Two new cruise routes launch for "Two Dams and One Gorge" Tour

By Chen Si.

Two new travel itineraries under Yichang’s signature "Two Dams and One Gorge" tourism brand are now open to visitors. Departing from Yichang, travelers can complete a one-day round trip and experience Xiling Gorge through two different cruise routes.

Scenery of Xiling Gorge. Photo provided by "Two Dams and Xiling Gorge Tourism"

"Two Dams and One Gorge," which refers to the Gezhouba Dam, the Three Gorges Dam, and Xiling Gorge, has become an essential part of visitors’ travel itineraries.

The newly launched routes are the Xiling Gorge Classic Tour and the Xiling Gorge Panoramic Tour featuring the Three Gorges Ship Lift.

Xiling Gorge Classic Tour

This route connects three major scenic highlights in one trip: Gezhouba Dam, Xiling Gorge, and Sanyou Cave.
 

Scenes from the Xiling Gorge Classic Tour. Photo provided by "Two Dams and Xiling Gorge Tourism"

Itinerary: Travelers board the cruise in the morning at Yemingzhu Port of the Three Gorges Cruise Center. They can admire the Gezhouba Dam from the water before disembarking at Sanyou Cave Pier to visit the historic site associated with the literary figures Bai Juyi, Su Shi, and Ouyang Xiu.

Guests then transfer by coach along the dedicated Three Gorges Highway for a distant view of the Three Gorges Dam. After lunch, they board another cruise at Huangling Temple or Sandouping Pier to sail through Xiling Gorge, passing Mingyue Bay and the Tribe of the Three Gorges Scenic Area before returning to Yemingzhu Port.

Xiling Gorge Panoramic Tour with Three Gorges Ship Lift

This itinerary combines the untouched valleys of Xiling Gorge with the 100-meter vertical Three Gorges Ship Lift, offering visitors both natural scenery and a feat of engineering in one journey.

Scenes from the Xiling Gorge Panoramic Tour with Three Gorges Ship Lift. Photo provided by "Two Dams and Xiling Gorge Tourism"

Itinerary: The cruise departs from Yemingzhu Port in the morning. Guests enjoy distant views of the Gezhouba Dam before sailing through Xiling Gorge, passing Mingyue Bay, Dengying Rock, the Tribe of the Three Gorges Scenic Area, and the ruins of the ancient plank road.

After lunch, travelers take a coach to Maoping Port or Taipingxi Port and board a ship to experience the dramatic ascent and descent of the Three Gorges Ship Lift. In the afternoon, they return to Yemingzhu Port by coach via the dedicated Three Gorges Highway.
 

Panoramic view of the Two Dams and One Gorge Tour. Photo provided by "Two Dams and Xiling Gorge Tourism"

 

Scenery of Xiling Gorge. Photo provided by "Two Dams and Xiling Gorge Tourism"

As Yichang’s flagship tourism product, the "Two Dams and One Gorge" tour led the city’s tourism performance in the first half of the year, with visitor numbers rising 8.77 percent year on year.

The launch of these two itineraries further enriches Yichang’s tourism offerings, giving visitors more options to explore the natural beauty of Xiling Gorge and the cultural significance of the Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project.

Yang Jing, Zhu Tingjun also contributed to this story