Destinations of Yangtze Victoria Cruises - Nanjing, Shanghai, New Zigui

Destinations of Yangtze Victoria Cruises – Nanjing City

Nanjing City is a capital of Jiangsu Province and located on the Southern bank of the Yangtze River.

The history of Nanjing City is both long and colorful – from the Kingdoms of Wu, Yue, and Chu, which prospered here seven centuries before the birth of Christ, to the nascent stirrings of 1851's Taipei Rebellion. Eight dynasties established their capitals in the city between the 3rd and 14th centuries. Remnants of the city's past abound: The first Ming emperor, Hong Wu, relocated the imperial court here, and sections of his original 14th century city wall are visible today. In 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sen declared Naning the capital of the new Nationalist Republic of China.

On the downstream Yangtze Cruise, you will tour the Sun Yat-sen Memorial, a 95,600 square-yard mausoleum, erected in 1929. On the upstream Yangtze Cruise, you will visit the Ming Dynasty City Wall Museum, with relics and photographs of the longest city wall in the world. Also visit a Qing Dynasty style bazaar surrounding a Confucian temple.

Destinations of Yangtze Victoria Cruises – New Zigui

This new was city built to accommodate families relocated due to the rising waters brought about by the Three Gorges Dam Project. New Zigui was built on the hills above the river.

On the way you will pass close to the Three Gorges Dam, providing a new and interesting perspective, and you will enjoy nice views of the river below. Visit a house in a small migrant village of resettled farmers, and view a garden and livestock in the backyard.

On the way back, stop in the central square of the new town, and see the quaint new city wall around the square. The area includes a small kindergarten, internet cafes, and many adjoining apartments, much of it done in a more traditional architectural style.

Destinations of Yangtze Victoria Cruises – Shanghai Municipality

With a municipal population of more than 23 million people, Shanghai is one of China's most important industrial and cultural centers. Shanghai Municipality was once named the "Paris of the East" and now calls itself the "Pearl of the Orient". The name "Shanghai" was first used in 960 AD when the settlement was just a backwards fishing village on the East China Sea. In 1554, the town was surrounded by a city wall and a moat to protect it against Japanese pirates. When British troops stormed its undefended walls in 1842, Shanghai was still only a country town with little importance. Shanghai was opened in 1842 after the Opium War. The city was parceled into settlements, all of which were autonomous and immune from Chinese law. 1930's era Shanghai, with its gangsters, unique character and bustling populace, evoked images of oriental mystery, romance, and vitality. The Communist Party of China was founded here in 1921. The party carried out strikes and uprisings, but these activities were violently suppressed by the nationalist government. The People's Liberation Army, led by the Communists, liberated Shanghai from foreign exploitation in 1949. Shanghai's enduring tourist appeal lies in its vitality, its rather rundown 1930's European architecture and its bustling tree lined streets crammed with shops.

Depending on river conditions, alternate excursions may be substituted as follows: Day 2: Wanzhou; Day 3: Shennong Stream.

Meals: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner

These are ships under the name of Yangtze Victoria Cruises: Victoria Sophia, Victoria Anna, Victoria Lianna, Victoria Selina, Victoria Grace, Victoria Katarina, Victoria Jenna.