The cruise ship Three Gorges 8 conducted sea trials between Nov 16 and 18, marking the beginning of the post-closure era of the Three Gorges tourism industry in Hubei province.

The post-closure era refers to the period after the Three Gorges Dam was built across the Yangtze River, and more than 100 travel agencies from across the country were invited to witness the event.

The new cruise route will be formally launched on March 28 next year.

The ship, manufactured by Yichang Transportation Group at a cost of $40 million, measures 87 meters long and 14.4 meters wide, with a capacity of 1,000 passengers. It boasts excellent hardware facilities and supporting services.

Feng Jiantao, general manager of the group’s tourist transport department, said that the new cruise route involves a new Three Gorges tourism brand for the area’s natural and cultural landscape. And the group hopes to offer visitors the chance to view the Gezhou Dam, Three Gorges Dam and Xiling Gorge, in one single trip.

The trip will take two days, starting at Yichang city or Fengjie county, with stops in the counties of Padang and Wushan counties. Visitors can head to their destination on the ship and return by bus, or vice versa.

They can also choose from several itineraries, including one involving the Three Gorges and Shennongjia forestry region, another one with a stop in Chongqing, and a third itinerary which will offer visitors the chance to see both the Three Gorges and the Enshi Great Canyon.

The sea trials were sponsored by the Yichang city tourism bureau, Enshi (city) tourism committee, Shennongjia tourism committee, Fengjie county tourism bureau, Wushan county tourism bureau, Badong county tourism bureau and Zigui county tourism bureau, and they were organized by the Hubei Yichang Shipping Group, with the support of Chongqing Yangtze River Three Gorges Tourism Development Ltd and Yangtze River Three Gorges Tourism Development Ltd.

Edited by Niva Whyman