Plan at a glance
Entrance and tickets
Tribe of the Three Gorges is in Shipai Village, Sandouping Town, Yiling District, and the visit starts at Wangjiaping Visitor Center. An adult package is about CNY 210 and normally combines admission, return attraction shuttles, and the return ferry. Confirm the eligibility of discounted tickets, admission exemptions, and transport tickets against the day's product.
Peak-season hours are about 08:00–17:30, with entry stopping after 15:30. Allow about 4–5 hours for the complete visit or 2–3 hours for a lighter plan, then add about 1.5 hours for the road from central Yichang to Wangjiaping. Avoid arriving at the visitor center late in the afternoon.
Who it suits
This attraction suits visitors interested in gorge streams, traditional village scenes, and Tujia cultural performances. Bawangzhai has more steps and slopes, while Longjin Creek is relatively level. If someone in your group cannot manage continuous climbing, prioritise the stream section, subject to that day's opening arrangement.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Longjin Creek
Longjin Creek is the stream-and-gorge section, with water, stilted houses, bridges, and boat views along the route. The path is relatively level, but water level, heavy rain, and maintenance may change the open area. Any access to the water's edge follows the current safety boundary.
Bawangzhai
Bawangzhai presents scenes associated with Ba life and includes Bawang Gong (霸王宫), the Chayan Gudao (茶盐古道), and mountain viewpoints. It has more climbing and steps than Longjin Creek, so it suits visitors with more energy and an interest in history and folk culture. The cable car can reduce the uphill walk, but it does not remove walking on the descent or elsewhere in the attraction.
Folk performances
The Hunjia Lou (婚嫁楼) may host a kujia (哭嫁) performance or a ball-tossing activity, while Bawangzhai Square may also have Tujia singing, dance, and folk acrobatics. Check the day's programme for the actual performance, title, and time; the schedule changes by date.
For another road-and-river gorge option, see Xiling Gorge Scenic Area.
Build your day
Classic complete route
Take the attraction shuttle from Wangjiaping Visitor Center to Hujintan Pier and cross the river by ferry. After landing, choose the cable car or walk to Bawangzhai, visit Bawang Gong (霸王宫) and the Chayan Gudao (茶盐古道), and see any performances scheduled that day. Descend to Longjin Creek for the stream path, then take the ferry from Dangyangtou Pier back and transfer to the shuttle for Wangjiaping. The full route takes about 4–5 hours.
Light stream-and-scenery route
Take the shuttle and ferry from Wangjiaping to the attraction, then go directly to Longjin Creek. Follow the stream path and return along the open route; if the other end is open, consider continuing toward Bawangzhai. Allow about 2–3 hours. If Longjin Creek is closed that day, use another open area instead.
Choosing the facilities
For the uphill section, choose between the cable car and walking; the cable car is about CNY 30 one way. The escalator is a separate short-distance facility and should not be treated as the same transport as the cable car. The attraction shuttle connects the visitor center and piers, while the ferry crosses the river; check their functions and charges separately in the order or on site.
Get there
Direct bus and city departure
From central Yichang, take a direct attraction bus from the Three Gorges Visitor Center or near Yichang East Railway Station to Wangjiaping. The journey takes about 1.5 hours and costs about CNY 20 one way. You can also combine a city bus from the Yiling Square direction with a taxi; waiting time for the combination is additional.
Driving to Wangjiaping
Navigate directly to “Tribe of the Three Gorges Wangjiaping Visitor Center.” Parking is usually free, but the charge and available spaces follow the day's arrangement. The parking area is not the attraction entrance; after arriving, follow the shuttle, pier, and ferry process into the attraction.
Know before you go
Opening and temporary closures
Longjin Creek may be affected by heavy rain, water level, or maintenance, and some areas may change temporarily. Check the day's announcement or call ahead to confirm the open range, then follow the on-site route after entering.
Energy, weather, and safety
Bawangzhai has many slopes and steps, and summer heat increases the effort. Longjin Creek is relatively level but can be slippery after rain. The open boundaries around railings, piers, and the stream take priority over a photography position; follow the instructions when approaching the water or boarding the ferry.
Documents, food, and combinations
Ticket and concession rules may change. Overseas visitors should carry the original passport and confirm the real-name process in advance. Food and group-meal options are available inside the attraction; opening and package details follow the day. The dam lies in a different direction, so a same-day combination requires separate road-time and energy planning rather than treating the two as automatic half-day stops.