May 1 - 7 is a MAJOR public holdiay week in China, virtually the entire country has that week off; as they do in Japan as well. Trains, planes and hotels can be very crowded, as can places like the Forbidden City. I personally would NOT travel in or to the PRC during that week, esp by train. Can you reschedule for another time?

We actualy have absolutely NO flexibility on dates... with our advice, wish we did!giventhat, are we locked into a tour to assure transportation?

You don't have to have a tour, but you do have to have reservations. Two years ago I traveled during the National Day holiday, when it seems the whole country travels, but with reservations I did fine. Just be aware that popular places will be full of Chinese tourists.

The cruise will take 3-4 days. Time it for around May 1-4. You won't feel the crowd on the boat.

Tried to do some "homework" since posting last night. First, have read now that one can only make soft sleeper reservations 20 days in advance. Is there some secret (like paying someone local) that can make more certain that we get these.

Current thinking on Itinerary

4/22-24 SIghseeing, Beijing
4/24-26 Meetings
4/27- Overnight train to Xi’an
4/28- arr 8 am.Sightseeing
4/29- sightseeing Xian
Overnight train to Chongqing
4/30- Chingqing, board cruise ship
5/1- 6 Cruise, arrive Shanghai
Quick sightseeing
Flight Shanghai- homebound

Does this make any sense? Is there a train Yiching-Shanghai to spend less gimeon the ship?
Can someone comeupwith a better way to do things without flying?

Thanks
Seve

You can fly out of Yichang to Shanghai (or bus from Yichang to Wuhan, then fly from there). Trains routes east from Hubei Province out to Shanghai are slow, so plane is the best way to do it.

Little to see after Yichang, so definitely don't do a cruise to Shanghai.