Expert: Tom Carter ~ Travel China Expert - 8/13/2008

Question
Hi, What is the best way forward to start planning for Yangtse River cruise (Travel I should say) like the locals do.  Big liners not an option for cost reason and not being in touch with real everyday life of river fareres.  For 10 to 15 days journey stopping at nights on the cities or towns with budget hotels on the way?
Any feed back will be much appreciated.

Answer
Hi Balk,
This is one of those extremely rare occasions where I am going to have to suggest that you sign up with a travel agency to get the most bang for your Yangtze buck.
A Yangtze river cruise is a complex trip to arrange depending on your ultimate destination and the number of stops along the way.
The most traditional journey is from Chongqing to Shanghai. I myself took a 4-day roundtrip from Yichang (Hubei) to Fengjie and back, stopping at a few towns en route, which was more than enough river for me.
It sounds like you want to hop off at leisure, chill out in some villages, then proceed to the next stop. That is the ideal trip, however unless you charter a private ferry, I honestly do not know if it is possible, considering the structured nature of the Yangtze tourism bureau and the sheer number of tourists who will be visiting said destinatin this summer and fall.
Hence, your best bet is to consult with as many travel agencies in Chongqing and in Shanghai as possible until you find one that specializes in custom tours and/or has open-ended tickets.
No matter what, be sure to pay a visit to the boat trackers (pullers) near the Gorge; arguably the highlight of the entire journey.
Good luck and have fun!
Tom Carter
http://www.tomcarter.org
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