Destinations of Yangtze Victoria Cruises Ⅰ - White Emperor City

Destinations of Yangtze Victoria Cruises – White Emperor City (Baidi City)

White Emperor City overlooks the western end of Qutang Gorge. It has long been a refuge for would-be kings and poets, who have traveled here to be inspired by the majestic views of Qutang Gorge. The great poet Du Fu is believed to have written numerous poems at the Western Pavilion on the mountain slope overlooking the Yangtze River. Legend has it that in 25AD, while vapor in the shape of a dragon rose from a well here, and Gong Sunshu, a solder who had his headquarters here, declared himself the White Emperor. Remains of the city wall can be seen on the hill behind Baidi Mountain, and a temple built to commemorate Gong's reign dates back over 1,950 years.

Destinations of Yangtze Victoria Cruises – Wuhan City

Wuhan City is set at the confluence of the Yangtze River and Han River (the longest tributary of the Yangtze River), on the west Jianghan Plain, a reign that has more water area than land. It is the largest city in central China and the capital of Hubei Province.

Wuhan City is composed of three separate cities: Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang. Wuhan City was first settled in the first century during the Three Kingdom era as an enclosed by a city wall until the end of the 19th century. Wuhan City has played an important role in modern Chinese history. In the late 19th century, a farsighted official of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Zhang Zhi Dong, established factories and an arsenal in Hanyang to begin the industrializing Movement of China. The 1911 revolution was first started here and caused downfall of the last imperial dynasty in China. The first major industrial strike in Chinese history, the "February 7" railroad strike took place here in 1923. After the fall of Nanjing in 1937 during the Anti-Japanese War, the Nationalist government made Wuhan its capital for a year before moving to Chongqing Municipality.

Tourist attractions include the Yellow Crane Tower, Yangtze River Bridge, and East Lake.

On downstream Yangtze Cruise, we tour the Hubei Provincial Museum, which houses artifacts from the first century BC, as well as mementos of the province's revolutionary history. On upstream Yangtze Cruise, visit Guqin Terrace, which commemorates an ancient legend of the friendship between Yu Boya, a famous official and musician, and Zhong Ziqi, a woodcutter.

Destinations of Yangtze Victoria Cruises – Yichang City

The construction of the Gezhou Dam Project changed this sleepy first-century town into a thriving metropolis. Situated at the entrance to the Xiling Gorge and closest major city to the new Three Gorges Dam, it is the economic and cultural center of the western Hubei Province., in addition to the soaring locks of the Dam, the three Travelers Cave, just six miles northwest of the city, is awe-inspiring. Here, both Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty poets inscribed poems on the cave's walls, and visiting literati throughout the ages have offered their own contributions.

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.