5-Day Chongqing and Yangtze River Cruise Tour

Sailing the Yangtze through the Three Gorges is the trip of a lifetime. Watching the sheer cliffs of Qutang and Wu Gorge slide past from the deck, then the smaller side excursion up the Shennong Stream in a sampan, was magical. The Chongqing days before boarding included the night skyline and hotpot, a great warm-up.

Five days, perfectly split between Chongqing city sightseeing and the river cruise. The cruise ship was comfortable and the Three Gorges Dam visit was genuinely impressive in scale. Our private guide handled the embarkation and shore excursions so we never felt herded like the big groups. Relaxing and scenic.

The Yangtze cruise is wonderfully slow travel, watching China's heartland drift by. Chongqing itself surprised me, the mountain city with its layered roads and the Hongya Cave lit up at night. The Three Gorges scenery is the star though. Five days gave the right mix of city and river.

A peaceful and scenic way to see the heart of China. The Three Gorges are beautiful, though the famous gorges pass partly while you sleep, so check the schedule. Chongqing's hotpot was unforgettable, spicy beyond belief. The cruise food was decent. Good value for a five-day private arrangement.