Is it better to board a Three Gorges cruise ship and go up or down?

Nowadays, many people choose to take luxury Three Gorges cruise ships to enjoy the scenery of the Three Gorges. The starting and ending ports of the Three Gorges tour are Chongqing and Yichang. Generally, first-time Three Gorges tourists may have some misunderstandings about the Three Gorges tour, such as the fact that it includes round-trip travel, but in fact, the Three Gorges tour products are usually one-way and require separate booking for the return trip.

Due to the distinction between the Three Gorges tourism from Chongqing to Yichang and from Yichang to Chongqing, there is the so-called Three Gorges tourism with water supply and drainage.

The Three Gorges Water Supply Line: Yichang to Chongqing route, upstream against the current.

The Three Gorges sewer line: Chongqing to Yichang route, flowing downstream.

So when choosing to take a Three Gorges cruise, is it better to go up or down?

1. Travel time

Upstream from upstream, the time is relatively longer than downstream. Taking the Three Gorges luxury cruise ship as an example, it takes 4 days and 3 nights from Chongqing to Yichang (downstream) and 5 days and 4 nights from Yichang to Chongqing (upstream).

2. Tourist attractions

The routes for water supply and drainage are the same, and the scenic spots they pass through are basically the same, only the order of sightseeing is different.

3. Comfort level

Chongqing to Yichang (under water) flows downstream, and the cruise ship travels quickly. The Three Gorges scenery enjoyed on the cruise ship may be missed due to a momentary distraction, but the water usually arrives at the corresponding port on time or early, so there is no need to rush to the destination at night, which affects rest time. Perhaps by sleeping up, it is time for shore sightseeing the next day.

Traveling upstream from Yichang to Chongqing (Shangshui) is relatively slow for cruise ships, which allows for more time to enjoy the scenery on both sides. However, the speed of the water flow is uncertain, and sometimes there is a risk of delaying the journey, resulting in overtime sailing. This may have an impact on tourists who have poor sleep at night.

4. Price

The overall price difference between the upper and lower water of the Three Gorges Dam is not significant, but varies with the peak and off peak seasons. However, it is generally cheaper to register at the travel agency where the Three Gorges tour departs.

5. Transportation

Whether in Chongqing or Yichang, there are bullet trains, airports, high-speed trains, etc., so the transportation for the Three Gorges tour is very convenient, whether it is water or sewage.

From the above comparison, it can be seen that there is not much difference in the upper and lower water of the Three Gorges tour. However, overall, the editor recommends choosing the lower water of the Three Gorges tour. Firstly, you can also visit the Three Gorges along the way when visiting the mountain city of Chongqing. Secondly, because the lower water flows downstream, it also represents the meaning of smooth sailing. Currently, there are more people in the market who choose the lower water of the Three Gorges tour. However, friends can use the above content as a reference to determine the best water and sewage options based on how they can easily reach the next travel destination.