Holiday in Yichang

What makes Yichang special as a destination?

Yichang is the gateway to the legendary Three Gorges of the Yangtze and is home to the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric power station in the world. The city in Hubei Province is located at the point where the Yangtze emerges from the narrow mountain gorges into the vast plains of central China — a geographical turning point that has given Yichang strategic importance for millennia. The Three Gorges Dam (Sanxia Daba) is an engineering marvel: 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, with an installed capacity of 22,500 megawatts. The visitor center at the Tanziling viewpoint offers a breathtaking view of the dam and the 600-kilometer-long reservoir. The five-step ship lock, which allows ocean-going vessels to overcome a height difference of 113 meters, is a fascinating spectacle. The Three Gorges themselves — Qutang, Wu, and Xiling — are among the most magnificent river landscapes on Earth: limestone walls rise vertically up to 1,200 meters from the emerald green water, while mist drifts through the valleys. Yangtze cruises between Yichang and Chongqing (3-5 days) are among the most iconic river journeys in the world. The Gezhouba Dam, the older and smaller brother of the Three Gorges Dam, is located directly within the city limits. The Three Gorges Waterfall National Park (Sanxia Daba Pubu) nearby offers spectacular cascades amidst subtropical vegetation. The historic town of Zigui, home to the poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), whose death is celebrated with the Dragon Boat Festival, is located by the reservoir.