Three Gorges

Three Gorges - biggest draw to Yangtze Cruise

"The mighty Yangtze river and its Three Gorges has long been one of Asia's most revered and dramatic nature attractions." - by Mr. Richard Carroll

The Three Gorges are famous not only for the stunning landscapes, but for the long history and splendid culture, with myriad of ancient temples, villages, and paths add to the splendor of the Three Gorges. Besides, you can also visit the local countryside area and see the lives of common people - which you can not see in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, etc.

Qutang Gorge

Qutang Gorge starts at the White Emperor City in the west, Chongqing Fengjie County and ends at Daxi Stream in the east, Chongqing Wushan County. It is the shortest in the Three Gorges, with only 8 kilometers.

Qutang Gorges is considered as the most dramatic and gorgeous one by many tourists, with the width of the river here reduced to 100-200 meters and the narrowest places no more than a few dozen meters.

A continuous line of peaks along the deep Qutang Gorges reaches as high as 1,000-1,500 meters, which makes a most magnificent picture. Much more picturesque, the turbulent waters of the rolling and roaring river flow through the rock gate that towers over the water.

Wu Gorge

Wu Gorge is 44 kilometer long, starting from the mouth of the Daning River in Wushan County of Chongqing in the west and ending in Guandukou of Badong County, Hubei Province in the east.

Wu Gorge is filled with flexuous and weird peaks, rising mists and spectacular sightseeing, known for its deep valleys and forest covered mountains. The famous natural sceneries and attractions include: Twelve Peaks, Goddess Peak, Wushan Hill, Dadong, Zigui, Fragrant Sream, Daning River, etc.

Also called Da Xia (Large Gorge), the Wu Gorge is comprised of Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge (Jinkui Yinjia Xia) and Iron Coffin Gorge. As strange peaks, grotesque rocks as well as fog and clouds surround the gorge, it is usually the most notable of the three gorges. Because of the long and deep canyons in the Wu Gorge, the daily period of sunlight is short which impedes the dispersal of air borne moisture within the gorge and so creates clouds and fog in a variety of fantastic shapes. How wonderful it is!

Xiling Gorge

Xiling Gorge is the longest of the Three Gorges, 66 kilometers long, starting from the Dadong County in the west and ending at the Nanjin Pass of Yichang in the east. It goes through the Hubei Province entirely from the west to east.

There are plenty of shoals and rapid currents, with the most dangerous ones being Xietan, Qingtan and Kong Ling, known as the Three Shoals of Xiling Gorge. Karst caves can be found everywhere around the gorge.

Scenery along the Xiling Gorge is spectacular. Some renowned streams, springs, stones and karst caves can be found along this section. As many historic celebrities such as Qu Yuan and Bai Juyi have been here and left numerous poems praising the natural scene of Xiling Gorge, it is bestowed with a great sense of history.