Jiaoyun Two Dams and One Gorge Cruise

The Two Dams One Gorge cruise is one of the most popular Yangtze River experiences available from Yichang, offering a single-day boat journey through the most engineered stretch of the river in Hubei Province. The route takes in the Three Gorges Dam, the Gezhouba Dam, and the section of Xiling Gorge that has best preserved its original cliff-and-water scenery. For travelers who want to understand both the scale of the Yangtze's modern transformation and the beauty of its ancient gorges in a single trip, this cruise is the natural choice from Yichang.

The cruise departs from central Yichang and travels upstream through the ship locks of Gezhouba Dam, the older of the two great Yangtze barriers, before continuing into the Xiling Gorge, the longest and historically the wildest of the Three Gorges. This section of the river retains much of its dramatic character, with sheer cliffs dropping into green water and small villages and temples clinging to the banks. The boat passes close enough to the cliffs to appreciate their height and the slow curve of the river as it carves through the mountains.

The highlight of the cruise is the passage through the ship lift or locks of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric installation in the world, where the boat is raised or lowered through the dam's enormous vertical waterway. The engineering of the crossing is genuinely awe-inspiring, and the contrast between the wild scenery of the gorge upstream and the vast artificial lake downstream is one of the most striking experiences available anywhere on the Yangtze. Onboard commentary, often in Chinese and English, helps explain the history and engineering along the way.

Most cruises run as full-day trips from Yichang, with departures from the city's main piers. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with mild temperatures and clear views along the gorge; summer is busier and hotter, while winter is quieter but can be cold and misty. For travelers building a Yichang itinerary around the Three Gorges, this cruise is the most efficient and rewarding way to see the river, the dams, and the surviving gorge scenery in one well-paced day.