Cruising the Yangtse

Replies: 11 - Last Post: 08-Jun-2007 01:23 Last Post By: JoannaF

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DJ1234

07-Jun-2007 03:59
Posts: 3

Cruising the Yangtse

Where would be the best part of the Yangtse to do a 2 days cruise? Is it Chongqing to Yichang?

And can we get a flight from Yichang to either Chengdu or even Shanghai or Beijing?

Also can you tell me when is the new dam expected to be completed?

The places we want to visit are: Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Guilin, Xian, Silk Road somewhere, Lhasa, Chongqing, Yichang, Chengdu (pandas) and then back to Shanghai or Beijing to fly back to Australia.

I have no idea exactly where any of these places are but am hoping some kind person might put them in sequence so we can fly from one place to another. We want to take the train from Xian to Lhasa and then fly back into China but not sure where to fly to.

I feel such an innocent but am trying to get the country into perspective. Any help greatly appreciated.

ellyse

07-Jun-2007 04:14
Posts: 8,932

1) Yes, Chongqing -- Yichang but it would take you at least 3 days, not 2.
2) Yes, definitely. If not then you could always take a bus to Wuhan and fly from there, for better connections.
3) How long do you have for your entire trip? What's your expected daily budget? Is your point of entry Shanghai?
Lhasa/Tibet is part of mainland China for administrative purposes, like it or not. So it's not really correct to say "fly back INTO China" because you never left it in the 1st place.
Cheers!

ellyse

07-Jun-2007 04:16
Posts: 8,932

Oh and if you do a search/browse on this branch you'll realise that most of us here aren't all that keen on that 3 Gorges cruise.
Cheers!

DJ1234

07-Jun-2007 04:27
Posts: 3

Thanks for the info. Just did the search and you are right, it doesn't look good. Considering our itinerary (as such) is there somewhere else we could cruise the Yangtse?

We are aiming to spend 4 weeks in China and as I am used to my comforts, budget isn't a major problem, although of course I want to keep costs to a minimum. Am more interested in seeing spots of interest. Not travelling till about October so feel I have time to really work out a good itinerary. I get confused looking at the LP book and although I've worked out where places are, I just can't tie them together.

Which is better as point of entry - Shanghai or Beijing?

cheers

ellyse

07-Jun-2007 05:07
Posts: 8,932

Don't think there's anywhere else for you to cruise the Yangtze. However if you just want to see the dam then you could make a daytrip of it from Yichang. Or if you really want to see the 3 Gorges, do a hydrofoil instead.
Are you flying round-trip or open-jaw?
Here's a possible suggestion.
Beijing (4 days) -- Urumqi (1 day) -- Kashgar (2 days) -- Kuqa (1.5 days) -- Urumqi (0.5 day) -- Turpan (1 day) -- Dunhuang (1.5 days) -- Jiayuguan (1 day) -- Lanzhou (1 day) -- Xi'an (2 days) -- Lhasa (4 days) -- Chengdu (2 days) -- Yangshuo (3.5 days) -- Shanghai (4 days including 1 day Suzhou).
I would much rather go to Hangzhou instead of Suzhou though.
Cheers!

DJ1234

07-Jun-2007 05:17
Posts: 3

Man, now I know I am an innocent. What's the difference between round-trip and open-jaw?

Your itinerary sounds great and I will certainly follow it through. I think the hydrafoil is probably the best way to go.

Cheers

ellyse

07-Jun-2007 05:19
Posts: 8,932

Round-trip means that you fly in and out of the same city. Open-jaw means that you fly into one and out of another, eg into Shanghai and out of Beijing.
Cheers!

chrisj

07-Jun-2007 06:27
Posts: 5,875

The hydrofoils are low in the water, noisy, the windows are dirty, (& closed to keep the spray out), & you won't see much. Only recommended if you're in a hurry.

............. III\\//III
........... o @@ o
----- o00o-(_)-o00o-----

aitutaky

07-Jun-2007 08:42
Posts: 1

ellyse, you seem to be quite experienced in china.
was also thinking of doing the yangze 3 day cruise. why do people not like it? is it because it is too touristic or is it definitely not nice and worth seeing?
i also plan to go to Lijiang or Yangshuo (3 days staying there) end of june - which one would you rather recommend?
did you also do the train from beijing to tibet? - is it well worth taking the train?
thanks for your help! cheers!

ellyse

07-Jun-2007 09:54
Posts: 8,932

#8, please do a search/browse on this forum about the 3 Gorges cruise. This topic has been oft-discussed and I see no need to reiterate myself.
Where else are you going on your trip other than Lijiang and Yangshuo?
If you look closer at my profile you'll realise that I haven't been to Tibet at all. So I obviously haven't taken the Tibet train yet, sorry.
Cheers!

kereru

07-Jun-2007 17:58
Posts: 1,177

Re the OP's question about the Dam - it was completed in May 2006. I was there, by chance. the day it was finished. When it will become fully operational is a different matter and depends on how quickly the lake behind the dam can be filled - a few more years I believe.

"If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman." Margaret Thatcher

JoannaF

08-Jun-2007 01:23
Posts: 133

I am one of the few people that had a positive Yangtze cruise, Chongqing to Yichang. Sure some of it was dull and our boat was not exactly luxury, but I am so glad I saw Fengdu and I thought the Three Gorges were beautiful. Also the food we bought at the stops along the way was really memorable (maybe cause we were starving only having noodles on the boat)
If you have the luxury of time I would definitely recommend it, but if you are on a tight schedule it might not be for you.
The staff really went out of their way to look after us.
Probably the biggest problem was sleep deprivation.

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