Three Gorges cruise traffic surpasses 1 million passenger trips

Chen Zai

Cruises through the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River had recorded more than 1 million passenger trips this year as of November 6, reaching the annual milestone 14 days earlier than in 2025.

Cruise ships sail through the Xiling Gorge section of the Yangtze River in Yichang. Photo by Huang Xiang.

Yichang is a departure point for Three Gorges cruises and home to a cruise port. It is using its geographical and operational advantages to expand greener passenger capacity on Three Gorges routes. It has put into service the Yangtze Three Gorges 1, the all-electric sightseeing vessel with the world's largest onboard battery capacity, as well as the Yishui Linghang and Yishui Zhulang.

Since April, the large smart interprovincial cruise ships Vista Harmony and Vista Aurora have made their maiden voyages from Yichang Port. They have set new benchmarks for high-quality holidays on the Yangtze. Their launches have ushered in a dual-flagship phase for premium interprovincial cruises. Three Gorges cruises rank among the leaders on China's inland waterways in green and smart operations.

On August 5, the Vista Aurora, a sister ship to the Vista Harmony, made its maiden voyage from Yichang, marking the start of dual-flagship operations for Three Gorges Tourism Group’s premium cruise line. Photo by Fu Beibei.

Hubei continues to upgrade its passenger facilities. Key terminals in Wuhan, Yichang, and Badong can now berth 10,000-ton-class cruise ships.

Two Yichang routes have been designated provincial premium routes and selected as national model cases. They are the "Yangtze Three Gorges: Two Dams and One Gorge Ecological and Cultural Route" and the "800-li Qingjiang River: Scenic Gallery and Intangible Cultural Heritage Route." These designations help sustain growth in waterborne tourism across the province.