Unlock ancient mysteries and modern marvels in Asia while you cruise down the longest river in Asia.  A China river cruise will take you through the impressive Three Gorges (Qutang, Wuxia, & Xiling) and view the immense dam, China’s largest construction project since the Great Wall.  Here are a few breathtaking views of the Yangtze River.

In 2004, Martin Strel from Slovenia swam the river 2,900 miles from the Tiger Leaping Gorge to Shanghai.

The attendance rate of school-age children in Shanghai is 99.99 percent.

The endangered Chinese alligator is the only other species of alligator besides the American alligator. Full-grown, it is 5-feet-long, smaller than the American variety, but has a unique, full body armor which covers even its underbelly.

In 1342, the Yangtze River in the Jiangsu Province was reported to have run dry. Water inexplicably disappeared for a day and the riverbed became visible. This mysterious event occurred again on January 13, 1954.

The Three Gorges Dam is 610 feet tall and runs about 1.3 miles from bank to bank. It required tens of thousands of workers to complete and will create a 370-mile-long lake, a distance equal to nearly half the length of California.

The Yangtze, or “Changjiang,” means “long river.”

The Yangtze River originates from a glacier in the Dangla Mountain Range on the eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau. It runs eastward through Qinghai, then turns south down a deep valley at the border of Sichuan and Tibet to reach Yunnan. The headwaters of the Yangtze originate at a lofty elevation of about 16,100 feet. In its descent to sea level, it cascades and tumbles to an altitude of 630 feet at Chongqing, where it becomes more widely navigable. Below Chongqing, the river gains volume via several main tributaries and cuts through the spectacular Three Gorges and the world-record-breaking Three Gorges Dam.

East of the dam, Yichang is the first city on the Yangtze Plain. The river then continues on through the Hubei province, receiving more water from thousands of lakes. At Wuhan, the Yangtze joins forces with its largest tributary, the Han River. The powerful river then merges with Lake Poyang, the largest freshwater lake in China, before flowing on through the Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. The river finally reaches its East China Sea destination at the sparkling shoreline city of Shanghai.

The longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world, the Yangtze River stretches through China’s most enchanting historic, cultural and culinary treasures. Sail through the impressive Three Gorges with its dreamlike vertical cliffs and view the immense dam, China’s largest construction project since the Great Wall. A journey down the Yangtze River—a lifeline in ancient and modern times—is full of intrigue, mystery and astonishing beauty.

Fast Facts

Country: China

Source: Dangla Mountain Range in the Tibetan Plateau

Mouth: East China Sea

Length: 3,915 miles

The Yangtze River has been a critical character in the Chinese story. Traces of human activity have been found in the Three Gorges area dating back 27,000 years. In the Spring and Autumn Period of China (770-476 BC), the Ba and Shu tribes lived in the middle region of the river. The Chu settled in the lower reaches of the Yangtze, and the Wu and Yue tribes were located in the Yangtze Delta area. Although the Yellow River region was richer and more developed at that time, the milder climate and relative political peace made the Yangtze River area an agricultural haven.

From the Han Dynasty, the establishment of irrigation systems led to the Yangtze River becoming increasingly important to China’s economy. By the Song dynasty, the area along the Yangtze had become among the wealthiest and developed parts of the country, especially in the lower reaches of the river. By the early Qing dynasty, the region generated one-third to one-half of the nation’s income.

Throughout Chinese history, the Yangtze River has served as the border of kingdoms and the setting for fierce battles, the most famous being the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 A.D. Nanjing, then the first bridging point and a strategic location on the Yangtze, would serve as the capital of several dynasties and the Republic of China at several different points in history, some as recently as 1949.

The currents of the Yangtze River proved difficult for travel until the early 1900s, when the British Paddle-Steamer S.S. Pioneer became the first to make the upstream trip to Chongqing without the use of oars in the winter season. Today, the waters of the Yangtze have become an engineering marvel due to the development of the Three Gorges Dam which is set to be complete in 2011. This dam will be known as the largest in the world, producing energy that is equal to fifteen nuclear power plants.

Continuing our post from yesterday, here are 5 more Hong Kong must-see sights to make your vacation to China more memorable.

Kowloon Walled City Park
Immerse yourself in this park to get a piece of history and a taste of modern life at the same time. Once an imperial walled city, Kowloon contains many relics from those days as well as attractive gardens and pavilions in its eight sections. Rise early, and you might get to see city elders practicing tai chi here.

Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront
There are numerous museums in the district, as well as Hong Kong’s famous Clock Tower, but the real reason to venture here is to see the city skyline. The lights and skyscrapers are on full display from Tsim Sha Tsui. And as a bonus, the city puts on a laser-light show each night at 8pm.

Cloudnine
You may not want to step on stage, but you can have fun listening to the younger crowd getting their karaoke fix. You’ll hear hip hop in the front room when you enter, so step into the back for the karaoke. This is a popular spot for locals.

East End Brewery
With dozens of beers on tap, you can sample a couple of local brews or perhaps find an old favorite from home or around the world. You’ll also find wi-fi access and American cuisine, in case you’re feeling a little homesick.

Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree
The name is a bit misleading, as people may no longer throw their “wish-paper” streamers into the tree. However, the home of  the Lam Tsuen tree is still popular due to its history of inspiring people to literally lay out their dreams. You can now buy wish papers to write on from vendors and tie them to a rack at the site. There are also fortune-tellers nearby.

We hope that these Hong Kong must-see sights will help you get more vacation from your vacation.  Make your trip even more unique and use our travel planning resources to help get your dream vacation underway.

Did you know that Hong Kong has urbanized only 17% of its land area and over 40% of the territory is protected as country parks, special area and Ramsar site?

When traveling to China here are some of the must-see sights of Hong Kong:

Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas
The name isn’t entirely accurate—there are closer to 13,000 Buddha statues in the temple, as well as countless, larger ones lining the steps to the temple. They come in all shapes, sizes, and sorts, with one even riding a giant blue dog. There’s also a lovely nine-story pagoda beside the temple.

Luk Yu Tea House
A dim sum restaurant serves a wide variety—often dozens—of small dishes, and Luk Yu Tea House is perhaps the best place to dive in. Dumplings of all sorts are a typical dim sum offering, as are rice rolls, steamed meatballs and vegetables, spring rolls, and sweets. Try as many types as your appetite will allow, including something unusual.

Hong Kong Heritage Museum
The largest museum in the city, this is a wonderful place to learn about the cultural history of China. Visitor favorites include the colorful costumes of the Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall and the sculptures and early art of the T. T. Tsui Gallery.

Top Deck, at the Jumbo
You can make a quick escape from the city to this open-air restaurant, which floats in Jumbo Harbor. The menu is international, though mainly Eastern in focus. The ferry to get there is free, and atmosphere refreshing.

Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
The gathering place for all things bird, you don’t have to be an ornithologist to enjoy a look around. There are dozens of markets selling birds, cages of mahogany and teak, and bird feed. You can watch purveyors feed their birds crickets and nectar with chopsticks, or sit back and listen to the songs from the birds brought by the proud owners who are there just to hang out.

Check back on Monday for Part #2 of our Hong Kong not-to-be-missed sights. Start planning your China vacation today!

On the longest river in Asia, the Yangtze, you are sure to some beautiful sites.  On an Asian river cruise you are surrounded by beauty including Qutang, the shortest and most dramatic of Three Gorges.

On your China vacation take in the history and culture with a visit to LeShan Giant Budda in Sichuan province in China.

Carved into a cliff and more than 230-feet high, the LeShan Grand Buddha appears anything but hidden. Its stories and secrets, however, create an aura of mystery surrounding this world’s-largest Buddha. Sitting tall above the Dadu He and Min He rivers, the Grand Buddha took 90 years to complete.  The dedication to this construction was inspired by the threat of a deadly river monster and the fundraising skills of a Buddhist monk.

In 713 AD, a river monster was allegedly terrorizing local seamen by flooding and capsizing boats. A Buddhist monk suggested construction of the Grand Buddha, promising that its presence would calm the waters. In addition to the spiritual safety offered by the looming Buddha, and to further safeguard the monk’s pledge, the construction team built the statue with a hollow body to allow sailors a place of refuge.

Another creative (and functional) touch is the Buddha’s drainage system. Still in working order, pipes carved into the sculpture’s body ensure that rain water flows off of the structure to reduce weathering. As a testament to the Buddha’s excellent construction, it continues to reign as the tallest carved statue in the world. And with a big toe nail measuring 28-feet long and 1,021 buns of curly hair and individual rocks so large they could each host a picnic, the Grand Buddha is poised to face any challenger that comes its way – river monster or otherwise.