Boat travel on the mighty Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River is a major waterway for transporting both people and goods.

One of the popular boat trips you can do is the Three Gorges cruise.

Cruise ships leave Chongqing on a three day trip down the Yangtze and the Three Gorges.

The main reason why many tourists go to Chongqing is to do the River Yangtze cruise.

The ships cruising on the Yangtze River range in comfort and price.

Five star boats (the most expensive) are luxurious and very comfortable.

Four star and three star are less comfortable but less costly of course.

Accommodation is often geared towards sharing a cabin - if travelling alone you may have difficulty getting a single cabin - though some are available.

You can travel even further from Chongqing - right down to Shanghai by boat.

The Three Gorges Dam will mean the river level will rise much higher. Even larger ships will be able to sail right up to Chongqing.

Ferries and hydrofoils operate at various points along the Yangtze River to provide local transport.

I caught the hydrofoil in the picture at Fengjie which is on the Yangtze River.

It was fast and efficient but also quite crowded.

It is the easiest way for the locals to move between places on the Yangtze.

You probably will need a guide to organise it - no English spoken at all.

Travelling by boat on the Yangtze River is a great way to see a different view of Sichuan and Chongqing.

The river communities have a great and long history on the mighty Yangtze - one of the longest rivers in the world.