I am one of 7 siblings; all born after 2003 and Chinese by birth, luxury by choice. We are Century Cruises and we are the youngest fleet on the Yangtze River —— the youngest and most glamorous! We all have grand atriums and when you check in you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were in a 5 star hotel in the capital city rather than on a river cruiser! We all have lifts too so you don’t have to climb up to our observation decks which offer unparalleled 360 degree views as they are almost on the same level as the Gorges you are passing through. There is plenty of space in our sumptuous cabins, 28sq/m to be more precise, plus the balcony which extends all along the outside, allowing you to admire the ‘lifeline’ of China. Even our beds are extra-long, 2 metres long and 0.9 metres wide, and provided with soft smooth cotton linen.

Whatever cruise you choose, the Classic ones —— 4 days downstream from Chongqing to Yichang or 5 days upstream from Yichang to Chongqing or the Yangtze Panorama, 10 days from Chongqing to Shanghai —— all offer a programme of daily excursions to bring China and Chinese history closer to you. We take you the famous red pagoda or better known Shibaozhai Temple, on a small hill 200 metres up on a bank of the Yangtze, and tell you the tale of the Duck and Rice Well. We explore one of the Yangtze’s tributaries, the picturesque Shennong Stream, by small boats and learn about the local tribes who still try to preserve their unique way of life. No visit to the Yangtze is complete without admiring the largest and most dramatically-situated hydroelectric power station in the world, the Three Gorges Dam!

Back on board you may engross yourself in learning the ancient relaxation technique Tai Chi, or the smart moves of Mahjong. In the evening you may decide to join us on the dancefloor and dance the night away. The management of our ships is entrusted to an experienced hospitality management team, and all onboard information is given daily. The food, the glorious food, is prepared by chefs with the highest possible standards and washed with purified drinkable water. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are western-style buffets where art and food are so magically combined that you may feel guilty for destroying a beautifully arranged plate of food.

Enjoy one of the world’s greatest journeys —— a magnificent 10-night river cruise on the Yangtze from Chongqing to Shanghai abroad Century Paragon from the 22nd November to 1st December 2016. We have limited availability but a big hearty welcome aboard! Additionally we will have special winter itineraries in Shanghai between December, 2016 and early March 2017. And the Classic 3-night and 4-night cruises are available throughout the year, even in winter. Century Cruises can be booked through Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Saga Holidays,Titan Travel, Kuoni, VJV, Riviera Travel, Great Rail Journey plus other Tour Operators and professional Travel Agents who specialize in travel to China.