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No.1 Three Gorges Dam Project - Marvel at the World's Largest Hydroelectric Project
| Three Gorges Dam Project Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| One-of-a-kind experience | Overview of Three Gorges Dam, Ship Lift, Tanziling, 185 Observation Point |
| Ticket Price | 168 RMB |
| How Long to Spend | Over 3 Hours |
| Opening Hours | 08:30-16:30 (01.01-02.29) 08:00-17:00 (03.01-12.31) |
| Address | Jiangxia Avenue, Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province, China. |
In Yichang's tourist attractions, the Three Gorges Dam Project (三峡大坝工程) holds the top spot. It is the world's largest hydroelectric project, with a total dam length of 3,035 meters and a height of 185 meters. It was completed in 2006. These numbers are dazzling! You can understand this project as an artificial switch on the Yangtze River. It regulates water volume when the water level rises, generates hydroelectric power when there is a power shortage, and navigation is no longer restricted due to the original large drop in elevation. This is a highly profitable project.
As your Yangtze River cruise approaches, the first thing you see is the magnificent dam itself. Approaching the dam allows you to experience the ship lift, a unique method known as "ships taking an elevator." This allows you to personally experience how ships pass through the more than 110-meter-high locks, rising vertically with the cruise ship by about twenty meters in just a few minutes.
The Three Gorges Dam area is a comprehensive tourist area. You can overlook the entire Three Gorges Dam area at Tanziling (坛子岭), enjoy the beautiful scenery of the tranquil high gorges and peaceful lake upstream and the rushing Yangtze River downstream at the 185 Observation Point (185观景点). The Interception Memorial Park (截流纪念园) houses the Three Gorges Project Museum, providing tourists with an opportunity to delve into the Three Gorges Dam project.
P.S. For the best views of the Three Gorges Dam:
- For a head-on view and fewer crowds: Interception Memorial Park (截流纪念园).
- For popular close-up views (but expect crowds): Tanziling (坛子岭) and the 185 Observation Point (185观景点).
- For a direct frontal view from the water: Yangtze River cruises offer a head-on perspective.
No.2 Venture into the Sanyou Cave (Xiling Gorge's Gem)
| Sanyou Cave Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Highlights | Cave, Zhixi Pavilion, Chusai Tower, Remains of an Old Military Fortress. |
| Ticket Price | 60 RMB |
| How Long to Spend | 1-2 Hours |
| Opening Hours | 09:00-17:00 (11.1-12.31) 08:30-17:30 (03.01-10.31) |
| Address | Nanjin Pass (Entrance of Xiling Gorge), Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province, China. |
Yichang Sightseeing is also famous for Sanyou Cave (三游洞). It's a 4A scenic spot right at the entrance of the Xiling Gorge. The name "Sanyou" (which means "Three Travels") comes from the story of two groups of three poets who visited and wrote poems there at different times. So, you had the "Former Three Travels" - the famous poets Bai Juyi, Bai Xingjian, and Yuan Zhen - and then later, the "Later Three Travels" - Su Xun and his sons, the equally famous Su Shi and Su Zhe.
The Sanyou Cave area is kind of like a small hill, and there are a few main things to see. There's the main Sanyou Cave (三游洞主洞), of course, plus the Zhixi Pavilion (至喜亭), the Chusai Tower (楚塞楼), and the remains of an old military fortress (古军垒遗址).
Inside the cave, you'll find some really cool rock formations and stone carvings left by those famous visitors. The Zhixi Pavilion was built way back in the Song Dynasty, and from there, you can get a great view of the Gezhouba Dam. The Chusai Tower sits up on the hilltop, and the first floor has shows about Three Gorges. And the old military fortress? That was a super important spot for defending the entrance to the Three Gorges.
How to Travel Between Yichang Airport and Yichang Port
How to Get to Yichang Port from Yichang East Station (2025)
No.3 Encounter Living Fossils in Chinese Sturgeon Museum
| Chinese Sturgeon Museum Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Highlights | Various sizes of Chinese sturgeon, Sturgeon from around the world, Chinese sturgeon aquaculture farm. |
| Ticket Price | 48 RMB |
| How Long to Spend | 1-2 Hours |
| Opening Hours | 8：00-17：30 |
| Address | Upstream of the Three Gorges Dam. |
When discussing Yichang tourism, the Chinese Sturgeon Museum (中华鲟研究所) is a must-mention. It can be seen as a wildlife conservation initiative. Because the construction of the Gezhouba Dam, another water control project on the Yangtze River, disrupted the migratory routes of the Chinese sturgeon (a critically endangered fish species that coexisted with dinosaurs), a research and conservation center was established here. Each year, researchers monitor the sturgeon population, conduct artificial breeding, and release sturgeon back into the wild.
Here, visitors can observe various types of Chinese sturgeon and sturgeon species from around the world. You can also see the sturgeon aquaculture facilities. In addition to sturgeon, there is also a variety of tropical fish.
P.S. In 2024, the museum relocated upstream to the Three Gorges Dam area. The address previously listed on other websites - Huangbai River Islet, Yiling District, Yichang City - is now outdated!
No.4 Delve into Yichang Museum to Touch Yichang's Past
| Yichang Museum Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Highlights | Sun Man Stone Carving, Gilded Bronze Bear. |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| How Long tp Spend | Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission 4:00 PM), Closed on Mondays. |
| Opening Hours | 2-3 Hours |
| Address | Bailin River Road, Wujiagang District, Yichang City, Hubei Province, China. |
When considering things to do in Yichang, China, a visit to the Yichang Museum (宜昌博物馆) is highly recommended. As a designated National First-Class Museum, it boasts one of the most impressive collections in Central China. The museum spans four floors, presenting a comprehensive overview of Yichang's history and culture through exhibits arranged chronologically from the first to the fourth floor.
- First Floor: Showcases minerals and dinosaur fossils.
- Second Floor: Highlights include the must-see Sun Man Stone Carving and the Gilded Bronze Bear.
- Third Floor: Focuses on Yichang's history and folk customs, featuring exhibits on the Yangtze River trackers, local agriculture and fishing practices, Tujia wedding traditions and costumes, shadow puppetry, and traditional Yichang temple fairs.
- Fourth Floor: Dedicated to preserving memories of the ancient city of Yichang.
No.5 Tribe of the Three Gorges - Witness Ethnic Weddings & Village Life
| Tribe of the Three Gorges Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Highlights | Tujia marriage customs and village culture. |
| Ticket Price | 185 RMB |
| How Long to Spend | 4 Hours |
| Opening Hours | Peak Season (3.1 - 10.31): 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM Off-Season (11.1 - 2.29): 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM |
| Address | Shipai Village, Sandouping Town, Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province, China. |
When you take a cruise on the Yangtze River, you will enter the Tribe of the Three Gorges (三峡人家). This is a 5A-rated original ecological scenic spot, where traditional stilt houses of the Three Gorges are scattered among the mountains and rivers. Long-unseen ancient sailing ships and awning boats are quietly moored in front of the Three Gorges Tribe, young women by the stream are washing clothes with mallets, and leisurely fishermen on the river are casting their nets.
The main purpose of visiting the Three Gorges Tribe is to experience the Tujia people's way of life, such as their weddings and village culture. The Tujia's "crying marriage" performance is worth seeing. Crying marriage is a unique custom in Tujia traditional weddings. It is a crying and singing ritual performed by the bride when she gets married. There is no traditional wedding prelude here; it begins with the bride starting to sing.
During the crying marriage, the bride cries beautifully and touchingly, singing special "crying marriage songs." These songs are wedding ballads commonly sung by Tujia women, and brides usually begin learning them at the age of twelve or thirteen. The content of the crying marriage is rich and diverse, including "crying for parents," "crying for elder brothers and sisters-in-law," "crying for sisters," etc., expressing the bride's reluctance to leave home.
Enjoy Yangtze River Cruise & Yichang Attractions with Asia Odysey Travel
Poet Li Bai once praised the Yangtze River: From the two river banks thrust out the mountains blue, Leaving the sun behind, a lonely sail comes forth.
Poet Du Fu once praised Yichang: Where gorges end, dawn paints the sky anew; Where mountains yield, broad waters bring a city to view.
These poems and verses are inspired by real scenery. You can arrange a 4-day, 3-night Chongqing-Yichang Yangtze River Cruise or a 5 Days Yangtze River Cruise Tour from Yichang to Chongqing for an immersive appreciation of the beautiful views. You can stay in Chongqing for a while to "get some fun things to do in Chongqing," and then start your Yangtze River journey. At the end of the cruise, you can spend half a day visiting Yichang's attractions.
(Downstream) Chongqing to Yichang Yangtze River Cruise Itinerary:
Day 1. Arrival in Chongqing and board a ship at Chaotianmen port.
Day 2. Visit Fengdu Ghost City.
Day 3. Head to Three Gorges & Shennv Stream.
Day 4. Go to Three Gorges Dam and disembarkation.
Yangtze River Attractions: 18 Best Yangtze River Cruise Shore Excursions
(Upstream) Yichang to Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Itinerary:
Day 1. Arrival in Yichang: Yangtze River Cruise Embarkation
Day 2. Visit Three Gorges Dam.
Day 3. Head to Three Gorges, Shennv Stream.
Day 4 Go to Ghost City of Fengdu.
Day 5 Yangtze River Cruise to Chongqing: Dismbarkation
Chongqing to Yichang Cruise: 4 Days Yangtze River Cruise from Chongqing
Yichang to Chongqing Cruise: 5 Days Yangtze River Cruise from Yichang
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