Men fished the banks with pole-mounted nets. Farmers worked fields while children tended goats. Boaters rowed sampans into the nearby current to gather floating firewood. I sat on deck and watched this mosaic of life slowly unfold. This was the China I came to see.
Early spring brings uncrowded conditions, cooler temperatures and even a chance of snow.
Late April through June is the busiest season with the best weather. July and August are hot and steamy, with a chance of flooding. Temperatures taper through September and October. In November, blossoming orange trees splash the gorges with colour. Victoria Cruises is one of the few companies to run the full Yangtze between Shanghai and Chongqing.