Chongqing and the Yangtze River in Sichuan and Chongqing

Some call the Yangtze China's dragon river, with its tail at Chongqing and mouth at Shanghai. The Yangtze is one of the richest rivers in terms of sites and the Three Gorges Damn is its signature draw.

If you're touring of this legendary river, you'll definitely spend some time in Chongqing. Some advice—take your time here. There are more than 30 million people in the Chongqing area and the city is ablaze with neon. For those interested in seeing a working river port, visit the Chaotianmen Docks. Historians will relish the U.S. Chiang Kai-shek Criminal Acts Exhibition Hall and SACO Prison.

Chongqing is brimming with a thriving food scene, teahouses, bookshops, and clubs. The adjacent villages are nestled in rolling hills, so before parachuting in to seize the Yangtze by the horns, allow a few days of proper Chongqing trekking.

Leaving from Chongqing allows for lots of daytime sightseeing through Yichang, Shashi and Qutang, Wu and Xiling gorges. However, this trip moves fast and can be frustrating for shutterbugs. Make sure that the tour goes to the Shennong section of the dam. Its steep, foliage-laden hills are some of the most majestic in China.