ORC offers the ultimate in luxury when cruising on the Yangzi River, the world¡¯s third longest river (at 6,280km / 3,900miles) and the symbolic lifeline of China. The magnificent Three Gorges region frames a cruise that is unsurpassed in sheer physical beauty, with draws on over 3,000 years of cultural history. During the Three Kingdoms Period (260-280AD), the gorges played an important role in the course of China¡¯s history. Through World War II, the gorges provided protection against the onslaught of the Japanese invasion. In recent years, the Three Gorges have won international attention both for the majestic scenic beauty and the growing concern over the construction of the Three Gorges Dam Project ¨C the largest dam project ever attempted on Earth. Begun in 1992 and slated to be completed (and fully operational) in 2009, the dam ¨C a feat of engineering unprecedented in modern Chinese history ¨C is a great wall for the future.

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