Bawu Gorge

The Lesser Three Gorges in Chongqing, the combination of the Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge and Dicui Gorge, stretches 25 kilometers in the lower reaches of the Daning River, which is a large tributary of the Yangtze River and joins it at the western end of the Wu Gorge. The length of these three canyons totals 60 kilometers and it is entitled as one of the “40 best tourist areas in China” and a 5 A level tourist spot in December, 2006. It is the highlight of the Yangtze River Cruise and praised as the spectacular wonder of China by travelers from home and broad.

Called the Lesser Gorge of Wushan, and also the Lesser Gorge of the Daning River, its regional resource is in Wushan county in the south and flows to Dachang county in the north, it is the essential part of the Daning River Scenic Area which catches the attention of numerous travelers by its charming scenery. Compared to the grand and steep three Gorgers, the Lesser Three Gorges are relatively pretty, unconventional, delicacy and elegant, therefore comes the reputation of” not the Three Gorges, but more than the Three Gorges!”

The Less Three Gorges are divided into three sections: Longmen Gorge, Buwu Gorge and Dicui Gorge.

Cuidi Gorge

Longmen Gorge, the “gate” to the Lesser Three Gorges, just as Kuimen is the “gate” of the Three Gorges, is the shortest among the Lesser Three Gorges with the length only 3 kilometers. Passengers can see the plank road built along the gorge cliff and normally most of them enjoy the scenery by walking along it.

Bawu Gorge with its length of ten kilometers, is famous for its grotesque mountains and especially the over-2000-year-old Hanging Coffins which was an ancient funeral custom of some minority groups, especially the Bo people of Southern China.  You’ll find it interesting when passing through the gorge to enjoy its beauty while listening to the guild to tell you about the mysterious Hanging Coffins.

Longmen Gorge

Dicui Gorge with a length of 20 kilometers, is the longest and most graceful of the Lesser Three Gorges, where the vegetation is the most flourishing and the best protected among the Lesser Three Gorges.  It will be an impressive and peaceful experience on a quite day a trip through here in a small sightseeing ship.

As it is a highlight of the Yangtze Cruise, you can ferry in a small mat-covered wooden boat in the Mini Three Gorges, admire the fair-sounding folk songs of local people and take photos here. Best to visit there are late spring and summer. As it is so hot in July and August, it is suitable for you to wear short clothes, and forget to take umbrella and raincoat in hand as it rains often in Wushan. Moreover, don’t forget to taste all kinds of the fresh Yangtze River fish!

Situated at the entrance of the Qutang Gorge, northern shore of the Yangtze River, BaidiCheng (White Emperor City) is ne of the famous attraction with vermilion walls and flying eaves along the Three Gorge in the Fengjie County in Chongqing.  The town has a history of 2,000 years, and it is also called Ziyang County, which was built by Gongsun in the Shu-han period with a wealth of historic sites as well as numerous stone tablet inscriptions.

Baidicheng along Qutang Gorge

With mountain beside, water surrounded on three sides, Qutang Gorge in the back and Yangtze River in front, Baidicheng is characterized by grand and spectacular scenery. It is the best place to view the attraction of “Kui Men Tian Xia Xiong” in the Qutang Gorge. Known as Baidi Temple also, Baidi Cheng endows with many historical sites and cultural scenery such as the Mingliang Temple, the main building of BaidiCheng Temple, which is built in te 12th year of Jiajing Emperor’s dominancy (1533). There are statues of Liubei, Zhu Geliang, Guanyu and Zhangfei inside, whose are famous persons during the Three Kingdoms Period.  Besides, Wuhou Temple is also a famous attraction there, where three generations of the Zhu Geliang family are worshiped. Legend has it that Zhu Geliang used to watch the stars at night in the Duanxing Pavilion. You can also view the Guanjing pavilion and Wangjiang Tower there.

baidicheng

Du Fu, Li Bai, Bai Juyi, Liu Yuxi and Su Shi etc., lots of famous poets had visited the town , climbed Baidi Cheng and traveled around Kui Gate during their lifetimes and left a legacy of writing in praise of this historic town, which has become a city of immortal poetry. Among all of the poems, the most impressive and popular one is “Departure from the BaidiCheng at Dawn” written by Libai—”Bidding the Town farewell when morning clouds hang low. A long trip through canyons I made in a mere day. Monkey cries were heard on either bank all through the way. While the boat passed by mountains swiftly in a row.”  Which in Chinese are” 早发白帝城— 朝辞白帝彩云间，千里江陵一日还。两岸猿声啼不住，轻舟已过万重山”. With so many poets went there and so many poems left, BaidiCheng therefore is known as “Poem Town”.

With the landscape scenery and numerous historical sites, Baidicheng has been a must-see attraction for travelers from home and broad who take the Yangtze Cruise. Visitors can get into the city directly by cruise ships. So, just join them to enjoy the beauty of the majestic Baidicheng in the imminent spring!

Xiling Gorge

Xiling Gorge, located at the west between the Xisai of the Chu Country and Yiling( the old Yichang), is the longest gorge of the Three Gorge. It stretches for about 100 km from  the mouth of the Xiangxi River at Zigui county in the west to Nanjing Pass near the city of Yichang in Hubei province in the east.

Xiling Gorge is famous for its steep rocks, zigzag channels, strange stones, plenty beaches, urgent water and thrilling boat-taking. It also features dangerous rapids and numerous shoals, of which the latter including the Qingtan, Kongling and Xietan shoals. These shoals came into formation with fallen and rock from banks, boulders and sands that washed down from the upper reaches, veins protruding from the riverbanks, or reefs jutting out of the riverbed. There are treacherous whirlpools and the waters are extraordinarily turbulent from some extent.

Xiling Gorge can be divided into four section from its upstream to downstream: Fragrant Stream Wide Gorge (Xiangxi Kuangu), about 45 km long with Xiling Gorge; Xilingxia Upper Section Wide Gorge (Xilingxia Shangduan Kuangu), South of Temple Gorge (Miaonan Kuangu) and Xilingxia Lower Section Gorge (Xilingxia Xiaduan Xiagu). And it winds through three cities: Badong, Zigui and Yichang. In other way, it can be divided into two sections: the west section consists of the Military Book and Sword Gorge– with length of 5 km and the narrowest place of one hundred meters; the Bull’s Liver and Horse’s Lung Gorge and Kongling Play Gorge; while the east section features the Shadow-Play Gorge and the Yellow Cattle Gorge, other else known as Yichang Gorge.

Xiling-Gorges

There are also many other archeological sites sitting along Wu Gorge including the Huangling Temple, which is first built during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). Besides, the Three Visitors’ Cave and the Luyou Fountain will also catch your eyes by their unique features.

As you have known about the Xiling Gorge generally, you’d better prepare your plan to have a visit to Xiling Gorge on your Yangtze Cruise to get deep experience about the beauty, astonishment and excitement of the Xiling Gorge and even the Three Gorge in the upcoming spring as Spring and Autumn are the best time to have a Yangtze Cruise. Don’t miss it to wait until autumn so many months later！

Wu Gorge with Red Leaves

One of the must-see attractions in Yangtze River is Wu Gorge, of course. Wu Gorge, also called the Great Gorge, is the second gorge on theYangtze River. It is located in the downstream of Qutang Gorge and upstream of Xiling Gorge. It extends 44 km from Daning River in Wushan County Chongqing to Guandukou in Badong County Hubei. And it is about 500 km northeast down the Yangtze from Chongqing City and about 150 km upriver from Yichang.

Wu Gorge is long and narrow and the duration of direct sunshine is short, the humidity of the gorge usually yields clouds and mists easily. With mists and clouds curling around, Wu Gorge seems more fascinating and mysterious. It is the most beautiful section of the Yangtze River, flanked by high peaks that are often capped by fog or clouds. The steep slopes of the gorge are green with trees and bushes. It is also the Chinese poets’ favorite place among the Three Gorges, of which provide the inspiration for a lot of sentimental and widely prevailing poems.

WU Gorge

However, what make Wu Gorge famous are its unique features: Marvelous views of undulating mountains, grotesque peaks and deep serene valley and forest covered mountains and changeable clouds and mists wreathing around the tops, you’ll find it astonishing and breathtaking! Major attractions along the Wu Gorge include Shennong Stream, Three Little Gorges, and Twelve Peaks. There are also many other natural attractions in Wu Gorges such as the Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge, the Mouse Hole, Jianchuan Gorge, and Menshan Gorge.

wu-gorge

However, among all these attractions,Twelve Peaks of Wushan (Wu Mountain) is the most attractive one, which is located on both sides of Wu Gorge. And among those Twelve Peaks, Shennv Peak (Goddess Peak) is the most famous. It resembles a lifelike slim and graceful girl standing among the cloud and mist. Here goes a legend that As a Chinese legend goes, she was once a goddess who helped people by controlling floods. It faces east, the first to welcome the alpenglow and the last to see off the afterglow. Therefore, it is also called Wangxia Peak (Viewing the Morning or Evening Glow Peak). Taking Photos here is a must-do thing when reach here on your Yangtze Cruise, so, don’t  forget to leave your step and memory here next time.

The best way and the best time to visit Wu Gorge is on Yangtze Cruise by boat at Spring and Autumn, therefore, start to plane your trip to Yangtze River now so as to have a wonderful travel!

Qutang Gorge

Qutang Gorge, also called Kui Gorge, lies in the Chongqing province, is the shortest Gorge among the Three Gorges. However, it can be the most majestic one of them, and it is the gateway where visitors travel eastward reach in the Three Gorges. It is about 500 km northeast down the Yangtze from Chongqing and about 200 km upriver from Yichang. And it covers 8 kilometers downstream length area from Baidicheng (White Emperor City) in the west to the Daxi Town in the east.

Qutang Gorge is well known for not only its steepness but also its magnificence in spite of its shortest length when comparing to Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. There are 2 main amazing scenery spots for the Qutang Gorge: Kuimen and Rhinoceros Viewing the Moon.

china-qutang-gorge

Kuimen : When stepping into the canyon of the Qutang Gorge, you can see two bluffs on both sides are cliffy, with the distance less than 100 meters. Located at the western end of Qutang Gorge, these two steep bluffs are 1300 meters high standing upon either side of the Yangtze River. The shape of the the bluffs look like a slightly open gate, therefore comes the name of “Kui Men”, which is one of the highlight scenery of the Yangtze River, and this is the reason why Qutang Gorge is also called Kui Gorge. The powerful and great Yangtze River will become a small belt when it is passing and winding through Kuimen in Qutang Gorge as the width of the Yangtze River in that area is only about 100 to 200 meters and you can’t imagine the narrowest point here—yes, it is only about 50 meters! There are five words on the bluff : “夔门天下雄 ( Kui Men Tian Xia Xiong) ”, and the solitary and lofty peaks: Mt. Baiyan (White Salt Mountain) in the north and Mt. Chijia soar above the horizon.

Rhinoceros Viewing the Moon: You’ll easily see a big stone at top of a mountain on the north bank of Qutang Gorge, which looks like a rhinoceros and it is facing Kui gate to the west.  You can see that the stone looks like a rhinocero that is viewing the moon when the moon is in the west at night. It is one of the famous attractions in Qutang Gorge worthy a visit.

Qutang Gorge

Besides, Baidicheng, also called White Emperor City, is also a amazing cultural and historical site for you to visit during your Yangtze cruise at Qutang Gorge. It is known as “the Poet City”, as there were so many famous Chinese poets have lived here such as Libai, Dufu, Sushi, Luyou and Liuyuxi.

The poet Bai Juyi described the Qutang Gorge in his writing, “The shore looks like two screens. The sky has been cut out.” With its beautiful scenery and unique natural resources, Qutang Gorge is a place worthy a visit and exploring. Just planing your travel to the Yangtze Crusie so as to experience the breathtaking Qutang Gorge in the upcoming Spring, you’ll enjoy yourself there!

The 38-km-long (23.6-mile-long) eastern half of Xiling Xia Gorge will remain unflooded. The first 24.1 km (15 mile) section of this gorge includes, in the following order, the three lesser gorges of Yellow Cat Gorge (Huang Mao Xia), Lamp Shadow Gorge (Deng Ying Xia), and Yellow Ox Gorge (Huang Niu Xia).

At 26.2 km (16.3 miles) is the beginning of Lamp Shadow Gorge (Deng Ying Xia), which ends at the village of Nan Tao (Nan Tuo) on the north bank. Here you can see, on the south bank, an ancient road chiseled into the cliff face. Other sights in this section include Bright Moon Bay (Ming Yue Gang), sometimes known as Bright Moon Gorge (Ming Yue Xia), a 32-m-high (105-ft-high) Stone Tablet (Shi Bei) surrounded by waterfalls and caves, and the Long Jin River Valley where you can experience the Tu Jia ethnic minority culture.

After passing through this first 24.1-km (15-mile) section of Three Gorges, you enter the 54-km-long (33.6-mile-long) Miao Nan Gu broad valley. Watch to your left to see the Yellow Ox Temple (Huang Ling Miao) on the south bank. This temple is also best reached by road from Yichang city. Looming over the temple from behind it is Yellow Ox Mountain (Huang Niu Shan) rising 1,048 m (3,438.3 ft) above the river.