THE Yangtze River has it all - jaw-dropping Three Gorges, old-time boatmen, hanging coffins and the Ghost City - and visitors can explore it all on luxury cruises. Hu Min weighs anchor.

Once upon a time, boats on the Yangtze River simply ferried people and produce from one point to another. But today luxury cruise tours are very popular on Asia's longest river where visitors can take in the spectacular scenery of the Three Gorges area.

Sun decks with lounges and armchairs beckon those who want to appreciate awe-inspiring views and cultural sites, including the famous hanging cliff coffins.

There are also many activities for those who aren't spellbound watching the cliffs and river. Visitors can practice tai chi, learn about the tea ceremony, brush painting and calligraphy, listen to Chinese folk music, get a massage and taste dishes from around the world. They can learn how to carve wood and play Mahjong as well.

The Yangtze cruise liners are like floating luxury hotels where the cruise experience itself is appealing.

The highlight, of course, is the Three Gorges area containing the world's largest hydroelectric dam, one of the man-made wonders of the modern world.

China's inland river cruise tourism, notably on the Three Gorges area between Chongqing Municipality and Yichang, Hubei Province of the 6,000-kilometer-long Yangtze River, has developed rapidly, attracting foreign tourists, families with children, as well as seniors.

According to Chongqing shipping authority, there are 19 cruise companies operating on the route with 109 cruises, including 52 luxury liners from 11 companies. The luxury liners include 18 five-star cruises and 22 with four-stars.

In Chongqing, there are six companies operating 21 luxury cruises, with a combined capacity of 5,564 passengers. There are other eight companies operating 53 economy cruises with a combined capacity of 22,000 passengers.

Last September, China's largest inland river top-class luxury cruise Yangtze River No. 2 made its maiden voyage on the Three Gorges region. The six-deck vessel can carry 462 passengers.

In 2011, there were around 430,000 passengers, almost 30 percent higher than in the previous year. Industry experts predict 20 percent annual increases for years to come.

Most five-star cruises cost 2,000-3,000 yuan (US$313.76-470.63) per person for a standard room.

The cruise along the Three Gorges area takes four days downstream from Chongqing to Yichang and five days upstream. The cost for the downstream trip is slightly cheaper than the upstream voyage as the shorter trip is usually more popular.

"The Yangtze River cruise industry is already mature and is highly competitive," said Lesley Yu, director of sales and marketing with MS Yangtze Explorer, a major luxury cruise line.

Vessels accommodating around 125 passengers operate between March and November on five-day cruises beginning in Yichang and docking in Chongqing. One-third of the berths are reserved for overseas passengers. As early as February, all of those berths for 2013 were booked, Yu says.

The peak travel months are May, September and October, not the brutally hot summer which is also the high tide season. Those months are booked years in advance for the MS Yangtze Explorer. But summer remains popular with families with children on vacation.

During the peak season foreign tourists, mostly Europeans and Americans, account for more than 70 percent of the passengers on MS Yangtze Explorer. Many Chinese still think the price is too high but the number of Chinese travelers is increasing.

In October, the premium Celestial suite costs 33,290 yuan a person.

The Yangtze Gorges Princess International Travel Service Co operates around 20 cruises, mainly middle- and high-end. There are more Chinese passengers in summer, while foreign travelers prefer the autumn, when it's cooler and the foliage begins to turn.

A staff member said the cruises are popular with many senior citizens who want a leisurely, flexible vacation. Companies sometimes hire a vessel for employees.

Government incentives and numerous historic and cultural heritage sites along the way make the Yangtze cruises a big draw.

In the 1980s and 90s, most vessels were small and medium-sized ferries with small rooms, shared toilets and uninspiring food. Many people took their own food along and voyages were crowded and noisy.

In 2004, a tourism blueprint for the Three Gorges region was launched. In 2008 the Chongqing government said it planned to invest 10 billion yuan in 10 years to turn the region into a prime tourism destination. It provided subsidies for companies to build or renovate five-star vessels and facilitated commercial lending. A company could receive 5.4 million yuan to build a new, five-star liner and 2.7 million yuan to renovate an old one.

The Yangtze River flows for more than 6,000 kilometers from glaciers of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Qinghai Province eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea in Shanghai. Human activity was found in the area as long as 27,000 years ago.

Around 85 scenic spots are scattered along the banks and cliffs, including more than 30 nationally ranked top spots.

The journey offers a chance to explore mysterious and historic spots.

Attractions

Among the most famous attractions are the hanging cliff coffins (xuanguan) attached to sheer cliffs and mountains more than 100 meters above the river.

Ancient cliff inscriptions and paintings are visible in some areas.

Fengdu, around 170km downstream from Chongqing, is known as the city of ghosts where the souls of everyone throughout history gather after death. It is built to depict the netherworld with temples such as Hall of Retribution and many carvings of ghosts and demons.

Drifting in the Shennong Stream in Hubei Province, visitors can see cave coffins, aqueous caves and rainbow-colored fountains.

Cruise operators will organize short sightseeing trips for passengers to the heritage sites along the river.

Tourists can book from local travel agencies packages with cruise tickets and transport to and from Shanghai either by train or air. Visitors can also book cruises only and arrange for private trips around Chongqing or Yichang before or after the voyage.

In Chongqing visitors can tour historic sites and visit nearby Ciqikou ancient town and the Dazu Buddhist Grottoes in Dazu County.

The area contains around 60,000 statues in scattered locations, the finest containing gems of religious art on par with those in the Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province and the Dunhuang Grottoes in Gansu Province.

From Yichang, people can take a two-day hike in Shennongjia, the primitive forest where the so-called Yeti or Big Foot has reportedly been sighted.