Tribe of the Three Gorges

Take an additional optional excursion to the Tribe of the Three Gorges, where you will get immersive experience of the Three Gorges culture and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the original Xiling Gorge without any influence by the construction of Three Gorges Dam. Please be aware that this optional excursion is only available during a 4 nights Yangtze River cruise from Yichang to Chongqing.

Longjin Brook

Longjin Brook is one of the most charming scenic spots in the Tribe of the Three Gorges. There are many stilted houses by the river, built by local people, and many of them are Tujia ethnic minority group.

Along the Longjin Brook, there is the Brook-side Village, where you will find young girls washing clothes in a traditional way, and a girl in red holding a red umbrella standing in the front of wooden sailboat. While the scenery, with the green mountains covered by mist against the clear water, is like a beautiful landscape painting.

Village on the Water

The Village on the Water is part of Three Gorges Tribe scenic spot, located at the junction of Longjin Brook and Yangtze River. The boatmen performance provided here presents the working scene of fishing and other part of life along Yangtze River.

One of the most impressive parts would be the roaring of boatmen, which is called “Haozi” (号子) in Chinese as a unique form of folk art of the Three Gorges area. The “Haozi of Yangtze Boatmen” was listed in the performing arts of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China in 2008.

“Crying Marriage” Folk Show

Another highlight is the “Crying Marriage” Folk Show. The show is based on the wedding custom of local Tujia people. According to old stories, every bride had to cry at her wedding ceremony. Otherwise, she would become the laughingstock of the village and her neighbors would look down upon her family.

During the show, the beautiful “bride” will throw a wedding ball to the audience, and one lucky man who get the ball will be invited onto stage and he would be the “bridegroom”.