Cruising Down China Yangtze River

The Yangtze River,which follows across China, start in the Tibetan highlands and travels all the way to Shanghai on the eastern seaboard of China.
Also known as Changjiang, which means "a long river" in Chinese, the Yangtze is Asia's longest and the world's fourth longest river. Million of people centre their lives along this river, and millions of visitors come and see the treasure trove of beauty and scenery this 6,221-km long river presents.
The best way to experience the Yangtze is to book place on the cruise liners that ply up and down the river. With various port cities and towns lining the river, tourists enjoy the flexibility of choosing their embarkation point.
A typical itinerary begins at Chongqing, where, after a night on board, the ship will reach the world-famous Three Gorges Dam. Here, the first major tourist spot is Fengdu Ghost City. Legend has it that a Taoist follower in the Han Dynasty achieved immortality after settling down in the area. From then on, its reputation spread far and wide, with numerous temples and shrines - many depicting ghosts and spirits from Taoist mythology - built in the neighborhood, thus giving Fengdu the "Ghost City" nickname.
Further downstream lies Bai Di City, also known as the City of Poems. Li Bai, the most famous of the Tang Dynasty poets, immortalized the city in one of his most famous verses.
After the poetic scene, there is also the mysterious - the hanging coffins suspended hundreds of feet from the face of a cliff. Archaeologists and anthropologists struggle to offer a satisfying explanation on why the ancient dwellers did this, while the modern tourists simply stare and marvel.
What's noteworthy too is the home town of Qi Yuan, another ancient poet whose patriotism is tied forever in Chinese culture with Dumpling Festival, otherwise known as the Dragon Boat Festival.
On the way to Yi Chang, make it a point to stay on the deck, and check out the scenic spots along the way, like the Goddess Peak, Wu Gorge and Xilin Gorge. At this point, the ship will also sail through the Three Gorge Dam, the largest hydroelectric project in China.
Usually, by the sixth day, one would have reached Zhangjiajie, and the most famous stretch of Yangtze River behind, it is time to visit new locations.
The best way to experience Yangtze River is to cruise downstream on a ship. Many travel agents in Chongqing will offer tours for Yangtze River. A typical four days cruise from Chongqing to Yi Chang, excluding meal on board costs US$240 for a first class (twin cabin), US$165 for a economic class (4 persons cabin) and US$130 for a budget class (6 persons cabin). From Yi Chang to Wuhan is easy accessible by coach or train.