The best way to enter the Lesser Three Gorges is to take a boat through the scenic river channel of the Lesser Three Gorges and take a boat up the river from the mouth of Dicui Gorge. This does not seem easy. However, it is very attractive for tourists with a spirit of exploration, because only through this trek can we truly find the tranquility away from the hustle and bustle.

The Lesser Three Gorges is located on the Madu River, a tributary of the Dicui Gorge of the Daning River. It is the general term for Changtan Gorge, Qinwang Gorge, and Sancheng Gorge. In terms of appearance and scenery, the water channel is narrower, the mountain is particularly steep, the canyon is deeper, and the water quality is purer. Boating through the entrance, along the way, there are many colorful peaks, mountains and rivers, beautiful scenery, continue to go deep into the canyon, the cliffs on both sides face each other, the river is narrow, showing the temptation of the unstoppable mountains.

“There are many beautiful legends here. In addition to the green mountains and the green water, there are caves on the cliffs along the way, and there are hanging coffins.” Speaking of the beautiful scenery here, the boatman’s face cannot help but exude inexplicable joy and pride.

The boat slowly drives along the river channel and in the villages in the distance. The villagers sing the bright folk songs and welcome the guests in the distance. The boatman also become interested, and responds to the villagers in the mountain with a passionate folk song. When you are accompanied by the singing of the song, the landscape along the way has become even more amazing. The primitive vegetation is everywhere, the emerald colors are everywhere, the bizarre stalactites are born everywhere, exuding the primitive and simple atmosphere, which is full of rich poetry and painting atmosphere, making people only have the fun of returning to nature and embracing nature.

The winding river, like a blue ribbon, surrounds the mountains along the coast. The mountains are like the loyal guards, waiting for the others. These originally unconnected scenes, come together to create the charming style of the Lesser Three Gorges.

Situated in the bank of Yangtze River, Shanghai has reached its prosperity and has grown into a developed city. The city is the most influential one in East China. It provides as the main economical, cultural, financial, international and technology centers. Being one of the biggest metropolises of the world, Shanghai is famous and attractive for its tourism places as well. Many travel destinations of Shanghai have attracted the visitors from all over the world. They enjoy the natural beauty of Shanghai while experiencing the development of Shanghai, China.

Shanghai city is known for its modern look, glamorous. It is unique for its perfect blend of tradition, culture with the modern western mixed oriental living. The skyscrapers and Old Shikumen adorn the sky of Shanghai. The way of living is distinctive. People of Shanghai are very welcome with the changes brought by Western cultures. Yet, it maintains the originality of their tradition and culture. This unique feature may differ Shanghai from other popular cities in the world.

The ultimate fascinating view of Shanghai can be seen by an extensive walk along the Yangtze River. Especially at the night time, bank of Yangtze River is just fascinating. A cruise along the Yangtze River is also possible to enjoy more the feeling of exquisite Shanghai. Boats are available. They normally depart from the Shiliupu Pier taking the passenger to the south of the Bund. The journey may take around three hours.

The glittering river water combined with the outstanding view of the unique and historical architectures along the way will be an unforgettable moment. Some architectures of Neo-Renaissance, French Baroque, Classic, and Art Noveau gives a historical feeling. Get closer to Shanghai and experience the spirit of locals by doing Tai Chi or play Chinese checker at any Shanghai park.

Fengdu Ghost City, located in the north band of the Yangtze River of the Fengdu County in the downstream of the Chongqing city, is a famous attraction along the Yangtze Rive because of its unique scenery and culture. It is also called “the Sequestered City” and ” the Amazing County for Chinese Songs”. It is famous for its various nether land architectures and appearance. There are much mysterious architecture that shows the nether world here including the Ancestral Temple, the Tianzi Hall, the Naihe Bridge, the Huangquan Road, the Wangxiang Plateform and the Hall of the Queen Yao.

Attracions of the Fengdu Ghost City are unique with plentiful and profound culture. There are key scenic spot areas here, the famous mountains of the historical sites in the Yangtze River spot area, the largest dynamic state places of the historical figures and cultural heritage of the ghosts in China, the national class forest park—the Shuanggui Mountain, the tomb sites with the largest scale and biggest number in China, the most excellent stone enervation of the ghost in the world, the most exciting and adventurous drifting and the Sidou Ping forest park with low height above the sea leaves featuring the charming scenery leaving you a relax able and enjoyable travel. Ghost towns temple fair, holding at 3rd March of the lunar calendar, offers you all kinds of custom parade shows, will shock you and make your trip at Fengdu Ghost City unforgettable.

Travel tips: 1) Ticket price: 55 RMB/ adult in the slack season from 1st November to the end of February, 80 RMB/ adult in the peak season from the 1st March to 31st October. 2) Opening time: 7:00 a.m. to 17:20 p.m. (stopping sell ticket after 16:00 p.m.). 3) Best time to visit: all the year round except the hottest days in summer as the climate in Fengdu is temperate. 4) Festival of Fengdu: Ghost towns temple fair holding at 3rd March of the lunar calendar.

Huangling Temple

The Huangling Temple, located in the Sandouping County of Yichang in the middle reaches of the Xiling Gorge with 7 kilometers away from the Three Gorge Dam site, is the only well-preserved ancient architectural site in honor of the Yu Emperor who had taken measure to deal with the water problem by opening up the river. Being built in about 2500 years ago and rebuilt for several times, the Huangling Temple is one of the most important historical heritages in the Three Gorge area and it has been listed as the key-protected attraction in the 25th, May 2006.

There are four main axes architecture buildings there: Shanmen building, Yu Emperor Hall, Quyuan Hall and Foye Hall. Around the Huangling Temple, there is s a veritable orange orchard, which makes it a special and beautiful scene in autumn. There are 36 large pillars supporting the temple and housing some old tablets and you will also find that each pillar was inscribed with many valuable hydrology datas of the Yangtze River area. Moreover, you can read the story of a flood submerging the temple four meters from the floor in the Huangling Temple.

Huangling Temple

When travelling there, you can see the Huangling Temple is magnificent and splendid because of its crimson walls and yellow roof. And there are 36 steps in total for you to climb before reaching the temple gate. It is a good place worthy your visit as the Huangling Temple plays an important role in preserving a plenty of the valuable hydrology trace and physical data about the changes of the water position in the Three Gorges area. This data has provided important hydrology proof for the construction of the Gezhou Dam Project and the Three Gorge Dam Project; in addiction, the Huangling Temple also plays and key role in the history of the archaeology in Yangtze River area.

Sanyou Cave, located in the sheer cliff at the northern part of Xiling Gorge with 7 kilometers west-north of Yichang city, is a famous attraction of the Hubei province, featuring the odd but beautiful scenery in the cave and attractive mountains and water, which make it possibly the best cave scenery in the Three Gorges area. It has been listed as one of the key-protected attractions in China in 25th, May 2006.

Sanyou Cave

With the depth 30 meters, width 23 meters and height 9 meters, the Sanyou Cave is a fantastic and steep place where winter is warm and summer cool and shows its shape like an irregular oblong. The Sanyou Cave is also called “Cave of the Three Travelers” as there were three famous ancient poets visiting there who are Baijuyi, Baixingjian and Yuanzhen. There were also other poets and officials visiting the Sanyou Cave yet and left inscriptions whose themes are almost the same—the praise of the majestic scenery in the cave, but the forms different because of the of the changes in Chinese language during the various eras and the differences in individual styles including Chinese regular script, clerical script, seal characters, running script, and cursive hand.

Sanyou Cave

What you can do in the cave include appreciate the cave itself, seeing the charming scenery, walking up the path from the cave to the Zhixin Pavilion, where you can have a birds’ eyes view of the astonishing scenery of the amazing Yangtze River twisting among the mountains. How unbelievable and unspeakable! It will undoubtedly be an enjoyable and unforgettable trip in China!

Sanyou Cave

Travel information: 1) Opening time: 8 a.m. to 17 p.m.; 2) Ticket: 78 RMB/ adult; 3) The best time to visit: all the year round; 4) How to get there: just take the No.10 city bus and get off in the Sanyou Cave stop.

the three gorge museum

Three Gorges Museum, opened in 2005, is a cultural and educational beneficial organization that protects and researches and displays the history and culture heritage and the human environment material evidence in Chongqing. Covering the land area of 2.9316 hectare, with its length of main construction 157.3 meters, width 98.085 meters and the height of the total building above the ground 25.2 meters, the Three Gorges Museum features 5 floors with a total building area of 42,497 square meters, where the first floor under the ground sets cultural relic storehouse, car storehouse and facility room; the fourth floor sets exhibition room, reporting room and management aide room. This majestic building is going to be the symbol of the city culture, window of the city cultivation and name-card of the city spirit, which worthy a visit.

Three Gorges Museum

Three Gorges Museum, also called Chongqing Museum, is located in the 236 Renmin Road, Yuzhong District in Chongqing and it is the important culture facility that reflects and foster the nation spirits. It is built to house the relics from the sites destroyed by the construction of the 3 Gorges Dam and you will view a plenty of displays of Chinese art and of artifacts, a large model of the entire dam project, information presented about this impressive engineering achievement, films shown about the bombing of Chongqing during WWII by Japanese planes and about the natural scenery in the Three Gorges area before the construction of the dam. Its exhibition room within the Three Gorges Museum, including 4 basic displays, 6 special topic displays, 1 360 degree all-week theater, 1 semi-painting display, 1 audience practical center and 3 temporary exhibitions. You will learn more about the 3 Gorges Dam, the natural history of Chingqing area, WWII, the Communist Revolution together with the various historical periods, the Chinese money and Chinese art from various eras, which will make your trip there worthwhile.

the three gorge museum

Tips for your tour to the Three Gorges Museum: 1) free to the public; 2) open everyday with the time from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m.; 3) nearby attractions: Chongqing Zoo, Zigong Dinosaur Museum and Great Hall of the People.

shennong stream

Shennong Stream,  another tributary of the Yangtze River featuring fast-flowing and crystal clear water that runs southwards through deep gorges, is the only well-preserved Green land in the middle latitude area of the whole world, boasting more globally meaningful and various creatures than that of other temperate zoneforest ecological systems.

shennong stream

Shennong Stream is located in the transition area from the subtropicl to temperate area and covers an area of 3253 square kilometers. It used to be a vast sea in hundreds of millions of years ago, it has changed into high mou tains because of the movement of the Himalayas, which makes it be the “Central Ridge”. There are 6 high mou tains with altitude more than 3000 meters and because of the special geographical conditions, the Shennong Stream has been the shelter and habitat of all kinds of animals and plants during the quaternary glacial period, including that of north to Mohe in the northernmost China, south to Xishuangbanna in China, east to the middle area of Japan and west to the Himalayas mountain.

shennong stream

Shennong Stream has 199 vascular plants, 872 genera and 2671 species, among which 39 species has been listed as the first-level and second-level protected plant; and there are 500 kinds of animals with more than 50 kinds being listed as the key-protected animals; besides, 2013 kinds of the animals and plants can be used as medicine. Therefore, the Shennong Stream enjoys the reputation of “Species Gene Bank”, “ Natural Zoo” and “ Green Treasure House”. It has been attracting numerous travelers because of its serenity, uniqueness, primitiveness and wilderness and the most importantly its well-preserved natural ecology.

shennong stream

Useful information about having a travel there: 1) Ticket: 140 RMB/ adult. 2) 4-5 hours drive form Yichang to Shennong Stream with cost of 60 RMB. 3) Best time to visit there: July to October; but the snow scenery from December to February cannot be missed. 4) Do not forget to view the Mianzhu Gorge, Parrot Gorge, and Longchang Cave Gorge which are the main sections of the Shennong Stream with their own features.

Chinese-Sturgeon-Museum

Located in an islet in the Huangbo River in the Yiling District of the city in Yichang, Hubei province, the Chinese Sturgeon Museum is a 3-A-level tourist spot which keeps 7 kinds of sturgeons including American Polyodon Sturgeons, Russia Sturgeons, Heilongjiang Sturgeons, Hybrid Sturgeons, etc. Crocodile exhibition and aquarium exhibition are set inside the Chinese Sturgeon Museum, where you can see national first-level protected Yangzi crocodile and some huge-type Wan crocodile and all kinds of the tropical fishes. Besides, there are also some national second-level-protected animals such as giant salamander and myxocyprinus.

The Chinese Sturgeon

The Chinese Sturgeon Museum is a part of the Chinese Sturgeon Research Center that preserves rare fishes living in the Yangtze River. The Chinese Sturgeon is one of the oldest species of fish in China what has existing for about 150 million years. It is a kind of specie between the transition of the soft-bone fishes and tough-bone fishes. It is called the living fossil for its being survived until nowadays.

Because of its huge size, the Chinese sturgeon has been dubbed “The King of Fishes” in the Yangtze River.  You cannot imagine how huge it is!  And you will never believe that an adult sturgeon be more than 5 meters in length with its weight more than 500 kilograms. May you now nothing about the process of the spawn of a female Chinese sturgeon, right?  Yeah, its first time to become sexually mature at the age of 14 and lays about a million eggs at one time but unfortunately, of which one hundred thousand eggs that do survive and only a handful of the hatched surgeon fingerlings will survive the crucial first stages. Is it unbelievable about the difficult survival of the Chinese sturgeon? It is true! So, just do something you can to protect it from being extinguished when you have a visit there!

The Chinese Sturgeon Museum

Tips for visiting the Chinese Sturgeon Museum: 1) Tickets: 25 RMB/ person. 2) Take the No.4 city bus to the Sturgeon Research Center and then get off the bus.

Gezhou Dam

Gezhou Dam, located in the entrance of the Xiling Gorge and 3 kilometers down low the Nanjing Pass in the Yichang city of Hubei province and 38 kilometers away from the Three Gorges in this upstream, is the No.1 largest hydroelectric dam in China in the mainstream of the Yangtze River which plays an important role in the adjustment and channel of the Three Gorges Dam.

With its length 2, 561 meters, height 70 meters and depth 30 meters, the Gezhou Dam is controlling a water volume for 55.5% of the Yangtze’s total capacity. The annually average volume of the Gezhou Dam is 14.300 cubic meters per second, with the annual volume 451 billion cubic meters and the average volume of the output sand 0.53 billion tons and average volunm of sand contained 12 kilograms per cubic meter, of which 90% sand are concentrate and gathered at sprinkle water period. It is a great and enormous construction project starting at May, 1971 and completely finishing at December, 1988.

Gezhou Dam

The Gezhou Dam has great effect on the Yangtze River such as generating and improving the channel and other profitable influence. The generation volume of the Gezhou Dam is 2.715 million KWH, guaranteeing 0.768 KWH for its single operation and its annual generation volume is 1.57 billion KWH, while it can reach 16.1 billion KWH after the complement of the Three Gorges Dam. It output the charge to the nearby cities in the way of 500 KV and 200  KV, and output 1.2 million KWH to Shanghai, where it is 1000 kilometers away, through the 500 KV directly electronic ways, which does great help for the development of economy of Shanghai.

As part of this fascinating stretch of the mighty Yangtze River, the Gezhou Dam has attracted many travelers from home and abroad to have a visit there. Standing near the magnificent floodgate, you can see massive flows of the Yangtze spill over the dam’s turbines, which create roiling torrents that roar with the sound of thunder. It is majestic and astonishing scene!

Gezhou Dam

the Three Gorges Dam

Being the biggest hydropower station in the world, the Three Gorges Dam Project is located in the Sandouping town in Yichang city, where it is in the middle reach of the Xiling Gorge and 38 kilometers away form the Gezhou Dam in its upstream. It is one of the 5-A level tourist spots in China.

The Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area, a combination of the modern project, nature scenery and cultural landscapes, contains 5 parts—the Exhibition Hall of the Three Gorges Project, Tanzi Ridge, 185 Platform, Memorial Garden and Dam Viewing Point and covers a total area of 15.28 square kilometers. Among which the Exhibition Hall of the Three Gorges Project and the Tanzi Ridge are the most attractive. Its tourist area is strongly depending upon Three Gorges Dam Project, the world biggest hydropower station project to completely show its project culture and hydraulic engineering culture.

the Three Gorges Dam

The Exhibition Hall of the Three Gorges Project and the Tanzi Ridge in the Three Gorges Dam

The Exhibition Hall of the Three Gorges Project is open to the public in 1st, October, 1992 with the inscription of the vice-premier of the state council, Zhoujiahua. Covering an area of 6,600 square meters, this exhibition hall is divided into several special subject exhibitions including environment protection, immigration, technology progress, electronic production, photography, etc. It is decorated and designed according to the international standard for exhibition, which sets film show room, VIP room and so on. Majestically, it has the longest colorful picture of the Three Gorges with birds’ eye view scenery.

the Three Gorges Dam

Tanzi Ridge with its height 262.5 meters height above the sea level is located in the surveying point for the Three Gorges Dam Project. Its shape looks like a crock, therefore comes its name. The Tanzi Ridgec can be divided into three storeys according to the increase of its height and you can view the relievos which is an 800-million-year old stone from the bottom of the Yangtze River and a huge book sculpture record the introduction of the Three Gorges Dam Project.

Useful information for your tour to the Three Gorges Dam: 1) the ticket price: 105 RMB/ adult. 2) Ways to get to there: take city bus line 4, 10, 21,100,101 buses to the Yemingzhu station and then take change bus No.8 to Liuzhashou Tourist Reception Center to take the tourist shuttle buses to the Three Gorges Dam Tourist Area. 3) Best position to have a birds’ eye view on the dam and the marvelous spectacle of flood discharge—Dam Viewing Point. 4) Attractions near the Three Gorge Dam: Wu Gorge, the Chinese Sturgeon Museum and Huangling Temple.