The Yangtze night cruise is one of the easy pleasures of a Wuhan visit. Tour boats leave from the Hankou Wuhan Pier near the riverfront most evenings between April and October. The route runs upstream past the Yellow Crane Tower, under the great Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, around to Hanyang, and back — about 90 minutes of lit-up skylines and the kind of slow, smooth river travel that big rivers reward.
Boats vary from converted ferries to substantial cruisers with dining and live entertainment. Pick the simpler boats for the better views. Tickets are sold at the pier and online via Ctrip; book the same day. The cruise is especially worth doing in summer when the Hankou waterfront is at its busiest.