Chongqing, Yangtze, Wuhan

[abcdefg]

I’m flying up to Chongqing (from Kunming) on Sunday. Plan to spend a couple days in the city itself, then go west to see the Dazu Rock Carvings 大足石刻, probably staying in Dazu overnight.

Will then head back to Chongqing at least for the night and may stay one or two days longer. Additional time in Chongqing is contingent on being able to breathe; my lungs are not the best and I’m concerned about the notoriously bad air there.

Plan to next head down the Yangtze River 长江 as far as Yichang 宜昌。Would prefer the faster hydrofoil to a cruise ship that takes three days. I don't much like cruise ship ambience. From Yichang will take a land route day trip back to see more of the Three Gorges Dam 三峡大坝。

Moving on from Yichang, plan to take the bus on to Wuhan, spend a day or two there, and fly back to Kunming. Total trip time being 10 days to two weeks.

I’ve researched the usual sources, but would welcome ideas on this itinerary; things to see and do along the way.

[paike]

Great choice with Dazu. I've traveled almost everywhere in China. (Six 50-60 day trips) Dazu is either the best or second best place I've been and the weather was not great. The city you take the bus from to get there was really nothing to speak up, so make you have a book (I travel alone mostly).

I really didnt care for Chongqing. My crazy suggestion is, so west from Dazu to Eastern Sichuan. Not sure where you need to end up at.

I LOVED Zigong (salt mine, amazing dinosaur museum, just a great interesting city) and Yibin is great and has a HUGE bamboo forest park and hiking area which I did with a Chinese group through the bus station. Paid some free 80 yuan maybe and the guy took us around. Also heard good things about Neijiang. Check it out on thorn tree.

Also east of there, is Luzhou which is terrible, but next to that is Chishui and near there is incredible park/forest that you can walk through. Lots of tough bus rides as travelers, almost no western travelers, but cool.

My suggestion. =)

[abcdefg]

I really didnt care for Chongqing. My crazy suggestion is, so west from Dazu to Eastern Sichuan. Not sure where you need to end up at.

Appreciate your endorsement of Dazu, @Paike. Lots of my Chinese friends are not familiar with it. Was one day in the Dazu area enough or did you need to stay overnight?

I'm interested in Chongqing and Wuhan from a military/political history perspective as well as just for the usual tourist sights and scenery.

Zigong, Yibin, and the Chisui Forest sound very interesting, but I'm going to have to save them for another trip, most likely one that ends in Chengdu instead of in Wuhan.

Thanks again.

[paike]

Yeah, give it two days. There is more than just the main Dazu Grotto, go to the others, as there are a few other Grottos nearby. I did not get a chance to go but a friend of mine went and he said they were great too, with less people.

The ticket prices add up, but really it wont be more than a few hundred yuan total, i think. Dazu is in such a weird location that see it all now, you won't go back.

[sleepy eyes]

I should have more to say as I'm living in Chongqing, but alas, all that occurs to me right now is that the hotsprings here are great. Particularly the fancy ones in districts like 北碚. Also, several chinese tourists like to go on pilgrimages to 南岸 after 泉水鸡 but I have never tried it. Obviously, you shouldn`t miss the hotpots as well.

[abcdefg]

...all that occurs to me right now is that the hotsprings here are great. Particularly the fancy ones in districts like 北碚.

@ Sleepy Eyes, I like hot springs, so thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like they would be a good place to relax and unwind. And of course I would never dream of missing Chongqing hotpot.

Yeah, give it two days.

@ Paike, will do. I would prefer to spend the night at Dazu City and have plenty of time to poke around all the grottos once I'm there instead of being rushed and only getting to see a few. Appreciate the tip. Sounds like a hidden gem of a place.