunch is included during the excursion.

Jindizang Temple – approx. 5.5 hours: Choose a shorter visit to this Buddhist temple complex, followed by lunch near Pingtian Lake.

Return to the ship in the afternoon and continue cruising along the lower Yangtze toward Shanghai. Dinner and evening activities are arranged onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

Morning cruise arrives in Nanjing and travel by coach to the historic city of Yangzhou. Allow approximately 6-7 hours for today's excursion, including coach transfers and lunch.

Enjoy a Huaiyang-style lunch before visiting Slender West Lake, Yangzhou's best-known scenic area. Walk through its traditional gardens and along the waterways, with elegant bridges and pavilions along the way.

Return to Nanjing in the late afternoon and reboard the ship. Evening activities are available onboard after dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

After breakfast onboard, go ashore to visit Niushou Mountain Cultural Park, a major Buddhist cultural site in Nanjing. The highlight is the impressive Usnisa Palace, built partly underground and known for its grand Buddhist halls, elaborate interiors and contemporary architecture. Explore the palace and surrounding park before returning to the ship for lunch.

The afternoon is free to relax onboard as you continue cruising toward Shanghai.

In the evening, enjoy the “Romance on the Bund” Farewell Dinner, followed by farewell activities onboard for your final night of the cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Onboard

Wake up in Shanghai on the final morning of your Yangtze River cruise. After breakfast onboard, disembark at Shanghai International Cruise Terminal at around 08:30.

Located near the mouth of the Yangtze River, Shanghai marks the end of your 11-day Yangtze river journey from Chongqing. If you are staying in the city, you can continue your trip with Shanghai highlights such as the Bund, Yu Garden and the Lujiazui skyline.

Century Cruises provides a shared transfer to designated Shanghai airport or railway station locations at scheduled times. Alternatively, you can make your own way to your hotel or continue exploring Shanghai after disembarkation.

Meals: Breakfast

Your final disembarkation time and transfer arrangements will be confirmed before departure.