CE-TK-12

Yangtze Three Gorges starts from Fengjie of Chongqing and ends in Yichang, extending some 193KM, passing Wushan, Badong and Zigui Towns. Each of the towns had a history of 2000 years. With highly reputation of natural beauties and historical remains and cultural heritages, it won the second position to none in China's natural Beauty Spots Competition in 1991. And in 1986, scientists proved the first Chinese ape man, and even the first Asian ape man came from this area, their foot path can be traced back to 2 million years ago, therefore it is no exaggeration to say it is truly the Chinese national pride, symbol and cradle. Without coming to the Yangtze Three Gorges, one can hardly have his China tour dream complete!

Hiking the Yangtze Three Gorges is one of the top tour routes in China. Walking through this route, you can see the colored clouds over the mountain peaks along the Yangtze Gorges, fleets of modern and man-powered boats sailing are just under your feet. Lush growing broad beam, wheat and potato plants of green color in the fields and the hillsides provide you strong sense of nature, while pink peach flowers and yellow rapeseed flower make the villages look like natural gardens. Who can resist the temptation of the fantastic scenery? And what is more, here the creative Chinese people are constructing the world biggest Dam of hydra-power plant – you will also witness the “modern Great Wall “erecting in the Yangtze water!

With the completion of the second phase of the Three Gorges Project, the pool level of newly –formed reservoir reaches 139 meters above sea level, actually 40m higher than before, some Ancient Plank Roads are inundated under water. And the boatmen's song has also become memory. However, we go to the Yangtze Three Gorges in order to keep this tourism quintessence and to find out the lost memory.

Itinerary

Day 1 Wanzhou/ Fengjie  
Meet the guests at Wanzhou, transfer to Fengjie city proper in a speedy boat in two hours. Upon arrival, we will check in our hotel at Fengjie.
Fengjie is the first town when you go downstream along the Yangtze Gorges. Known as a town of poetry, almost all famous men of letters of China in Tang Dynasty (618AD-960AD) and Song Dynasty (960AD-1279AD) visited here and left a great number of poems behind them.
At the western entrance of the Yangtze Three Gorges, the Qutang Gorge is only 8km long, yet it is known as the most magnificent, with sheer cliff on either side of the river, present a grand view. In Qing Dynasty (1644AD-1911AD), Poet Zhang Wentao described: No matter how marvelous your writing brush is, hardly you could give a description well enough for this Nature beauty!

Day 2 Fengjie     Hiking  
After breakfast and take a light pack and depart for our first day hiking. Transfer to pier and take a ferry boat across the stream. Hiking along Qutang Gorge starting from White Emperor City where dating back to 1800 years ago, in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Period(220AD-280AD), Emperor Liu Bei was defeated and died here, which is a story know to all Chinese students. Hike all the way along the Red Armor Mountains with green fields, board beans and potato plants on the hillsides. This is the best spot viewing the magnificent and majestic Qutang Gorge. Returning to Fengjie for dinner on the same way back.  Today's hiking is proximately 20KM, 7-8hours.

Day 3  Fengjie / Qingshi Town     Hiking 
Breakfast at 7:30am, Check out the hotel with all your belongings and depart for the daily tour. We first take the chartered little motor boat to the middle of Wu Gorge, sailing through Yangtze Qutang Gorge (8KM.) and review the Qutang Gorge in the morning on the river. Getting off the boat, we start hiking Wu Gorge. Do not forget to practice your Chinese Terms “NI HAO ( Hello)” to greet the local friendly villagers. Upon arrival at Qingshi town, we will settle down at local farmer's houses.

Day 4 Qingshi town / Qishi Town 
Breakfast at 7:30am depart for the daily hiking tour at Goddest peak. Daily hiking 7 hours (round trip) to Goddess Peak (1400 m above sea level) in the mid Yangtze Wushan Gorge, an unforgettable hiking experience.  Though you hat will drop off when you solute the Goddess peak at the foot of the mountain, it is surely under your feet when you actually climb to the top. You will pass the Scissors Peak and Songluan peaks. On the top of the mountain, we will have lunch at a farmers' home. The whole day hike will Last some 7 hours. It is floating museum of all Yangtze Boats at this section of the Yangtze Gorges, all types of boats, modern vessels, cargo barges and cruise ships will pass by.  A farmers' guest house reserved for you and meal table just facing the goddess peak. After the hiking, we will take the motor boat back to Qishi town. Wushan town is a county seat, deep in the mountain area. Situated at the confluence of the Yangtze and its very small tributary the Danning River, here is a popular port.

Day 5 Qishi town / Wushan / Lianziya 
Breakfast and check out. We take a little charted motor boat to Wu Shan Town and take a speed boat ride from Wushan to Old Zigui. Take a ferry boat to the southern bank of Yangtze River, where we will have our lunch at Guojiaba old town. Enjoy the stunning beauty at the mouth of the gorge. After a short break, we continue hiking to 'Chain Cliff' along the Yangtze River Bank. 'Chain Cliff' is hoped that pins and chains will keep it from falling into the gorge. It is the best section for viewing the west section of xiling gorge while enjoying the local ethnic culture. We will climb up to the highest point of the mountain for a bird-eye view. It is about 3 hours and at the end of the hiking, we will check in our hotel which is facing the river.

Day 6 Lianxiziya / Yichang 
Breakfast around 8:00am and check out. Afterwards we depart for the Dam tour with all your belongings at 8:45am. Visit the Yangtze Three Gorges Dam and its Museum of Construction 9:00am – 11:00am. Drive to pass and lunch at Yichang, the famous hydra power city of China and the biggest city of western Hubei Province. Finally drive to Yichang airport for a flight to Beijing.

Season: April, May, June, Sept, Oct

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