Mystical Hubei & the Majestic Yangtze: From Sacred Wudang to the Dramatic Three Gorges

Tour Highlights

• One journey through Hubei's greatest landscapes and heritage — river city, sacred mountains, wild forest and the legendary Yangtze
• Three days in the UNESCO-listed Wudang Mountains — Zixiao Palace, Nanyan Temple, the Golden Summit and a Tai Chi experience
• The wild heart of Shennongjia: Shennong Altar, Shennong Peak and the Dajiuhu wetlands
• Enshi's dramatic karst — Dixin Valley, the Qingjiang Grand Canyon and the stone pillar of Qixingzhai
• Four nights aboard a luxury Yangtze cruise, sailing the Three Gorges upstream from Yichang to Chongqing
• The UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings and two nights in dazzling Chongqing — Hongya Cave, Ciqikou and the Liziba monorail

Itinerary at a Glance

1. Day 1: Australia – Wuhan, China — Board your international flight to Wuhan, the River City where the Yangtze meets the Han. On arrival our local representative meets you and transfers you to the hotel for a well-earned rest before the
2. Day 2: Wuhan – Wudang Mountains — Begin at the Yellow Crane Tower for sweeping views over the Yangtze, then explore the Hubei Provincial Museum and its bronze chime bells of the ancient Chu civilisation. After lunch, board a second-cl
3. Day 3: Wudang Mountains | Zixiao Palace, Nanyan Temple & Tai Chi — A day devoted to the spiritual heart of Wudang: the imperial Taoist complex of Zixiao Palace and the cliff-built Nanyan Temple, where architecture and mountain mist merge. Later, an introductory Tai C
4. Day 4: Wudang Mountains | Golden Summit, Prince Slope & Yuxu Palace — Ride the scenic shuttle and cable car towards the Golden Summit for one of Wudang's great panoramas — ridgelines and seas of cloud. Descend to Prince Slope and the remains of Yuxu Palace, where imperi
5. Day 5: Wudang – Shennongjia — Travel into the densely wooded ranges of Shennongjia, where the landscape turns wilder by the mile. In the Muyu area, visit Shennong Altar — monument, ceremony and forest dedicated to the legendary Ya
6. Day 6: Shennongjia | Shennong Peak & Dajiuhu Wetland — Climb into the 'Roof of Central China' at Shennong Peak, watching mist drift through successive forested ridges, then continue to Dajiuhu National Wetland Park, where boardwalks cross a highland basin
7. Day 7: Shennongjia – Enshi — Journey southwest into Enshi's deep river valleys and karst country, stopping at Dixin Valley where clear streams cut between dramatic rock walls along the historic Ba Salt Route — a first taste of th
8. Day 8: Enshi | Qingjiang Grand Canyon & Tujia Culture — Cruise the emerald Qingjiang — the Mother River of the Tujia people — between steep cliffs and the celebrated Butterfly Cliff rock formation. Later, an introduction to Tujia architecture and customs,
9. Day 9: Enshi | Enshi Grand Canyon & Qixingzhai — The signature day: Enshi Grand Canyon's Qixingzhai area, a landscape of karst peaks, stone forest, cliffside walkways and the famous pillar known as 'A Stick of Incense'. Scenic transport is used wher
10. Day 10: Enshi – Yichang (embark Yangtze cruise) — A relaxed morning, then a second-class high-speed train to Yichang. After dinner, board your luxury Yangtze cruise at Maoping Port, settle into your cabin and let the floating hotel carry you upstream
11. Day 11: Yangtze Cruise | Three Gorges Dam — An optional morning excursion to the Tribe of the Three Gorges (payable locally), then an included visit to the Three Gorges Dam, one of the world's largest hydroelectric projects, viewed from the des
12. Day 12: Yangtze Cruise | Shennong Stream, Wu & Qutang Gorges — Transfer to a smaller boat for the Shennong Stream excursion, then sail through Wu Gorge's cloud-wrapped peaks and the narrow, towering walls of Qutang Gorge. An optional visit to White Emperor City m
13. Day 13: Yangtze Cruise | Shuanggui Mountain — Go ashore for the included visit to Shuanggui Mountain, a forested cultural area overlooking the river; an optional excursion to the Wuling Mountain Great Rift Valley may be offered (payable locally).
14. Day 14: Disembark Chongqing – Dazu Rock Carvings — Disembark in Chongqing and travel to the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings at Baodingshan — intricate, story-rich sculptures where Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian ideas appear side by side. Return for a
15. Day 15: Chongqing | City Discovery — From Jiefangbei's pedestrian energy to the layered stilt-house skyline of Hongya Cave and Qiansimen Bridge, then Ciqikou Ancient Town's stone lanes and teahouses. A photo stop at Liziba captures the m
16. Day 16: Chongqing – Australia — Free time according to your flight schedule — sleep in, relax or take a final stroll — then transfer to the airport for your international flight home.
17. Day 17: Arrive Australia — Arrive home with the clouds of Wudang, the mist of Shennongjia, Enshi's cliffs, the Three Gorges and Chongqing's thousands of lights still vivid.

What's Included

• Return economy-class international airfares Sydney/Melbourne–Wuhan and Chongqing–Sydney/Melbourne
• Adelaide and Brisbane departures add $400, Perth $600 per person
• Eleven nights in listed 4–5 star hotels plus four nights aboard the cruise, twin share with breakfast
• Meals shown in the itinerary — daily breakfast, most lunches and dinners, including Chongqing two-flavour hotpot
• Air-conditioned touring coach
• Second-class high-speed rail Wuhan–Wudang and Enshi–Yichang
• Scenic shuttles and cable cars as listed