Now almost everybody knows that, before July 1, 2003, all cruise ships would sail above
the dam between Chongqing and Maoping - a place never heard of even by many China cruise
professionals.
On Nov. 25, 2002, to give our clients and web visitors a first hand information, this
webmaster went there with a driver, without bothering local tour operators or cruise
lines, and spent 2 days in Yichang and Maoping, experiencing the trip from Yichang to the
Three Gorges Dam, then to Maoping.
We started from Yichang city. An friend from a local cruise line told us on the phone
that we only needed a permit from the Three Gorges Dam. When we drove to the check point
(also offering travel service), which is at the project's exclusive highway, we were told
that the permit from the project was not enough. We needed another permit from the big dam
to Maoping.
My driver called a local bus driver who knows the business. We paid him 300 yuan
(around US$40) to rent a car with both permits. Then we were finally on our way. The
driver told us that, the permit to Maoping is issued by the Maoping town government. In
Yichang city, even in the Hubei Province, only a few bus companies have obtained this kind
of permit. Private cars like ours could never get a temporary permit.
It took around 30 minutes on the 2-lane exclusive highway to arrive in the dam area. We
checked the Three Gorges Project Hotel there (many cruise ships will make connections here
with local land travel agencies), and then cross the river through the Xiling Bridge. This
is the way going to the Yangjiawan Port, which was used for visiting the Three Gorges
Project. The Yangjiawan port is right besides the north end of the bridge, but we did not
turn left, but turn right for Maoping. Passing another check point, we are on our 2 lane
road to Maoping. Sudden turns and narrow road really surprised me. Imagine 100 buses per
day on the road in April and May! Later when I returned to Yichang city, people told me
that this road is just temporary. A new road was being built along the north bank of the
river all the way to Maoping. The new road should open by April 1, 2003.
Passing through the newly relocated Zigui County seat on top of the mountain by the
river, along the winding road up and down, we came to a flat land in the middle of a
mountain, the driver announce: this is Maoping - the word everybody is talking about
nowadays. It is almost another 30 minutes trip from the dam area.
What I saw is a newly developing land, with temporary houses and tent. Maybe just
because it is the low season, I did not see a foreign visitor. Ships are at the
port, and some are anchored quietly in the middle of the river. I did not count, but I am
sure there are over 20 ships there, large and small. I thought of Pearl Harbor before
W.W.II.
Maoping is not a real town, and the port is actually very small. It is a newly opened
port. Before my trip, a cruise line executive told me that there are only 3 piers for
cruise ships, others are for local ferry boat and cargo ships. From here, you can see the
huge dam in the mist. By the bank, there is a row of low building for ticketing, police,
etc. Not to mention hotels, or decent restaurants. One good news: the roadside shops sell
bottled water.
The parking lot and road are paved. But due to much naked land around, it could be
muddy everywhere in raining days.
I took some pictures around, and decided to leave. There are not much to see or to take
for my camera. It is a port, a temporary port. I thought.
On my way back to the US, I discussed with a tour operator, they warned me more:
transfer and luggage could be a potential big problem.
From July 1, 2003, all the cruise ships are scheduled back to normal. I hope we will
pass the temporary period smoothly.
