Yichang
Travel Guide
This Yichang Travel Guide will help you plan your time in this vibrant and growing city; gateway to the magnificent Three Gorges and Yangzte River.
This was our final stop during our Yangtze river tour and is worth spending a day or so to explore.
Accommodation
Budget: ¥50 – ¥90 for dorm beds, ¥70 – ¥110 for private rooms.
Midrange: Spacious rooms available ¥150 – ¥250.
Luxury: ¥450+ for international chain 5 star hotels.
Transport: Local buses cost ¥1 and most journeys around the city cost under ¥15 in a taxi.
Average cost of food:
Similar to the rest of China, food is inexpensive if you eat from local restaurants.
Street food and noodle dishes start around ¥15 with good sit down restaurants charging ¥30 – ¥70 per head.
Food at nicer chain restaurants or western restaurants will cost upwards of ¥250.
Most hotels offer delicious room service or on-site restaurants at affordable prices – dishes tend at start at ¥40.
Cost of Travel in China full guide
The best time to visit Yichang is from March to September. March to May is warm and visiting the the Yangtze River at this time is ideal; cruises are cheaper and you will only need a light jacket in the evenings.
Summer is a good time to visit too but cruises are more expensive here, so book in advance for better prices.
Yichang is a stopover city, so many tourists come through Yichang after their cruise, before moving on to the next destination. Generally, you will find tourists stay for one night so it is very rarely busy and crowded.
Whilst planning your trip, you also need to avoid the Chinese national holidays – Golden Week runs during the first week of October and Chinese New Year lands around February, with a handful of long weekends throughout the year.
Budget:
The GeenTree Inn hotels around the city are a great choice for budget travellers. GreenTree Inn Yichang Wanda Binjiang is a good location, with rooms starting at ¥104.
Midrange:
Yichang Three Gorges Dongshan Hotel is a highly rated hotel with spacious rooms starting at just ¥248.
Top End:
The Ramada Yichang Hotel is a top end hotel at an affordable price, with rooms starting at ¥450, we splurged on this comfy and fabulous hotel; which was just a short walk to a selection of restaurants and bars as well as the children’s park of Yichang.
Holiday Inn Express Yichang Riverside is another luxerious hotel to stay in; they often have great deals and cheaper rates during the low season. You can get rooms from as low at ¥300 but average prices are around ¥430.
China is a relatively cheap place to visit in the world but there are still ways that you can save even more money in the country, allowing you to travel for longer.
- Eat locally – Stick to the local food in China; this is the best way to save money in all areas of the country. If you are wanting International food, use the hostels and hotels rather than the western restaurants; you will get better quality and reasonable prices.
- Don’t tip – it is not expected in China.
- Avoid the western chains – whether you fancy a coffee or Salad, opt for a local or Chinese brand over a global chain such as Starbucks.
- Travel in the off-peak – travelling outside of the summer months will see cheaper hotel prices and cheaper Yangtze River Cruises.
- Book Independently – When booking your Yangtze River Cruise, use China Highlights to book your trip independently and get the best deal. You can book with a Western tour agency but these prices are inflated.
- Use Didi – there are some great attractions in and around Yichang but we recommend using Didi or hiring a driver for the day. This isn’t the cheapest option but it means you can get what you want to see within a day or two. Alternatively, you can use the shuttle buses between the scenic spots but these aren’t too frequent.
- Book online – Scenic spots around the Three Gorges are limited and can be booked in advance online We recommend booking tickets online to save money, save time and guarantee entrance.
Best things to do in Yichang
Three Gorges and Yangtze River Cruise
Three Gorges Dam
Chinese Sturgeon Museum
Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall
Gezhouba Dam
Sanyou Cave
Gaolan Scenic Area
Former Residence of Wang Zhaojun
Jiuwan Stream
Yiling Changjiang River Bridge
BaiGuoShu Waterfall
Sanxia Flavor Garden
Sanxia Qishi Village
Huangling Temple
Fly – Yichang’s Three Gorges Airport takes daily flights from Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Xi’an and Shanghai. The airport shuttle bus runs to Qingjiang building for ¥20, taking 50 minutes. If you wish to take a taxi or private driver it is advised you contact your hotel for a driver before landing in Yichang, as this is a small and quiet airport with very little opportunities to get a taxi from. A taxi from airport to Yichang centre will cost between ¥60 – ¥90.
Bus – There are a few long-distance buses that stop at Yichang and all are modern and well run.
Train – Yichang’s East Train station hosts various trains to the major cities of China, however these are all standard trains with no high speed trains as of yet.
Boat – For many, Yichang will be accessed by boat, as a stop off or the final stop of many Yangtze river cruises. Well worth a visit, check out the different routes and boats available to witness the Three Gorges.
Buses or Taxis are the preferred means of transport.
Most taxi rides across the city will cost you under ¥15 whilst useful bus routes cost ¥1.
Bus 4 runs between the old ferry port and Yichang hotel or the long-distance bus station, bus 6 runs between the long-distance bus station and Beimen, whilst bus 9 runs between the East train station and long-distance bus station.
