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I have enjoyed reading this post very much - Peter N_H, you have been extremely helpful. we have a list of priorities and are willing to go wherever our travels take us in our 3 weeks. All we need to worry about is making our return flight home. It's hard to get your head around this when travelling to some countries can be so rigid.

faridabobat

Sorry, i've been away a few days, so did not see all the helpful ideas given to me. So a very BIG thank you to ALL. Yes, my internationl flights are booked, but no bookins yet in China.
I will book Charms through Ctrip and once in Shanghai, i'll buy train ticket to Suzhou (3 days later-21 July). I want to go to Haining that same night to see Eclipse on 22. That is why I wanted to be sure about this bit. After this the trip can be flexible.Any more suggestions will be appreciated.
If I go to Yichang, will I manage to go to 3gorges dam with a taxi?

Cat12345

3 gorge dam, Sandouping is a restricted area.
From downtown Yichang to Sandouping is around one hour, plus or minus.
Only vehicles with special permit could get access to the area.
Visitors have to go through a security check point at the entrance of the area.
The best way to see 3 gorge dam is to sign up a tour from the tourist hotels in Yichang.
The price is around RMB150 for the half day 3 gorge dam tour.
I have the contact of one of the local tour operators,
Comfort Travel, Yichang.
Phone:86-0717-6240035
Fax:86-0717--6240037
Email: [email protected]

PeterN_H

> Only vehicles with special permit could get access to the area.

I've been there and back by public bus from Yichang. It's easy.

> The best way to see 3 gorge dam is to sign up a tour from the tourist hotels in Yichang.
The price is around RMB150 for the half day 3 gorge dam tour.

Possibly, but this is strung out by stopping at various viewpoints, and half a day is a lot more than is needed.

You can take the public bus and contract a tour on arrival if you feel you need it.

Peter N-H

Cat12345

I just don't want first timers bother with the hassles.

From Yichang to Sandouping by public bus:
Take route 4 or route 10 from Pier 3 in Yichang get off at Nite Pearl Circle station and switch for Route 8 to 3 gorge dam, Sandouping.
or take route 100 route 101 from Yiling new bus station in Yichang, get off at Nite Pearl Circle station and switch for Route 8 to 3 gorge dam, Sandouping.

Cat12345

They are local buses making many stop enroute.

Cat12345

They are local buses making many stops enroute.

Cat12345

>and half a day is a lot more than is needed.
I don't know what you're talking about!

Comfort Travel, Yichang has AM & PM tours.
AM half day tour:
Departs Yichang at 8:00 am
Returns to Yichang at 12:00noon
PM half day tour:
Departs Yichang at 2:00 pm
Returns to Yichang at 6:00 pm

"Contact for Comfort Travel" & "a typical day trip to see the Three Gorge Dam can be seen at my posts above".

faridabobat

Dear ALL thanks again for your inputs. I arrive in Yichang at 13:50 by flight. From airport I need to go to Three G dam. The buses mentioned are from Yichang ?city ,but what about from airport?
However I feel it might be easier to go with Comfort tour or can we manage to 'contract' a tour on arrival from airport, considering we will have luggage with us.Would it be better to pre-arrange pick up from airport if possible, then visit dam either with Comfort Travel or use a bus, but in this case (bus)we need to go to hotel first to leave our luggage.

faridabobat

Cat 12345 I can't seem to find "Contact for Comfort Travel" & "a typical day trip to see the Three Gorge Dam can be seen at my posts above". Pls help

Cat12345

faridabobat, here you go:

"Comfort Travel, Yichang.
Phone:86-0717-6240035
Fax:86-0717--6240037
Email: [email protected]"

There are other local tour operators running similar trips in Yichang.

"A typical day trip to see the Three Gorge Dam, Sandouping would be a 2-3 hour bus tour making two stops, one near the spill way, the other one on top of a mountain next to the shiplocks.
Bring umbrellas, the area is known for scattered showers."

It could be foggy also, 3 gorge area is the thunder storm center in China.

I will be happy to help if you need. Have fun!

Cat12345

Sun does exist in 3 gorge area.
Just don't be disappointed if the day you come is not a beautiful "rose garden" day.

faridabobat

Cat12345 thank you for all your help. I did email Comfort Travel, still awaiting reply. My problem is we will arrive in Yichang with luggage, so it will be more convinient to be picked at airport by a pre arranged car. Then we probably will have to go to dam first, with luggage, before checking in at hotel. I'm not sure about this though. I don't if we can go see dam if we check in at hotel first(will there be enough time, as arrival time of flight is 13:50).What do you suggest?

Cat12345

faridabobat,

You have to get your luggages upon arrival.
Most likely you have to spend overnite in Yichang and take the morning half day tour at 8:00 am departure.
I don't know which hotel you are going to stay in Yichang.
Perhaps you may want to ask your hotel to arrange a car with dam special permit to pick you up at the airport and have a private tour directly from Airport to the 3 gorge dam immediately upon arrival.
I'd never done it myself.
Bear in mind the Yichang flights usually arrive late.
You may also ask the same with the local tour operators.

From Yichang airport to downtown is about 30 minutes.

I have two more local operators running AM/PM half day 3 gorge dam tour in Yichang for your reference.

China Travel Service(International Department), Yichang
Address: Three Gorge Plaza, Block A,
52, Jie Fang Lu(Liberation Road), Room 1611
Postal Code 44300

Tel: 86-717-8356085 86-717-6908766
Cell: 86-13607203659 86-13972037548 (24 hr.) if not working try 86-717-136…..
MSN：[email protected]
QQ: 120275224 465692536


Yichang Holiday Tour
Address: Three Gorge Plaza, Block A,
52, Jie Fang Lu(Liberation Road), 15/F.,
Postal Code 44300
Tel: 86-717-6908319 86-717-6917239 (24 hours)
Fax: 86-717-6908939
MSN：[email protected]

Enjoy your trip!

Shanghainese

Did you check out Shanghai Charms Hotel on Tripadvisor? Surely Ctrip has nicer ones for the same price.

faridabobat

CAT12345 thanks again, esp, for other two references. I phoned Comfort Travel y'day and again this morning. A lady picks up phone, and when I ask to speak to someone in English, she just hangs up! I emailed them y'day morning 8am (GMT)but no response up to now.I'm not yet sure which hotel to stay in -I asked Ctrip for a 3star hotel and they suggested Ping Hu hotel 300 RMB without b/fast. Do you have any suggestions?
We leave next day by train at 13:00.
I'll now try to contact other two operators.
Shanghainese
I was told Charms has excellent location, but just recently I read there is a lot of construction going on around hotel, making it very noisy. So I am thinking of another one. Any ideas from you?
Thanks all.

Cat12345

faridabobat,

Sounds like you might need someone who speaks Mandarin to make the phone call and CONFIRM the details.
Local tour operators in Yichang deal mostly with
Chinese domestic market.
Try China Travel Service(International Department), Yichang, they should have good English speaking staff to answer.

Your train leaves the next day at 1:00 pm..
Looks like you are taking train #1473 departing Yichang at 1:07 pm arriving Zhangjiajie at 7:17 pm with 7 stops enroute.
You may want to place a request for private tour from either the hotel where you stay or from the local tour operator.
If you can leave the airport before 3:00 pm on the arrival day, you would still be able to make the tour in day light.
It doesn't get dark until after 6:30 pm in July.
Or the next morning, check out and leave hotel at 7:00 am, the tour should be done by around 11:00 am.
Yichang train station is located in the center of the city on Dong Shan Da Dao.
Ping Hu Hotel suggested by Ctrip is also located on the same street, Dong Shang Da Dao.
Please check the website below for a better rate(standard room RMB200 w/breakfast) at Ping Hu Hotel from 07/23-24.
http://english.sunnychina.com/hotel/hotelinfo/2482/

I always stayed in Taohualing hotel when I came to Yichang.
You may check and compare the rate and accommodations with the website below.
http://english.sunnychina.com/hotel/hotelinfo/598/

Have a great trip!

faridabobat

Cat12345 Thanks once again. I cotacted both tour operators by phone and email. They have same email address? I had same problem with Yichang Holiday Tour- no body speaks English and they just hang up. But I had good luck with with China Travel Service. I spoke to a lady called Sally, who could speak good English, and was very helpful. She said they could arrange pick up for me from airport, take us to the dam and then to the hotel. She suggested a newly opened hotel which is economical, and asked if we needed to be dropped at rail station next day. She will let me know cost after talking to her boss, but did mention that pick up will be 300 RMB, another 300 to dam and a guide will be 150. I don't know if we need a guide. Also do you think these prices are fair?
I looked at web sites of Ping Hu and Taohualing hotels.
The latter is Location:
To the airport: 20 Km
To the railway station:0.5Km
To the city center: 0 Km
and Ping hu
Location：
30km to the airport.
1.5km to the train station.
1km to the city centre.
So Taohualing hotel is nearer to rail and airport, and there is a difference of 100 RMB between the two. So I think I'll stay At Taohualing. Do you think if I contact them they could also arrange a pick up and your of dam.
I really appreciate your help, thanks

Cat12345

Yichang Holiday tour is an affiliate of China Travel Service.

I wouldn't take hotels suggested by tour people in China.
300 rmb to dam is good price, just figure 2 persons taking group tour would be around 300 rmb.

Skip the guide if possible, info about the 3 gorge dam can easily be downloaded from internet.
Chinese guides throughout China are just doing the same, get info from internet and read them out in the tour bus. Some may throw in a couple of unlaughable jokes.
The tour company would likely provide a small car w/dam permit for your tour. Less people would mean more rooms.

Contact Taohualing and see how much they charge for hotel pick up and the dam tour.

Best!

faridabobat

Cat12345 thanks. Will contact Taohualing, see what they say. I need to find their number. I just hope the flight from Hangzhou to Yichang is not delayed.