Stretching 3,195 miles from the glaciers of the Tibetan plateau to the East China Sea by Shanghai, the Yangtze River is Asia’s longest river, and the third-longest in the world. Winding its way through mountains, gorges and fertile plains, the Yangtze has played a pivotal role in the history, culture and economy of China, having been used for irrigation, sanitation and transportation for thousands of years. The Yangtze is perhaps best known for the dramatic stretch of river that passes through the Three Gorges, and more recently the controversy of the Three Gorges Dam, which transformed the river beyond recognition over recent years. Cruising the river lays out a fascinating glimpse of the country past and present – on the banks you’ll see huge industrial centres, natural splendour, old places of worship and agricultural land still tended by conical hatted farmers with teams of buffalo.