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Possible Yangtze River Port Change for Special Events 2023

In normal conditions, whether you take a downstream or upstream Yangtze River cruise between Chongqing and Yichang, you embark / disembark at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port (朝天门码头), Yichang New Century Port (新世纪码头) / Taohuacun Port (桃花村码头) at the scheduled time in your itinerary.

However, some ports may be changed during some special events. Let’s check the detail change of ports in Chongqing and Yichang cities.

If any changes of the port of your Yangtze River cruise, your Travel Consultant would tell you when you book the ship and help sincerely you till the end of your cruise.

Port Change in Chongqing for Special Events

Yangtze River cruise ships may not be able to dock at Chongqing Chaotianmen Port during special events such as:

  • ● Dry period (usually during March - April);
  • ● Flood period (usually during July - August);
  • ● ……

The port would be changed to Fengdu Port (丰都码头) that is about 150 kilometers away from Chongqing downtown for your downstream embarkation and upstream disembarkation. Therefore, you should know clearly about the locations of Chonqging Grand Theater (重庆大剧院), Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (重庆江北国际机场), Chongqing Railway Stations, and Fengdu Port before your cruise.

The cruise companies will take the responsibility to arrange tourist buses to transfer travellers from Chongqing Grand Theater to Fengdu Port for downstream embarkation and from Fengdu Port to Chongqing Grand Theater for upstream disembarkation. Therefore, travellers don’t have to worry about the transportation.

Yangtze River Port Change - Chongqing Port Map

Chongqing Map of Port Change during Special Events

Chongqing to Yichang Downstream Cruise Embarkation

During special events, on Day 1 of the downstream cruise, travellers are required to gather at Chongqing Grand Theater first, during 18:00 – 19:30. The cruise company will arrange buses to transfer you to Fengdu Port to board your ship. Fengdu Port is 150 kilometers away from Chongqing downtown and needs about 2.5 to 3 hours to get to.

Tips:

1. Chongqing Grand Theater Address: East Road, Wenhua Street, Jiangbei District, Chongqing (重庆市江北区北城文华街东路)

2. Please make sure to get on the arranged bus to Fengdu Port on time. Otherwise, contact your travel consultant right away, and we will arrange the private transfer for you to arrive at the port for extra fee!

Yichang to Chongqing Upstream Cruise Disembarkation

On Day 5 of the upstream cruise from Yichang during the special periods, guests leave the cruise ship at Fengdu Port in the morning, at 06:00-08:00. The cruise company would arrange buses for the transfer from Fengdu Port to Chongqing Grand Theater at the downtown area. The bus driving time is about 2.5 – 3 hours. Cruise trip ends.

Yangtze River Port Change - Chongqing Grand Theater

Chongqing Grand Theater

Yangtze River Port Change - Fengdu port

Fengdu port

Transfer between Chongqing Grand Theater and Chongqing Airport / Train Station

There are several ways to transfer from Chongqing Jiangbei Airport / Chongqing North Railway Station / Chongqing Railway Station to Chongqing Grand Theater, among which taking a local taxi is the most time-saving and convenient way for you Yangtze River cruise. Check the time and distance needed at below!

FromDistanceTime
Chongqing Jiangbei International AirportAbout 23kmAbout 30-35mins
Chongqing North Railway StationAbout 8.5kmAbout 15mins
Chongqing Railway StationAbout 6kmAbout 17mins

Note: the above time and distances are only for your reference, and detail data are varied according to the practical situation.

 

Port Change in Yichang for Special Events

During some special events, some ships may not be able to pass the Three Gorges Dam ship Locks and unable to dock at Yichang New Century Port / Taohuacun Port. These special events happen for reasons such as:

  • ● Maintenance of the Ship Locks
  • ● Floods and Water Shortage
  • ● Waterway Regulation
  • ● Terrible Weather
  • ● ……

The port would be changed to Maoping Port (茅坪码头), which is about 50 kilometers away from Yichang downtown.

2023 port change news: In the whole year of 2023 Yichang New Century Port is stopped using. All Yangtze River cruise ships would use Maoping Port for Yichang embarkation and disembarkation, except Yangtze 1 cruise using Sandouping Dock . So, you should know clear about the locations of Yichang Sanxia Airport (宜昌三峡机场), Yichang railway stations, Maoping Port (Sandouping Dock) , and Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal / Yichang No.9 Dock (宜昌九码头) before your Yangtze River cruise trip.

Since the cruise company would arrange buses to transfer the upstream guests from Yichang downtown to Maoping Port and the downstream guests from Maoping to Yichang city, guests needn’t worry about the transportation, moreover, they can still enjoy the views of the Three Gorges Dam site and five-stage ship locks.

Yangtze River Port Change - Yichang Port Map

Map of Yichang Ports Change during Special Periods

Yichang to Chongqing Upstream Cruise Embarkation

During the special events, on Day 1 of your upstream Yangtze River cruise, you are required to gather first at Yichang East Railway Station or Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal (or called Yichang No. 9 Dock) during about 17:30-20:30, and then take the arranged buses by the cruise company would transfer you to board your ship at Maoping Port that is about 50km away from Yichang (Guests taking Yangtze 1 need to gether at Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal during 19:00-20:00 to take the arranges bus to Sandouping Dock for embarkation, driving for 1.5 hours). The driving needs about 1 to 1.5 hours. (Visitors need to show your original passport to get the bus ticket and follow the directions at the gathering place for bus riding to Maoping)

Pease check the details of each cruise company at below:

Yangtze River Port Change - Yichang Yan Sha Hotel

Yichang East Railway Station

Cruises NameGathering TimeGathering PlaceTransportation to Embarkation
Victoria Cruises 17:30~20:00 Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal (宜昌三峡游客中心) or Yichang East Railway Station (宜昌东站 ) Take the bus arranged by the cruise company to Maoping Port to embark your cruise ship.
Century Cruises
President Cruises
Yangtze Gold Cruises
Yangtze Explorer
Yangtze 2
Yangtze 119:00-20:00Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal (宜昌三峡游客中心)Take the bus arranged by the cruise company to Sandouping Dock to embark your cruise ship.

Tips:

1. Address of Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal (or called Yichang No. 9 Dock): No.142, Yanjiang Avenue, Wujiagang District, Yichang City (facing Yichang Wanda Plaza) 宜昌市伍家岗区沿江大道142号 -宜昌三峡游客中心 (宜昌九码头).

2. Yichang East Railway Station Address: Chengdong Avenue, Wujiagang District, Yichang City 湖北省宜昌市伍家岗区城东大道 – 宜昌东站.

3. Yichang gathering place choosing: if you are arriving in Yichang by train, we suggest you gather directly at the Yichang East Railway Station, where you could easily find the arranged bus after exiting; if you arrive by plane, you could choose to gather at Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal.

4. Please make sure to get to the bus from Yichang downtown to Maoping Port / Sandouping Dock on time. Otherwise, contact your travel consultant immediately, and we will arrange the private vehicle to transfer you to the port to board your ship for some extra pay!

Chongqing to Yichang Downstream Cruise Disembarkation

On Day 4 of the downstream cruise to Yichang during special events, you would visit the Three Gorges Dam Site (or optional experience of the ship lift) and then leave from the Site. The cruise company would take the responsibility to arrange the tourist buses to transfer you from the Dam site to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. After driving for about 1 to 1.5 hours, you would get to Yichang downtown during 12:30-13:30. Yangtze River cruise tour ends!

Check the details of gathering and transfer of each cruise companies at below:

Yangtze River Port Change - Yichang No.9 Dock

Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal

Yangtze River Port Change - Yichang Maoping Port

Yichang Maoping Port

ArrangementArrival PlaceArrival Time
Three Gorges Dam Visiting:
After visiting the dam site, take the arranged bus at the site to Yichang for departure.
Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal (宜昌三峡游客中心)Around 12:30
Three Gorges Dam + Ship Lift Visiting:
get on a little sightseeing boat to experience the Ship Lift. Then visit the Three Gorges Dam Site, and take the arranged bus at the site to Yichang for departure.
Around 13:30

Transfer between Yichang Gathering Places and Yichang Airport / Train Station

Among all the means of transportation to Yichang gathering places, taking the local taxi is the best one. Check the detail distances and time needed at below.

FromTo Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal / Yichang No.9 Dock
Yichang Sanxia AirportAbout 30-35km, driving for about 40-50 minutes
Yichang East Railway StationAbout 9-12km, driving for about 25-30 minutes
Yichang Railway StationAbout 5-6km, driving for about 15-20 minutes

Note: the above time and distances are only for your reference, and detail data are varied according to the practical situation.

If you got any questions about Yangtze River cruise port change, please ask our professional Travel Consultant for help!

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