12-Day Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise & Changsha Cultural Discovery Tour

Meet your dedicated local English guide and private driver at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, railway station or other designated arrival spots as you require. Before kicking off your formal sightseeing schedule, your guide will communicate your travel preferences, photography needs and dining habits to adjust the follow-up itinerary flexibly.

You will then take a private comfortable vehicleprivate comfortable vehicle to downtown hotel for smooth assisted check-in. The rest of the day is fully freefully free for you to relieve travel fatigue and overcome jet lag. You can take a casual walk around the hotel block to taste local street food, or consult your guide for hidden leisure spots and travel tips.

Overnight: Downtown Chongqing well-located hotel

Your full-day mountain city sightseeing starts after a hearty hotel breakfast with exclusive private car and one-on-one guide service.

First, wander Ciqikou Ancient Town, a millennium-old riverside wharf settlement filled with old teahouses, traditional handicraft stores and classic Sichuan snack stalls, immersing yourself in original old Chongqing folk customs.

Midday, stop by iconic Liziba Light Rail Station, the world-famous scenic spot where light rail trains pass through residential buildings. Capture unique photos featuring the distinctive layered mountain city transportation landscape under your guide's professional guidance.

In the afternoon, stroll along Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, Chongqing's core business and cultural heart blending century-old local brands, modern fashion boutiques and souvenir shops.

As dusk falls, head to Hongya Cave, a cliff-side stilt-house complex layered by the river. Thousands of warm lanterns light up the whole building after sunset, forming a stunning retro night view overlooking the confluence of Yangtze and Jialing River. Your guide will lead you to the best viewing platforms for ideal night photography.

Overnight: Downtown Chongqing hotel

We pre-book official admission tickets for this UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in advance to save you from long queuing and sold-out risks during peak seasons. Your private driver and guide will accompany you on the two-hour drive from downtown to Wulong, sharing vivid geological knowledge and local folk legends along the way.

The core highlight of the trip is the Three Natural Bridges, three gigantic natural limestone arch bridges formed by millions of years of water erosion. Surrounded by towering precipices, deep green valleys and cascading waterfalls, the fairyland-like karst landscape offers countless panoramic photography viewpoints. Lunch will be arranged at a quiet countryside farm restaurant inside the scenic area, serving fresh local mountain ingredients far away from crowded tourist catering zones.

After finishing valley hiking and landscape appreciation, drive back to Chongqing downtown in the late afternoon at your comfortable pace.

Overnight: Downtown Chongqing hotel

After breakfast, take a guided visit to the Three Gorges Museum, the most authoritative exhibition hall presenting Yangtze river civilization, Three Gorges migration history, Bashan ancient relics and river shipping culture. Your guide will interpret precious cultural relics and historical stories in detail.

Next, take a slow walk through restored Longmenhao Old Street, an ancient riverside alley retaining original old docks, time-honored teahouses and river-view terraces that reproduce the waterfront lifestyle of old Chongqing.

In late afternoon, private transfer to Chaotianmen Cruise Terminal. Our staff will assist you with luggage consignment, cruise check-in and embarkation formalities. Attend the mandatory ship safety briefing, then enjoy welcome buffet dinner onboard before the cruise departs eastward along the Yangtze River after dark.

Overnight: Deluxe private cabin on Yangtze River cruise ship

Wake up to complimentary morning tea and coffee on the open viewing deck to greet the misty river scenery. Savor rich Chinese-Western fusion buffet breakfast onboard.

The cruise drifts eastward slowly, passing continuous green mountains, ancient riverside villages and gentle river bends. Professional ship commentators broadcast real-time landscape introduction as you travel.

You can choose to join complimentary shore excursions to riverside cultural relics, relax on the sun deck to take river landscape photos, or participate in various onboard cultural activities including Chinese tea art sharing, calligraphy experience and Three Gorges folk culture lectures.

Buffet lunch and dinner are provided daily on the ship. In the evening, you can enjoy casual onboard entertainment or sign up for optional paid folk stage shows themed on local Three Gorges customs.

Overnight: Deluxe private cabin on Yangtze River cruise ship

Early morning scenic navigation through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, the two most representative sections of the Three Gorges. Qutang Gorge shocks visitors with narrow steep cliffs and grand precipices, while Wu Gorge is famous for mist-shrouded Twelve Goddess Peaks wrapped in clouds all year round.

After breakfast, take a complimentary tender boat excursion deep into Goddess Stream, a secluded mini gorge with crystal clear water, dense bamboo forests and primitive riverside hamlets, experiencing quiet pastoral riverside scenery untouched by mass tourism.

Return to the cruise ship and take part in diverse onboard leisure programs: Yangtze river history salon, traditional Chinese craft DIY, Captain's Welcome Cocktail Reception and travel photography sharing sessions.

The evening dinner is the exclusive Captain's Farewell Banquet with featured local dishes and complimentary drinks. After dinner, watch special cultural performances presented by the crew showcasing Bashan and Tujia minority customs. Cabin consumption accounts will be settled before bedtime for smooth disembarkation the next morning.

Overnight: Deluxe private cabin on Yangtze River cruise ship

After enjoying buffet breakfast onboard, complete disembarkation procedures at Yichang Three Gorges Cruise Terminal. We arrange a complimentary guided tour to the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area, the world's largest water conservancy project. Overlook the grand dam body, multi-level viewing platforms and giant ship lock system, and learn about the project's construction history and ecological protection value under professional interpretation.

After dam sightseeing, private transfer to downtown Yichang's Erma Road Historical & Cultural Block. This restored pedestrian block features classic Chu-style ancient architecture, old courtyard dwellings, handmade craft shops and authentic Hubei snack stalls. Wander along bluestone alleys, listen to stories of Yichang as an ancient river trading port, and taste local specialty street food recommended by your guide. After the full-day schedule, transfer to a comfortable downtown Yichang hotel for rest.

Overnight: Downtown Yichang hotel

After breakfast, your private vehicle will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to Yichang High-Speed Railway Station. Our guide will fully assist you with ticket checking, luggage arrangement and boarding procedures to guarantee a smooth train trip to Changsha, Hunan Province.

During the ride, appreciate the idyllic rural scenery of Hunan outside the window, including boundless rice fields and rolling green hills.

Upon arrival at Changsha South High-Speed Railway Station, a local Hunan English guide will greet you and escort you to downtown hotel via private car for assisted check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to unwind, or you can stroll nearby alleys to sample authentic Hunan snacks. 

Overnight: Downtown Changsha hotel

Your full-day Changsha natural and humanities sightseeing trip is accompanied by exclusive private car and dedicated guide service.

In the morning, hike Yuelu Mountain, a renowned scenic mountain in central Hunan. The core highlight is Yuelu Academy, one of China's four top ancient academies with over 1,000 years of history, representing the essence of Huxiang Confucian culture. Admire ancient lecture halls, stone steles and time-honored pine trees inside the academy compound with detailed cultural interpretation from your guide. At noon, head to Orange Island, a long river islet lying in the middle of the Xiangjiang River. Walk along riverside green corridors to visit the iconic giant youth Mao Zedong sculpture, enjoy soft river breeze and panoramic views of Changsha's urban skyline.

In the evening, visit Taiping Old Street, a well-preserved ancient commercial block built in Ming and Qing architectural styles. Browse handmade craft stores, old tea houses and specialty food stalls, tasting classic local snacks such as stinky tofu, sugar oil cake and rice noodles recommended by your guide.

Overnight: Downtown Changsha hotel

In the morning, tour Kaifu Temple, a time-honored Buddhist temple with more than 1,700 years of history. Wander through grand Buddha halls, ancient pagodas and quiet courtyards lined with towering cypresses, while your guide narrates the inheritance history of Hunan Buddhism.

After authentic local lunch, transfer to Meixi Lake, a modern urban ecological lake integrating art exhibition halls, waterside parks, creative commercial blocks and landmark futuristic buildings. Stroll along the lake shore to appreciate the perfect fusion of natural lake scenery and contemporary urban design, and visit waterfront art galleries and design museums at your own pace.

The evening is fully free for independent exploration. You can visit local tea houses to experience Hunan tea culture, taste handmade rice wine, or wander night markets to feel the slow daily lifestyle of Changsha locals.

Overnight: Downtown Changsha hotel

In the morning, enjoy a guided visit to Hunan Museum, a top provincial museum famous for precious Mawangdui Han Dynasty tomb relics. Appreciate perfectly preserved ancient silk paintings, lacquerware, textiles and bronze burial artifacts, and learn about the splendid Western Han civilization in Hunan. All tickets are pre-reserved in advance to avoid tedious on-site queuing.

In the afternoon, walk Pozi Street, Changsha's most popular local food street gathering hundreds of authentic Hunan restaurants and snack stalls serving signature spicy Xiang cuisine, braised delicacies, rice noodles and traditional desserts. Your guide will lead you to popular local family-run restaurants away from tourist traps.

As night falls, wander Huangxing Road Pedestrian Street, Changsha's central commercial thoroughfare packed with century-old local brands, fashion boutiques and lively street performances. This bustling pedestrian street perfectly blends traditional folk commerce and youthful modern urban vibes, ideal for souvenir shopping and experiencing Changsha's vivid nightlife.

Overnight: Downtown Changsha hotel

The whole morning is reserved for flexible free time. You can purchase Hunan specialties such as local tea, cured meat and spicy sauces as souvenirs for family and friends, revisit your favorite scenic spots, or simply relax in the hotel room.

According to your scheduled departure flight or high-speed train, our guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby with private transfer service to Changsha Huanghua International Airport or Changsha High-Speed Railway Station. Our full private tour service officially concludes after sending you safely to the departure hall.