The Yangtze River, originating on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, flows through seven provinces, an autonomous region and a municipality before it enters the East China Sea. It is the largest river in China and the third largest in the world. A boat cruise through the three gorges -- the Qutang, Wuxia and Xiling -- of the Yangtze River provides one of the most exciting river trips in the world.

The Yangtze Cruise through the three gorges usually starts from Chongqing. But it is also possible to board a boat at Yichang or Wuhan, Hubei, and go upstream; this trip will take longer but provides a better chance to view the magnificent gorges.

We'll describe the downstream trip, however, since that is the one most tourists take. he Yangtze, passing through the famous Three Gorges that most tourists come to Chongqing. With over 100 cruise ships that begin their itineraries in the city, there is no better place to start a Three Gorges river tour.

Passenger steamboats leave Chongqing at 7 a.m. each day and anchor at Wanxian at 6 a.m. the same day. They start sailing at 4 the next morning and enter the three gorges at about 8 a.m., arriving at Yichang at 4 in the afternoon.