Chongqing Traffic and Tourism Investment Group said it has started building the first of 10 luxury inland cruise ships in a project that will cost Rmb2bn. Each vessel will be twice as expensive as the most luxurious cruise ships currently sailing on the Yangtze River, and considerably bigger.

Gong Li, a manager of the group, said that the Yangtze should become the most luxurious inland tourist line.

Chongqing Evening News reported that the first ship would be deployed in May 2011. It will be 136 metres long, 19.6 metres wide and will have six floors.

In addition to the Three Gorges cruise tour, a new service will be launched from Chongqing to Shanghai once the new vessels are operational.