Skip to main content
WindhorseTour
Shortlist (0) China travel guide Blog FAQ About us Contact us
info@windhorsetour.com +86-28-85593923
  • Home
  • Tailor-made tour Tailor-made
  • Tibet tours Tibet tours
    All Tibet group tours
    All Tibet private tours

    Destination

    • Lhasa
    • Central Tibet
    • Mount Everest Base Camp
    • Mount Kailash & Far Western Tibet
    • Eastern Tibet Nyingchi
    • Sichuan/Yunnan to Tibet overland
    • Nepal Extention
    • Sichuan Tibetan Kham
    • Train Journey to Tibet

    Theme

    • Culture and Heritage
    • Family focused
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Train travel
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Winter getaways
  • China tours China tours
    All China private tours

    Destination

    • Beijing
    • Xi’an
    • Shanghai
    • Guilin & Yangshuo
    • Datong & Pingyao
    • Yunnan
    • Xiamen
    • Yangtze River Cruises
    • Chengdu
    • Tibet
    • China Multi-city tours
    • Mount Huangshan
    • Zhangjiajie
    • Jiuzhaigou National Park
    • Guizhou
    • Qinghai
    • Hangzhou
    • Luoyang
    • Nanjing
    • Hong Kong

    Theme

    • Culture and Heritage
    • Family focused
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Train travel
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Winter getaways
    • 1st Time travel to China
    • Panda
    • Yangtze cruise
  • Sichuan tours Sichuan
    All Sichuan private tours

    Destination

    • Mount Emei & Leshan
    • Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong
    • Daocheng Yading
    • Sichuan Tibetan Kham
    • Panda Breeding Centers
    • Chengdu
    • South Sichuan

    Theme

    • Culture and Heritage
    • Family focused
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Panda
  • Silk Road tours Silk Road
    All Silk Road private tours

    Destination

    • Zhangye Rainbow Mountain
    • Dunhuang
    • Turpan
    • Kashgar
    • Badain Jaran Desert
    • Kanas Lake
    • Silk Road Tibet
    • Silk Road China
    • Kuqa
    • Hotan
    • Yining Grassland
    • Jiayuguan
    • Tianshui

    Theme

    • Culture and Heritage
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Panda
  • Travel guide Travel guide
    All travel advice

    Travel tips

    • China
    • TIbet
    • Sichuan
    • Ultimate Guide on How to Visit Tibet

    Destinations

    • China
    • Tibet
    • Sichuan
More
Latest Corona Virus travel information
Home > China travel guide > China travel tips > Sailing routes & seasons

Sailing routes & seasons

  • Cruise Lines

    For anyone who is planning the Yangtze Cruise, taking into consideration the cruise destination can make a difference. Many routes varied from the destinations and the directions of the cruise are provided for visitors to go exploring the cradle of Chinese civilization-Yangtze River.

    For the direction of the cruise, that is, to upstream or downstream the river, please see details on How to Plan a Cruise. After deciding your cruise's direction, it is still not enough for working out a cruise that suits you best. Do not forget destinations. Cruise companies always arrange various lines according to the special requirements of visitors. Generally, they are divided into long lines and short lines.
     

  • Long Lines
    Chongqing --> Wuhan (1,200 kilometers/756 miles) taking 5 days downstream.
    Wuhan --> Chongqing (1,200 kilometers/756 miles) taking 6 days upstream.
    Chongqing --> Shanghai (2,399 kilometers/1,491miles) taking 8 days downstream.
    Shanghai --> Chongqing (2,399 kilometers/1,491miles) taking 10 days upstream.

    Advantages: Long lines usually means more time spent on board. Thus passengers have more time for refreshing themselves after shore excursions. The extra leisure time will enable you to join in the various activities on board such as Chinese culture lectures, shadowboxing, stage performances, etc. Destinations such as Chongqing, Wuhan, and Shanghai are all metropolises that provide you with convenient transportation, which means you can reach your next destination promptly.

    Disadvantages: More time on board might fetter some adventurous passengers who may wish to do more exploring.
     

  • Short Lines
    Chongqing --> Yichang /Jingzhou (about 600 kilometers/ 373 miles) taking 4 days downstream
    Yichang --> Chongqing/Jingzhou (about 600 kilometers/373 miles) taking 5 days upstream

    Advantages: Less time onboard costs you less. Passengers can still view the whole grand Three Gorges scenic area, whilst performances onboard are more focused.

    Disadvantages: Since the activities and the onshore excursions are one after another, there is less time for rest, and for those who prefer a relaxed traveling which involves a long time for refreshment should give this a second thought. Destinations such as Yichang and Jingzhou are relatively small cities, so perhaps you may need to transfer to Wuhan to catch up with your vehicle.

    Anyway, it is wise for you to know this basic knowledge before your cruising journey, just choose the very one that suits you best.
     

  • Cruise Seasons
    -Low-water Season and High-water Season
    The Yangtze River is within the sub-tropical climate area of Central Asia and has a low-water season from December to March and a high-water season (flood season) from June to September.

    Before the construction of the Three Gorges Project, the low-water season was not suitable for cruising. Now that the project is completed the sailing conditions are greatly improved because of the higher water level. Some tributaries are marvelous for exploring the beautiful natural scenery. It is reported that cruising in winter and during the low-water season is increasingly popular.

    -Tourism Peak Season and Off-Season
    Generally, April, May, September, and October are considered the peak seasons for cruising. During this period, the weather is neither too cold nor too hot and the scenery is the best of the year.

    The rest of the months are considered the off-season, they are January, February, and March, plus June, July, August, November, and December. In recent years, because of the improvement in sailing conditions as well as the efforts made in the rejuvenation of tourism in the Three Gorges area by the government, off-season traveling is gaining in popularity with both Chinese and foreign tourists. Besides, visitors seeking to avoid the crowded peak season can enjoy some off-peak specials offered by some ship companies and travel agencies.

Related tours

Yangtze River Cruise
WindhorseTour Default Map Image
Yangtze River meets Chongqing
Shennong streams Yangtze
Yangtze River Cruise

4 days Yangtze River cruise downstream tour

Chongqing
⇀ Yichang
...
Chongqing ⇀ Yangtze Cruise ⇀ Yichang
4 days
∙ Private ∙
1st Time travel to China
Taking a cruise on the Yangtze River gives you a chance to enjoy the leisure time surrounded by the water and the sky without missing the most essential scenic spots of the breathtaking Yangtze Three Gorges.
Add to shortlist
From ¥ 2,900
View tour >
City Wall Xian
Beijing Xi'an Train Tour Map
Great Wall Beijing City Tour
Beijing Forbidden City

7 days Beijing Xi'an train tour

Beijing
7 days
∙ Private ∙
Culture and Heritage
Matched by an ancient history these 2 cities are waiting for you. Filled with marvelous sites like the Terecotta Soldiers, Great Wall and amazing culinary culture. Xi'an China's first and Beijing the current capital cities await you
Add to shortlist
From ¥ 5,000
View tour >
Shanghai Yangtze River Cruise Route
Great Wall Beijing City Tour

10 days Beijing - Yangtze River cruise - Shanghai tour

Beijing
⇀ Shanghai
...
Beijing ⇀ Yangtze Cruise ⇀ Shanghai ⇀ Suzhou ⇀ Shanghai
10 days
∙ Private ∙
Yangtze cruise
This Three Gorges tour starts with a visit to Beijing heritage sites. Next a cruise along the Yangtze River to see its breathtaking scenery. Sail through the Three Gorges to visit the Fengdu ghost city, magnificent Three Gorges Dam and more.
Add to shortlist
From US$ 1,525
View tour >
China Yangtze River Tour
Yangtze River Cruise Tour Route
forbidden-city-panoramic-beijing
Roof China Dragon Forbidden City

15 days Essence of China with Yangtze River cruise tour

Beijing
⇀ Shanghai
...
Beijing ⇀ Xi'an ⇀ Guilin ⇀ Yangtze Cruise ⇀ Shanghai ⇀ Suzhou ⇀ Shanghai
15 days
∙ Private ∙
Yangtze cruise
Explore 5 highlight cities in China along with a Chongqing River cruise. Spectacular natural landscapes and cultural heritages are balanced to make your trip memorable. An elaborate ship and best service await during your cruise on the River.
Add to shortlist
From ¥ 14,500
View tour >
Admin data
 

Related tips

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Yangtze River Cruise
Difference between downstream and upstream
The Best Times to visit China: By season and by month
Security during the cruise
Cruise boarding voucher sample
The Ultimate Travel Guide to Shanghai
Travel Guide to Northeast China: Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang
Top 5 Deserts in China for an Amazing Desert Experience

Contact us

  • +86-28-85593923
  • info@windhorsetour.com

Discover

    • Tibet group tours
    • Tibet tours
    • China tours
    • Sichuan tours
    • Silk Road tours
    • Create your tailor-made tour

Company

  • About us
  • Blog
  • China travel guide
  • FAQ
  • Terms of use and Privacy statement

Customer Reviews

© 2006 - 2021 WindhorseTour.com - All rights reserved