Is a Yangtze River Cruise Worth It?
The highlights, the drawbacks and who should — and should not — go.
Get Free Yangtze Cruise QuotesThe Case For
Asking “is a Yangtze river cruise worth it?” is sensible: it takes three or four days out of a China trip that is usually short of time. For most travelers the answer is yes, for these reasons.
- A rest between cities. After Beijing and Xi’an, days on the river with meals and guides arranged are welcome.
- Scenery you cannot see any other way. The gorges are best seen from the water.
- The dam. One of the largest engineering projects ever built, seen up close.
- Culture on board. Talks, tai chi, calligraphy and tea, often led by the crew.
The Case Against
- Scheduled days. Shore visits are timed and group-based.
- Changed landscape. The reservoir has lowered the cliffs and covered old towns.
- Weather and haze. In summer, views can be soft and hazy.
- Large ships. Yangtze ships are bigger than most European river vessels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Yangtze river cruise worth it?
For most travelers on a first or second China trip, yes: it is a restful break between big cities, with dramatic scenery and the Three Gorges Dam. It is less suited to travelers who dislike scheduled days or who want constant variety.
Are the gorges still impressive since the dam?
Yes, though less sheer than before the reservoir raised the river. Qutang’s gateway and the side gorges remain the highlights.
Is it safe?
Cruising on the Yangtze is generally considered safe. Check current government travel advice for China before booking, and read our sister sites on river safety.
Who Loves It
First-time visitors to China
A comfortable way to see the countryside between big-city stops.
Photographers
Gorge passages, river towns and the dam offer something new each day.
River cruisers from Europe
A very different river, on bigger ships, with Chinese culture woven in.
Making It Worth It
Choose spring or autumn, pick a ship with balconies, include the side-gorge excursion and leave a day in Chongqing. Read Yangtze River Boat Cruises for the destinations and Cruising China for entry rules, then let our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise put it together; for port days elsewhere in Asia, Asia Shore Excursions can help.
How It Compares With a European River Cruise
A Yangtze cruise is less about stepping off in a new town every afternoon and more about the river itself: long stretches of gorge scenery, a few big shore visits and a strong sense of being inside a vast country. Ships are larger, the commentary is more about engineering and folklore than cathedrals, and the cruise usually forms one part of a wider China tour rather than the whole holiday. Travelers who arrive expecting the Rhine are sometimes surprised; those who arrive expecting China are usually delighted.
Get an Honest Yangtze Recommendation
Tell us your interests. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will tell you plainly whether, and how, a Yangtze cruise fits.
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