China Tour With a Yangtze River Cruise
Beijing, Xi’an, the river and Shanghai — the shape of the classic China trip.
Plan My China TourA China Tour With a Yangtze River Cruise: How the Pieces Fit
Most North Americans see the Yangtze as part of a China tour with a Yangtze river cruise in the middle: the capital, the Terracotta Army, three or four nights on the river, then Shanghai. The cruise solves the hardest leg of the trip — crossing central China — while you unpack only once.
A Typical Tour Shape
| Stage | Where | How you travel |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the hutongs | Fly in from North America |
| 2 | Xi’an: the Terracotta Army and the city walls | Flight or high-speed train from Beijing |
| 3 | Chongqing: board the ship | Flight or train from Xi’an |
| 4 | The Yangtze: the Three Gorges and the dam | Your cruise ship, 3 or 4 nights |
| 5 | Yichang or Wuhan to Shanghai | Coach and flight, depending on the tour |
| 6 | Shanghai: the Bund, old town and a water town | Fly home |
This is the shape of Century’s own Legend of China tour, for example: Beijing, a flight to Xi’an, on to Chongqing, the cruise to Yichang, a coach to Wuhan and a flight to Shanghai. Other tour companies run close variations.
Choosing Between Packages
- Which ship? The cruise is the most variable part of a package. Ask for the ship name, not just “five-star ship”.
- Which direction? Downstream from Chongqing is shorter; upstream from Yichang adds a night.
- Flights inside China: confirm they are included, with luggage allowance.
- Group size and guides: a small group with one guide throughout feels very different from a large coach tour.
- Extensions: Hong Kong, Guilin or Chengdu’s panda base are common add-ons.
Hotels Before and After
If you are building the trip yourself or adding nights, compare Beijing hotels, Xi’an hotels, Chongqing hotels and Shanghai hotels on RoomsCheap. Ocean cruises that start or end in Shanghai or Hong Kong are covered on Cruising China. Travel insurance matters on a long-haul trip with internal flights — Cruise & Travel Insurance explains what to look for.
China Tour Questions
How long should a China tour with a Yangtze river cruise be?
Plan on roughly two weeks if you want Beijing, Xi’an, the Yangtze and Shanghai without rushing. A shorter trip usually drops one city or uses the 3-night downstream cruise.
How do you get from Xi’an to the river?
Usually by flight or high-speed train to Chongqing, where downstream cruises begin. Upstream cruises start in Yichang instead.
Do I need a visa for China?
China’s entry rules for U.S. and Canadian travelers have changed in recent years. Check the current requirements on official sources before you book — our sister site keeps a summary of China entry rules for cruise travelers with links to the official pages.
Build Your China Tour Around the River
Tell us which cities you want and how long you have. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will match a China tour with a Yangtze river cruise and send free quotes.
Plan My China Tour