Much thanks for the input. It gives as food for thought.

First of all you are all very right, no kids and we do not want to do the typical Beijing Xian Shanghai thing. Thus after much research we really want to try this cruise from Chong Xing down to Yi Chang. With the Three Gorge Hydro Electric Project as its climax.

We wanted to use Chengdu as our base but it sounds like it is a long and uncomfortable(?) bus ride to get to each location.

Further question, is there an airplane that goes from Beijing to Chong Xing directly so we can bypass Chengdu?

Then after the cruise is over, it finishes at Yi Chang. What is Yi Chang like? Is there a way to get to Chengdu? or Hong Kong? Beijing?

We are aware that Chong Xing is big enough to have a JW Marriott then it should be a pretty big city but from the looks of it, Yi Chang looks like its in the middle of nowhere.