The usual shore stopsTHE LIST
Fengdu Mingshan (the 'ghost city'): folk culture and temples, many steps, roughly 1.5-2 hours. Shibaozhai: a riverside pinnacle with a wooden tower; the stair climb is steep, and the exterior can be seen from the bank.
White Emperor City: the classic stop and the best angle on Qutang Gorge. About 300 steps up; a sedan-chair service is available. Goddess Stream / Lesser Three Gorges: transfer to a small boat into a side valley — calm water, scenery-led, almost no walking.
Three Gorges Dam: Tanziling and the 185 platform, with shuttle carts and moderate walking. Three Gorges Family, Qu Yuan's Hometown, Zhang Fei Temple and Xueyu Cave appear on some routes, focused on folk life, shrines and caves.
What is in the fare and what costs extraINCLUDED OR NOT
Most sailings include two to four core sites: tickets and transfers are in the fare, and you simply join the group when the ship announces it. No ticket buying on the pier.
Other items are optional add-ons: the ship lift experience, large-scale outdoor shows, cable cars, or small-group deep dives. These are usually sold on board at an extra charge, with prices and seats posted by the ship.
The test is whether the itinerary uses the word 'included'. Included sites are non-refundable if you stay aboard; optional ones have limited seats and fill in peak season, so sign up on embarkation day.
How much walking each stop needsWALKING LOAD
Light: Goddess Stream and the Lesser Three Gorges (small boat, barely any walking), and the dam site (shuttle carts). Moderate: Fengdu, Three Gorges Family, Qu Yuan's Hometown — one to two hours on foot with steps.
Heavy: White Emperor City (about 300 steps) and Shibaozhai (steep tower stairs). With bad knees, walk only to the mid-slope viewpoint at White Emperor City instead of the top.
Each stop is usually 1-2 hours on site plus a shuttle ride from the pier. Grippy shoes matter more than new shoes: the banks are stone-stepped and slippery after rain.
Wheelchairs and older guestsACCESSIBILITY
Gangway slope, water level and tides all change between pier and ship; wheelchair boarding needs crew help and advance notice. Some piers are floating pontoons with stairs and no lift.
On site: the dam is the friendliest (carts plus level platforms); Goddess Stream needs a small boat with a raised threshold; White Emperor City and Shibaozhai are stair-heavy and effectively closed to wheelchairs.
Practical advice: with older guests, build the shore programme around the dam and Goddess Stream, and offer White Emperor City as voluntary rather than expecting everyone ashore.
FAQFAQ
Can I stay on board instead?
Yes. Included sites are non-refundable if you skip them, but you are free to rest on board. Facilities stay open while the ship is alongside, and it is the quietest time to photograph.
Do I need cash ashore?
Carry CNY 200-500 plus a mobile payment app linked to your card. Small vendors, toilets, sedan chairs and shuttle carts often need cash or a QR scan.
Does the English guide stay with us?
Included visits normally have the ship's English-speaking guide handling assembly and commentary. One-to-one or small-group guiding can be arranged in advance at extra cost.
Enquire & Book
Send us the ages and fitness of your group and we will suggest which shore stops are worth leaving the ship for.