How to Get to the Yangtze - Transportation Guide

Map of Yangtze River

From Chongqing to the Yangtze River

Chaotianmen port is the important transportation hub in Chongqing in the past and present, and the only port for Yangtze River cruise in Chongqing, and for Chongqing Two river city cruise as well. There is an old saying: Chaotianmen port shapes like an arrow that point to the capital city Beijing, as this port only is for royal or official ship boarding in the past time, hence the name Chaotianmen (face to the sky royal).

The cruise ships all dock at Chaotianmen Port in Chongqing but at different piers as the port is very large. Two days ahead of boarding, our travel advisors confirm the details of the pier and cabin information. Airport, railways station and bus stations are accessible to Chaotianmen Port.

Chongqing Chaotianmen Port朝天门码头
Add: Changjiang Binjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Yichang

Also read Chongqing Port Guide

About the Docks

All the cars can easy access to each dock, no matter which one you may firstly pass by the No.9 dock, which located at main entrance. Follow No.9 dock to the left is No 8 to 3 dock, usually No 7,8,9 docks is for the Yangtze cruise ships boarding, but there are no assignment dock for any of the cruise ship company except Victoria Cruises.

Dock No.5

The No. 5 dock is only Specific for Victoria Cruise Ships boarding, passengers take its ships will board and disembark in dock No.5 in Chaotianmen without doubt.

Chaotianmen Port Map

From Airport to Chaotianmen Port

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is a major hub for Southwest China. Chongqing has flights which fly to such as cities as Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Xian, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Guilin, Wuhan, Chengdu, Guiyang, Kunming, Urumqi and many more.

The airport is about 27 km away from Chaotianmen Port and shuttle buses, light rail and taxies are all available. Distances and time may vary depending on the method of transportation.

Taxi
Taxis take 40 minutes from the airport to the port. The cost is CNY 60 from 6:00-22:00 and CNY 80-100 from 22:00-6:00.

Light Rail
Take Light Rail No.3 from the airport to Shangqing Si(上清寺) at CNY 7/person. It takes 70 minutes. Get off at Niujiaotuo Station(牛角坨站) and take a taxi or bus to Chaotianmen Port. Taking a taxi from Shangqing Si to the port coast CNY13.

Shuttle Bus
Take Shuttle Bus at CNY 15/person from the airport to the terminal—Shangqingsi District and then take a bus or a taxi to Chaotianmen Port. It takes 1 1/2 hours in total.

Bus from Shangqing Si to Chaotianmen Port

Take Bus NO.401 at CNY 2/person from Shangqing Si Station and get off at Chaotianmen Square Station - time 40 minutes;
Take Bus NO.215普通 at CNY 1/person from Niujiao Tuo Station and get off at Chaotianmen Station - time 40 minutes;
Take Bus NO 862 at CNY 2/person from Xuetian Wan Station and get off at Chongqing Hotel Station - time 40 minutes.

From Railway Station to Chaotianmen Port

There are 8 railway stations in or near Chongqing City however only 2 railways stations carry traffic from major cities. They are Chongqing Railway Station which is also known as Cai Yuan Ba Railway Station and Chongqingbei Railway Station, commonly called Longtou Si Railway Station(龙头寺火车站).

Chonqingbei Railway Station is the major in the area. Buses, taxies and light rails are available from both stations to Chaotianmen Port.

Chongqingbei Railway Station
Add：Longtousi, Yubei District, Chongqing City
Tel：(023)61681114

Chongqing Railway Station
Add: NO.6, Caiyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing

Cost and Time from the two railway stations to the port are shown below:

From Bus Stations to Chaotianmen Port

There are 6 bus stations in Chongqing. Buses, taxi and light railway are available from bus stations to the port.

Note: Caiyuanba Chongqing Coach Station and Caiyuanba Long-Distance Bus Station are very close so they share the same transportation means.

From Yichang to the Yangtze River

Yichang City is the other departure port for the upstream Yangtze. There are 3 ports in Yichang - New Century Port, Taohuacun Port (Peach Flower Village Port) and Yichang Passenger Port. The most frequently used ports are New Century Port and Taohuacun Port while Yichang Passenger Port in the city area is seldom used.

New Century Port is 5 km away from Taohuacun Port. Different cruise ships use different piers. Click here for further details about different piers. 2 days before the departure of your cruise ship,our travel advisor will confirm the ships docking details and the cabin allocations. Shuttle buses and taxi are available from the airport, bus station and railway station to these 2 ports.

From the Airport

The airport in Yichang is called Sanxia Airport(三峡机场). It is 26 km from the city center. It is the 2nd biggest airport in Hubei Province and connects with most of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chongqing, Chengdu, Sanya, Tangshan, Kunming, Guiyang and Nanjing.

Sanxia Airport
Add: NO.8,Jichang Road, Xiaoting District, Yichang
Tel: 0717-6532650

To New Century Port
It is 38 km from the airport to New Century Port. It takes about 45 minutes and cost CNY 150 for a taxi. If catching the shuttle bus take the shuttle bus for 50 minutes at CNY 20/person and arrive in Qing Jiang Mansion(清江大厦). Then take a taxi at about CNY 35.

To Taohuacun Port
35.7 km away from the airport, it takes 40 minutes at about CNY 100 by taxi. Shuttle bus takes 50 minutes at CNY 20/person from the airport to Qing Jiang Mansion and then take a taxi for CNY 30.

From the Railway Station

The railway station in Yichang is known as Yichang East Railway Station and 10 km away from the city center. It provides rails services to most large cities in China including Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu etc. Public buses and taxi are available to cruise ports from the railway station. If you are with a lot of luggage, we recommend you that you take a taxi or book our private transfer service.

Yichang East Railway Station
Add: Intersection of NO.107 of Provincial Road, Chengdong Avenue, Wujiagang District

To New Century Port
The port is 23 km from the East Railway Station. If going by taxi, it will take about 20 minutes and cost CNY 60.
If taking the public bus, take Bus NO.1 from bus stop near the exit of the railway station and get off at the Xiazhou Hotel Station(峡州宾馆站). Transfer to Bus NO.10 and get off at Sanyoudong Station(三游洞站) which is about 800 meters from the port. In total it takes about 2 hours.

To Taohuacun Port
The railway station is 19 km away from Taohuacun Port. It takes about 20 minutes and costs CNY 50 by taxi. If going by bus, it is the same route from railway station to New Century Port however it is only 500 meters for the last stage. In total it also takes about 2 hours.

From the Bus Station

Yichang Long-Distance Bus Station
Add: NO.126,Dongshan Avenue, Xiling District, Yichang
Tel: 0717-6445314

To New Century Port
The fare by taxi is about CNY 30 and takes 25 minutes. Going by bus, could take Bus NO.9 at Changtu Bus Stop(长途车站) and get off at NO.22 Middle School Station(市22中). Then transfer to Bus NO.10 and get off at Sanyoudong Station(三游洞站). The last walk is about a 1 ½ klms. The total time required is about 80 minutes.

To Taohuacun Port
The route is the same as that of the route from the station to Taohuacun Port. The final walk is about 1 klm after getting off at Sanyoudong Station.

From Wuhan to the Yangtze River

Though Wuhan has many cargo ports only NO.23 port is available for Victoria Cruise ships, which is the only line to stop at Wuhan. Click here for details about different transport methods to NO.23 Port.

To Yichang

If people want to take the Yangtze Cruise from Yichang, it is accessible by plane, train and bus. By air, passengers need to transfer from other city which could be expensive. The most convenient and least expensive ways are train or a bus.

Bus: Buses from Wuhan to Yichang are available from 3 bus stations - Hanyang Bus Station, Jinjiadun Bus Station and Fujiapo Bus Station. It takes about 5 hours and costs CNY 75-135 depending on the bus.

Train

To Chongqing

People in Wuhan wishing to board the cruise in Chongqing, can travel from Wuhan to Chongqing by airplane, train or bus.

Airplane:The flight takes about 80 minutes from Wuhan to Chongqing. There are several airplanes operating every day.

Train:Seven K Express Train departs from Wuchang or Hankou Stations to Chongqing every day taking 15-19 hours. The cost is from CNY 138.5/person to CNY 152.5 for a hard seat.
There is one T Air-conditioned Express from Wuhan to Chongqing. It takes about 15 hours and cost CNY 152.5 for a hard seat.

Bus:It is 1206 km from Wuhan to Chongqing and the travel time is about 13 hours for a cost of CNY 240/person. Most buses to Chongqing depart from Hanyang Bus Station.
Note:We do not recommend taking a bus as it is a long trip which could be uncomfortable.

From Shanghai to the Yangtze River

Victoria Cruises Line is the only company that berths at Wusongkou Port. Though taxi, bus and subway are available from the airport, railway station and bus station to the port, however taxi is the most convenient way to get there as several transfers are needed for each.

From Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station

Note: Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station are very close and they share the same routes to places in Shanghai.
Taxi takes about 1 hour for CNY 130.
From Pudong Airport to the port, taking a taxi will cost CNY 180 and takes about 1 1/2 hours.
From Shanghai Railway Station to the port, takes about 50 minutes and costs about CNY 90.
From Shanghai South Railway Station, costs about CNY 130 and takes about 1 hour to get to the port.
From Shanghai Long-distance Bus Station, it takes 50 minutes and costs about CNY 90 to reach the port.
From Shanghai Long-distance South Bus Station, CNY 130 and about 1 hour to get to the port.
From Shanghai Bus Station in Hengfeng Road, takes about 50 minutes and CNY 85 to get to the port.

For people in Shanghai wishing to take a Yangtze Cruise ship from Chongqing or Yichang, can travel by air or by train.

Note:Price is a guide only and may vary so please ask our travel advisor for price details.