Yichang Travel Guide: Three Gorges Family and Three Gorges Dam Boat Tour

Yichang’s two top 5A scenic spots, Three Gorges Family and Three Gorges Dam, can be visited in one day. It’s not really a strategy, just a straightforward group tour that’s worry-free, leaving early and returning late. People with moderate stamina will have no problem. The weather in Yichang at the end of November is very comfortable and relatively stable, with lush green vegetation, although the leaves have just started turning red. Itinerary: 7:30 AM pick-up at Yichang East Station, with a stop of about 20 minutes near Gezhouba Dam where you can get off to explore and take photos. Around 8:30 AM, board the boat at Huangbai River Pier. After cruising through Xiling Gorge, you will arrive at Three Gorges Family around 10:00 AM. Xiling Gorge is the most magical and magnificent canyon in the entire Three Gorges area. Be sure to find a good spot to enjoy the scenery; it’s especially spectacular on sunny days. Due to time constraints, an elevator ride will be arranged to go up, followed by visits to attractions such as Shilingpai and Ba Wang Palace in the mountain village. You can also catch a folk performance if the timing is right. It’s best to check the map and plan your time in advance because going down and then back up the mountain village is very exhausting. A must-see photo spot is at P2, featuring the “Shadow Stone” and the Yangtze River’s Mingyue Bay. The Shadow Stone is one of the iconic sights of Three Gorges Family (known as “The First Stone of the Yangtze River”), resembling Sha Seng from Journey to the West, standing on a cliff. In the distance, the Yangtze River makes a big bend here, forming the “First Bay of the Yangtze Three Gorges” — Mingyue Bay. Here you can see both the unique rock formations and the magnificent Yangtze River canyon views. It is also the historical site of the Shilingpai defense battle, rich in both natural and cultural heritage. Lunch starts around 12:00 to 12:30 PM. There are restaurants inside the scenic area, but the food is average and prices are not cheap. Afterwards, visit Longjin Creek, which I find more beautiful. Most photos at P1 are taken at Longjin Creek. Along the way, there will be Tujia wedding performances and live NPC interactions. The scenery and experience are top-notch, with crystal-clear water where you can see schools of fish. A key reminder: the monkeys at Longjin Creek are very unfriendly, comparable to those at Mount Emei. Be sure to watch your belongings carefully and keep a safe distance from the monkeys. The round trip at Longjin Creek takes about 2 hours. At 3:00 PM, take a bus to the Three Gorges Dam, which is truly spectacular. Be sure to listen carefully to the guide. The tour route includes Tanziling → 185 Platform → Closure Memorial Park, all connected by the scenic area shuttle bus. Tanziling is the highest point in the scenic area, offering a panoramic view of the dam; the 185 Platform is level with the dam top, providing an incredibly impressive eye-level view; the Closure Memorial Park features naked-eye 3D images that vividly show the spectacular scenes of dam closure and flood discharge. The entire visit takes about two and a half hours, and it will be dark by the time you return. The bus arrives back in downtown Yichang around 7:30 PM, where you can have a simple meal and then rest. If traveling with elderly or children, it is recommended to split these two attractions into two days.