Yangtze Hiking from Chongqing to Yichang for 8 Days
Route One: Chongqing - Fengdu -Fengjie - Lianghekou - Gaoqiaozheng - Fengjie - Qutang Gorge - Peishi - Badong - Xiling Gorge - Sandouping – Yichang
An 8 day hike while discovering the beauty of the Yangtze and its surroundings will leave you enchanted and mesmerized for the rest of your life. The beauty and splendor of this area is impossible to miss and the adventure and thrill associated with the trip are unlike any other that you can experience at any place in the world!
Chongqing - The trip starts at the diverse and bustling Chongqing where the atmosphere is lit with the hustle, bustle and richness of Chinese culture and the aroma of traditional cuisine is impossible to miss! Known the world over for its delicious hotpot and scenic natural beauty, Chongqing is an explorer’s dream come true.
The first thing that you need to do upon your arrival in Chongqing is to find a nice and cozy hotel to relax and calm yourself. A relaxed mind and charged-up body is an absolute must if you want to enjoy the adventures that follow the hike with full thrill! Savor local delicacies and visit the Chongqing Zoo to get up close and personal with the charm and simplicity of nature and encounter a one-on-one meeting with the symbol of China – the Pandas!
From Chongqing your next stop is the city of Fengjie, while Fengdu will be your first shore excursion on the way if you choose to travel on a cruise. Taking a ship or a ferry is the best option to travel in this region because you can fully enjoy the beauty and charm of the surroundings of the breathtaking Yangtze in a lavish and comfortable setting. Royalty does not get better than that!
Fengdu – Fengdu is a true representation of nature’s beauty and each natural and manmade monument in this location carries an ethereal and spellbinding charm for the visitor. Fengdu is a place where you can experience the charm of legends and folklore by visiting the Ghost City and the Zhangfei Temple. These unique and enchanting destinations will make you get lost in a world of supernatural where myths and fairytales come to life and keep you glued.
Fengjie – Fengjie is an embodiment of natural beauty and splendor and plays host to beautiful and artistic monuments and historical architecture dating back to the ancient Xia and Tang dynasties. Top places to visit in this diverse city include the Xiaozhai Tiankeng, Kui Gate, Baidi Temple and Xige Thatched House. After exploring the many colors and shades of Fengjie, you can take a bus to your next destination i.e. Lianghekou.
Lianghekou – Packed with the wondrous beauty of nature, Lianghekou serves to be the perfect connecting point between the diverse cities Fengjie and Gaoqiaozheng. It’s a four hour trekking journey from Lianghekou to Gaoqiao and is delightfully pleasant and satisfying because of its appeal and aura.
Gaoqiao – The hike from Lianghekou to Gaoqiao is a treat for the eyes because of the varying landscape and subtlety in the environment. If you thought that the Yangtze River is all about the Three Gorges, think again. The scenic beauty of the Heaven Pit and the Earth Crack that lie in this area will leave you awestruck and spellbound at their simplistic beauty.
You can also meet the locals there and discover for yourself the ancient art and creative talents that China is primarily famous for since centuries. Witness how paper is made by ancient techniques and get entranced by the heirlooms that have been the bread and butter of the local residents for hundreds of years. Spend the night in the Xinlong Guesthouse to get relaxed and energized and get enough sleep for the remaining part of the trip to stay pumped up!
Fengjie – With the starting of the fifth day on your hike, you head back to Fengjie to take a different route and get the real deal that you have booked the Yangtze for – The Three Gorges. Qutang Gorge – Though the Qutang Gorge is the smallest amongst the three magnificent gorges, it makes up for its small size through its majestic beauty and charm. Sporting a rugged feel and a mystical aura, the Qutang Gorge will leave you mesmerized at every step and will be forever etched in your memory as one of the most beautiful places you will ever see in your entire lifetime.
Peishi – After a good night’s rest at the city of Wushan, you can start your journey to the Wu Gorge which will be one of the most fun-filled and adventurous trip of your life. With rock slides, caverns and stalactites emerging every few miles, this will be the true hiking experience that you are looking for and will prove to be an ultimate chance to get close to nature.
Shennv Park and Kongming Stele are few of the many highlights of this hiking trip which you can witness and capture in your camera to savor the memory for years! The trekking ends at Peishi where you can sit back relax and enjoy the serene and calm environment with ease.
Badong – Badong can be reached from the Peishi port through a boat trip and from there on you can continue your journey towards the Xiling Gorge and complete the magnificent trio of the famous gorges.
Xiling Gorge – The Xiling Gorge is the mightiest and most dangerous structure amongst the three gorges, but its rugged appeal and beauty makes up for its quick waters and jagged stones. To reach the Xiling gorge you first need to take a boat from Xintan to Sandouping and then return back to the county after a rigorous but exciting 9 hour trek.
Sandouping – Head back to Sandouping after witnessing the true wonder of nature the Xiling Gorge. The newly constructed site of the Three Gorge Dam Project is also nearby and you can pay a visit to this location to experience how nature intermingles with modernity to create a beautiful and enchanting combination.
Yichang – The trip ends at the diverse and bustling city of Yichang; however, there is no end to the activities and adventures that you can have in China even after the trip ends! Explore the many natural parks and architectural masterpieces in Yichang and enjoy local delicacies to savor the real taste of the Yangtze!
