Are there Yangtze River/Three Gorges (China) cruise trips available in
late November of this year (Nov. 25-28 time frame) out of Chongquing,
and if so, what companies have openings at this time and would I be in
danger of a
cancelled trip because of low water? Do boats usually run through late
November/early December between Chonquing and Wuhan? I've been getting
conflicting info on whether a river trip will be possible during this
time. Thank you for any/all information you can provide,
Nathan

Hello

Thanks for your question about trips along this amazing stretch of
river.


RIVER CONDITIONS IN LATE NOVEMBER

First, I'm afraid I have to give you the bad news. There is indeed a
risk of serious problems with water level at the time of year you're
considering.

It happened last year when some boats were actually stranded and I
assume other trips must have been cancelled.
Here's the news story from the "People's Daily":

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200112/03/eng20011203_85873.shtml

I also found a cruise company who give frank warnings about the
possibility of trips running into difficulty.
"We have been asked to advise you of the possibility of low water
levels on the Yangtze at the beginning and end of the cruising season
(March and November) affecting the ports of Chongqing and Wuhan."

http://www.cruisingholidays.co.uk/renaissance/yangtze/splendour.htm

Now the good news. If you want to try for a cruise through the Three
Gorges at the end of November there are a few possibilities.
'Victoria Cruises' and 'Yangtze Cruises' seem to be the two main
operators offering short (mostly three day) trips along this section
of river. They both stop after the first couple of days of December.


CHONGQING to WUHAN

'Victoria Cruises' have trips planned starting on all the days you
mention including one that exactly fits the 25th.-28th. window.  You
can book them via 'Yangtze River Tours' (not the same as 'Yangtze
Cruises'):

http://www.yangtzerivertour.com/cruise_ships/victoria/victoria_sa_cw.htm

They're also offered by:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cruise_ship/victoria/c_w_date_2002b.htm

'Yangtze Cruises' offer a trip on the MV Yellow Crane scheduled to
travel from Chongqing to Wuhan on November 27 this year. (There's
another sailing on that route on November 30.)

http://www.yangtze.com/ships/pii/yc_schd2002.html


CHONGQING to YICHANG

If you would consider going from Chongqing just as far as Yichang, a
trip also going through the Three Gorges, 'Yangtze Cruises' have
sailings on the Pinghu on the 26th and the 28th.

http://www.yangtze.com/ships/pinghu/ph_schd.html

Just outside your time frame is another Chongquing to Yichang trip on
the 24th.

http://www.yangtze.com/ships/qianlong/ql_schd.html


OTHER INFORMATION

'Yangtze Cruises' offer plenty of information and pictures of the
fantastic scenery. Start on this page and follow the links:

http://www.yangtze.com/gallery/briefing/ytzcruise.html

And you can get information on the actual ships by following the links
at the bottom of this page:

http://www.yangtze.com/schedules/nov01_schd.html

Their contact information is at:

http://www.yangtze.com/aboutus/aboutus.html

Contact information for one of the agencies offering 'Victoria
Cruises' plus a map is at:

http://www.yangtzerivertour.com/


I guess you know about the drastic changes due in June 2003 with the
next phase of the dam project. If not, check:

://www.google.co.uk/search?q=dam+three+gorges&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Here's a comforting point of view from the China Internet Information
Center:

http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/36222.htm


I do hope you manage to see the Three Gorges. Please feel free to ask
if anything needs clarification.

Regards - Leli


You can request official tourist information on China from any of
these addresses:

People's Republic of China
China National Tourism Administration
Department of Marketing and Promotion
9A Jianguomennei Avenue
Beijing 100740
People's Republic of China
Tel: +86-10-65201114
Fax: +86-10-65122096

United Kingdom
China National Tourist Office
4 Glentworth Street
London
NW1 5PG
Tel: +44-171-9359787
Fax: +44-171-4875842

United States
China National Tourist Office
Suite 6413
350 Fifth Avenue
New York
NY 10118
Tel: +1-212-7609700
Fax: +1-212-7608809

source:

http://www.whereintheworld.co.uk/level3_pages/China_Yantze/d_china.htm

Searches:

://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22river+conditions%22+OR+%22low+water%22+yangtze+november&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

://www.google.co.uk/search?q=+%22three+gorges%22+cruise+OR+boat+november&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

Thank you for the prompt answer. These links give me some good leads.