8 Days Hubei Culture & Yangtze River Cruise Tour

With profound culture and history in Wuhan and Jingzhou city, this 8-day Hubei Culture tour will bring you a visual feast of history, combined with Yangtze cruise experience from Yichang for another fresh feelings.

Day 1 Wuhan Arrival

Welcome to Wuhan, the capital of China Hubei Province! Your guide and driver will meet you at airport or train station and pick you up at your hotel. The rest of day is free for you to explore this city.

Day 2 Wuhan (B, L)

After breakfast, you will begin to visit Guiyuan Temple. First built in the early Qing Dynasty, Guiyuan Temple is one of the four biggest temples for Buddhist meditation in Hubei as well as an important Buddhist temple in China.

Later, head to the Heptachord Terrace (Guqin Tai), located on the south bank of Moon Lake, near the western foot of Tortoise Hill. It is the beautiful site with great layout where you could appreciate the sincere friendship between Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi in Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.).

Lastly, transfer to Yellow Crane Tower, one of the most renowned towers south of the Yangtze River. It enjoys the fame of “The First Scenery under Heaven”. And its cultural significance led to its being made the symbol of Wuhan City.

Stay overnight in Wuhan.

Day 3 Wuhan-Jingzhou (B, L)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Today, you’ll first visit Hubei Provincial Museum. Founded in 1953, Hubei Provincial Museum has 6.5 hectares with 200,000 exquisite items include bronze, jade and lacquer work, porcelain and paintings. You can enjoy a performance of chime bells, stone chimes and other ancient instruments. The museum is a window to explore Chinese history.

Later, take 5-minute walk to East Lake. It is the largest lake within a city in China. Take the ferry boat to explore the scenic area with pavilions and gardens.

After that you will take the late afternoon D-train from Wuhan to Jingzhou City within 1.5 hours. Stay overnight in Jingzhou.

Day 4 Jingzhou – Yichang & Board Yangtze Cruise (B, L)

Welcome to Jingzhou City, the cradle of Chu Culture. Today, after breakfast, you will venture out in this day tour to find out the history and culture relic sites.

First you will visit Jingzhou Ancient City, the crucial battleground in the Three Kingdoms period. Went through numerous dynasties, it kept intact and firm. The city walls with chariots and soldiers in make the ancient city more historical.

Later, you will leave for Jingzhou Museum with many relics about Chu Kingdom displayed, a better place to know the Chu Culture, and the dead body is the highlight.

After the tour, you’ll take the high speed train from Jingzhou to Yichang. After arriving at Yichang East Railway Station, you’ll start the procedure to board your cruise ship. Walk to Yichang Tourist Information Center at the first floor to get your tickets and get on the shuttle bus at “Bus Pick-up Point for luxury cruise ship”. Then, the shuttle bus will take you to Maoping Port where your ship docked. (Please note: the shuttle buses arranged by the cruise companies are during 16:00~21:00.)

Day 5 Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)

Today’s onboard activities include: Taichi exercise in the morning; shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam Site, the world-famous project; Captain’s Welcome Banquet at 18:00; Evening entertainment at 20:00 to enjoy the Chinese folk dancing and music performance.

Three Gorges Dam Site on the Yangtze has been a dream for generations and is one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by mankind. This great dam, the biggest hydropower project in the world, provides China with tremendous power generation and flood control service.

Day 6 Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)

Shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges by smaller vessels.

The Lesser Three Gorges, like a shining pearl hiddden in remote mountains, are much smaller, narrower and have some dramatic scenery to offer. That is the most splendid river adventure throughout China for you.

Note: Some cruise ships make the shore excursion to the Shennong Stream. Shennong Stream is a collection of local culture. The nature scenery, boat tracker, local sampan, ancient hanging coffins, unique ethnic minority Tujia culture… all is worth your exploration.You have the final say on which excursion to make, as we can book any of the cruise ships at great rates!

Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)

Shore excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City to check why it has been regarded as the “City of Ghosts”. It is where the devil lives according to Chinese legend. The temples built on Ming Mountain show punish instruments and demon paintings, depicting the Chinese people’s imagination of hell.

Note: Some cruise ships make the shore excursion to the Shibaozhai Pagoda. Shibaozhai, like a pearl on Yangtze River, is 278 kilometers away from Chongqing. As the gem of Chinese Architecture, the 12-story, 18th Century red wooden temple is an architectural delight full of Legends and beautiful stories. You have the final say on which excursion to make, as we can book any of the cruise ships at great rates!

Day 8 Chongqing Departure (B)
You will disembark in Chongqing at around 9:00, and your local tour guide will meet and escort you to the Chongqing airport from the cruise pier. Take the flight to your next destination or back home. (Note: You could also have day tour in Chongqing to visit the stunning attractions before you leave.)