Shore Excursion of Yangtze Cruise from Yichang

The Yangtze Cruise from Yichang will stop at Three Gorges Dam, Shennong Stream, White Emperor City and Fengdu "Ghost City". Visitors can take a shore excursion to these sight spots to enjoy the special culture and scenery along the Yangtze River.

Shore Excursion of Yangtze Cruise from Yichang – Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges Dam is located at Sandouping in Xiling Gorge. It is the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken. Originally proposed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1919, and begun in 1994, the structure was competed in 2006, and is now fully operational. The Three Gorges Dam is 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the too and 130 meters wide at the bottom. The dam has raised the river to a level of 175 meters above sea level, creating a 600 kilometer long reservoir extending from the dam site all the way to Chongqing. It has submerged approximately 570,000 acres of farmland, 13 cities, 140 towns, 1.352 villages, and 657 factories, causing approximately 1.5 million people to be relocated. The estimate for construction of the project is US$70 billion. The building of the huge dam is for the purpose of flood control, generation of electricity, navigation, and irrigation.

Shore Excursion of Yangtze Cruise from Yichang – Shennong Stream

Board a ferry for a relaxing ride up this tributary of the Yangtze, which has its own attractive gorges. This wild preserve is home to more than 1,000 types of trees, and is named for the legendary peasant and mythical founder of Chinese medicine, Shennong, who hiked the cliffs and collected herbs here. You will switch to wooden boats called "pea-pod boats", and will be poled up to the shallow, clear areas further upstream. Trackers take over where the current is strong, and pull the boats about 100 or 200 yards.

Shore Excursion of Yangtze Cruise from Yichang – White Emperor City

White Emperor City overlooks the western end of Qutang Gorge. It has long been a refuge for would-be kinds and poets, who have traveled here to be inspired by the majestic views of Qutang Gorge. The great poet Du Fu is believed to have written numerous poems at the Western Pavilion on the mountain slope overlooking the Yangtze. Legend has it that in 25AD, white vapor in the shape of a dragon rose from a well here, and Gong Sunshu, a soldier who had his headquarters here, declared himself the White Emperor. Remains of the city wall can be seen on the hill behind Baidi Mountain, and a temple built to commemorate Gong's reign dates back over 1,950 years.

Shore Excursion of Yangtze Cruise from Yichang – Fengdu "Ghost City"

A plethora of demo-decorated temple, buildings and statues in Fengdu earned it the moniker "Ghost City" – the carved facades are truly fascination. Fengdu received its reputation as the "Ghost City" in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Two officials from the imperial court – Wang Fangping and Ying Changsheng were bored with political life in the court and came to Mingshan Hill outside Fengdu city to Taoist teaching. Both of them later became immortals by carrying out self-cultivation. The temples built on Mingshan Hill display punishing instruments and wild demo images, which vividly depict the Chinese people's imagination of Hell.