Itinerary · 7 days · balanced
Yangtze Three Gorges and Wudang Mountain, 7 days
A compact version of the Yangtze cruise combining Chongqing, the three gorges downstream passage, and Wudang Mountain — ending in Wuhan for HSR connections.
This itinerary compresses the Three Gorges experience into a tighter schedule: two nights in Chongqing, a two-night downstream river cruise through the gorges, and two days at Wudang Mountain before reaching Wuhan. It suits travellers who want the gorge scenery without a full four-day slow cruise.
Day by day
Day 1 · chongqing
Arrival Chongqing, cable car across Yangtze, Ciqikou
Arrive Chongqing (重庆). The Yangtze River cable car (廉租缆车) connects the south and north banks as one of the few remaining urban aerial tramways in China. Ciqikou (磁器口) — an old riverside town absorbed into the city, now a food street: Chongqing small meatballs, glutinous rice cake, and zhong dumplings.
Stay in: Chongqing Yuzhong or Jiulongpo district.
Day 2 · chongqing
Dazu Rock Carvings, evening cruise boarding
Day trip west by bus to the Dazu Rock Carvings (大足石刻, UNESCO) — Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist narrative carvings from the Tang and Song dynasties in 76 sites across the hills. Evening: board the downstream Yangtze cruise at Chaotianmen dock.
Stay in: Cruise boat.
Day 3 · chongqing
Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Little Three Gorges
Morning: enter Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡) at dawn — the narrowest and most sheer section, only 8km long. Wu Gorge (巫峡) follows: 44km of forested gorge with the 12 peaks of Wu Mountain rising on both banks. Afternoon excursion up the Daning River into the Little Three Gorges by small boat.
Stay in: Cruise boat.
Day 4 · yichang
Xiling Gorge, Three Gorges Dam ship lock, disembark
Morning through Xiling Gorge (西陵峡) — the longest at 76km. Ship passage through the five-stage Three Gorges Dam lock. Disembark at Yichang late afternoon.
Stay in: Yichang.
Disembark Yichang port.
Day 5 · wudang
Bus to Wudang Mountain, mountain approach
Morning bus or train east from Yichang to Wudangshan station. Afternoon shuttle bus up to the Nanyan area — the most dramatic of Wudang's temple complexes, hanging from a cliff. Evening visit to the Zixiao Palace (紫霄宫), the largest Ming dynasty temple complex on the mountain.
Stay in: Wudang Mountain base village.
Train Yichang → Wudang Mountain, 3.5h.
Day 6 · wudang
Golden Hall summit, tai chi morning
Pre-dawn cable car to the summit. Golden Hall (金殿) at Tianzhu Peak (1,612m) — a Ming bronze hall gilded to appear gold, housing the statue of Zhenwu (the northern heavenly emperor). Morning tai chi session organised by the Taoist academy.
Stay in: Wudang or Shiyan city.
Day 7 · wuhan
HSR to Wuhan, Yellow Crane Tower, departure
Morning HSR to Wuhan (3h). Yellow Crane Tower (黄鹤楼) for a last view over the Yangtze and the city. Wuhan hot dry noodles (热干面) for a final local lunch. Depart from Wuhan Tianhe Airport.
Attractions: yellow-crane-tower
HSR Wudang → Wuhan 3h, ¥180; flight WUH → onward.
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥3500 |
| Mid-range | ¥8500 |
| Comfortable | ¥18000 |
Per person 7 days. Cruise Chongqing → Yichang (2 nights): standard cabin ¥800–1,500. Dazu ¥180. Wudang Mountain ¥238. Three Gorges Dam shore excursion ¥100. HSR/bus approximately ¥400 total.
Cities covered
Attractions covered
Other itineraries visiting Chongqing
- Chengdu and Chongqing in 5 days
5d · Two and a half days each: pandas and Leshan from Chengdu, Dazu rock carvings and hotpot from Chongqing.
- Yangtze Cruise with Add-ons — Chongqing to Wuhan, 10 days
10d · The Yangtze Three Gorges downstream cruise combined with two days in Chongqing and a day each at Fengdu Ghost City and Shennong Stream before arriving in Wuhan.