Upon your arrival in Wuhan you will be transferred to your hotel for check in. You may enjoy your time in the hotel for refreshment, or explore the city at your leisure. Wuhan, being the capital city of Hebei Provence, is an interesting inland city in China both with an ancient history and a thriving presence of a modern big city. You may choose to visit the Provincial Museum for viewing over 200,000 ancient cultural relics, and the East Lake for unforgettable scenery.
Overnight: Superior Room, Marco Polo Hotel Wuhan
Breakfast will be served at the hotel followed by check out and transfer from the hotel to the train station (approx. 1 hour) to take the train in First Class seat to Yichang (approx. 2.5 hours). Upon arrival to Yichang, you will be picked up at the train station and transferred to the Yichang Pier and get embark onto the Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer to begin your Yangzi River cruise journey.
Overnight: Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Start your morning with an early bird tea or coffee and a traditional Tai Chi lesson, led by our certified Tai Chi Master and work up an appetite for the buffet breakfast.
This morning’s lecture is on the Three Gorges Project. Learn more about the dam’s construction, including the controversial resettlement of 1.2 million people.
Mid-morning there is a Chinese foot reflexology demo in the Tang Theatre. Alternatively, take this time to visit our luxurious spa and select from a range of deluxe treatments, or work out in the well-equipped gym.
Enjoy a delicious lunch on board.
After lunch, depart Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer and visit the Three Gorges Project Dam Site and Exhibition Centre. Spanning 2,335 metres in length and 181 metres in height, the dam is the largest and most expensive engineering project in the world. While the dam’s 32 generators will produce enough clean energy to reduce China’s reliance on coal, the project has also caused much controversy. During construction, 13 cities, 140 towns, 1,352 villages, over 600 industrial factories and more than 1,200 archaeological projects were submerged.
This afternoon, the lecture topic is traditional Chinese medicine. Afterwards, we sail through Xiling Gorge - the longest of the Gorges, measuring some 76 kilometres (47 miles) in length. Enjoy the view of the river where the river widens and sweeps through groves of orange and pomelo trees. This is the perfect introduction to the relaxed pace of the Yangtze River.
This evening we have prepared a special Captain’s welcome reception and a delicious a la carte dinner.
Tonight, show off your singing skills with some karaoke, before a live band perform in the Explorer Bar.
Overnight: Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
This morning, early bird tea and coffee is available in the Explorer Bar. Begin today with traditional Chinese exercise before an international buffet breakfast.
This morning’s shore excursion is a unique ride along the Shennong Stream on a sampan - a traditional longboat rowed by expert Tujia boatmen. As we gently float through this stunning riverine gorge flanked by verdant forest, you’ll see evidence of early settlements in the form of hanging coffins stowed high within the limestone cliffs.
Before returning from Shennong Stream we will visit a traditional trackers village, where you will have a chance to catch a fascinating glimpse of the traditional, rural Chinese community. You’ll find mud huts as homes, basic kitchens where the meat is dried on hooks and coffins in the bedroom. And, while there are satellite dishes, villagers still pride their heritage.
Back on board, lunch is served.
This afternoon, guests are encouraged to appreciate the scenery from the Sun Deck as we sail through the spectacular Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge, complimented by informative commentary.
Relax and enjoy the on-board activities, including a silk embroidery demonstration, snuff bottle painting and a Chinese tea ceremony.
Tonight, indulge in an a la carte dinner in the Dynasty Dining Room. A talk on the 816 Underground Project in the Tang Theatre will leave you well equipped for tomorrow’s excursion.
The onboard entertainment tonight is a movie complete with popcorn, and a live band performance in the Explorer Bar.
Overnight: Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Start the day right once more with a delicious tea or coffee and a session of Tai Chi to further refine your skills before breakfast.
This morning we’ll visit the most intriguing and secret project, hidden in the mountains of Fuling. The 816 Underground Project is the world’s largest artificial military cave.
Over 50 years ago, more than 60,000 constructors, came to Jianzishan, an uninhabited place among mountains and forest, to start work on a top-secret construction project of a monumental scale. The work continued for 17 years and was nearly completed when the government decided to suspend it, before any nuclear material could be produced.
Now as the secrets of military caves are revealed, you will be able to look at the true face of 816 project hidden for 50 years.
After a lunch buffet, you have the option to visit the White Crane Ridge Underwater Project*, which will take you some 130 feet under water to admire the river bed and the intricate ancient rock carvings left there many years ago. Learn about the Yangtze river, it’s flora and fauna, while enjoying this fascinating Project. Your next stop will be the local market, where you will gain insight into the region’s rich culinary culture. This is a daily market where farmers meet to buy and sell a variety of goods, ranging from fruit and vegetables to fish and meat, and of course a whole array of pickles - which Fuling is famous for.
If you choose to stay on board we invite you to take part in a range of activities, including a traditional painting and calligraphy demonstration and a dumpling cooking class. All the while, complimentary tea, coffee and pastries are served.
We’ll also introduce you to the ancient Chinese board game - Mahjong.
Tonight, we’ll treat you to a sumptuous farewell dinner, ‘A Taste of China’, before a live band performance in the Explorer Bar.
Overnight: Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Disembark in Chongqing and be transferred to your hotel. You may enjoy your time in the hotel for refreshment or explore the city at your leisure. Chongqing is the largest municipality in the western part of China with its cultural heritage and tourist attractions. Besides the wonderful scenery of the Three Gorges, you may also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Dazu Grottoes, or the 2-hectare Panda House in the Chongqing zoo which is an undoubted highlight for visitors.
Overnight: Superior Room, InterContinental Chongqing
Breakfast will be served at the hotel followed by check out. You will be transferred from hotel to the Airport by private vehicle for your departure flight.
