Category Archives: Yangtze River Attractions

Three Gorges Dam is the water control project on the Yangtze River. It lies in the middle section of the Xiling Gorge near the Town Sandouping in the Yichang City of Hubei Province. It is the largest hydro

power project of the world and has created many firsts like most efficient dam in controlling flood, most difficult construction work and the largest migration project of the world.

The beautiful landscape along the Three Gorges is like the traditional Chinese picture and various precious cultural relics, which range from Paleolithic Age to the modern time, add human touch to this area. It is always on the top hot spot of traveler’s itinerary. But, many of its scenery and historical sites were or might be flooded due to change in the water level. Cultural relic department as well as local government is trying their best to save these precious cultural treasures. Various protection methods such as removal and reproduction are being adopted. However, the rise in water level also increase the scenic area makes some impenetrable streams as well as scenic sights easy to reach. So, the summary is that this dam project has ruined much natural beauty but at the same time created some of the new scenery. So, you can explore more and do not feel pity about it.

This dam was opened in the year 1997 and mainly composed of the 185 Platform, Tanzi Mountain, Memorial Garden and Dam Viewing Point. It displays the full culture of a water conservation project to its visitors. When you will climb on the viewing platform, you can get a panoramic view of the whole dam. 185 Platform has got its name as it is 185 meters in height and equivalent to the height of the dam crest. You can get the huge dam body view at close range while standing on the Dam Viewing Point. Memorial Garden is the large open air museum exhibiting various machines which were used in the construction of the Dam like mechanical excavators and cranes. You can also visit Huangling Temple which is the largest ancient building of the Three Gorges area.

 

Wu Gorge is one among the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and is one of famous tourist attraction. It is spread over 25 miles and starts from the estuary of the Daning River from the East of Wushan and ends at Guandukou in Badong of Hubei Province.

It is also called as Da Xia or Large Gorge and comprised of Silver Armor Gorge or Jinkui yinjia, Golden Helmet and Iron Coffin Gorge. With strange peaks, fog and clouds, grotesque rocks surrounding the gorge, makes it notable. Daily period of sunlight is very short here due to long and deep canyons impeding the dispersal of air borne moisture within the Gorge. It also creates clouds and fog in several fantastic shapes which looks wonderful.

There are twelve peaks on the each bank along the Wu Gorge. This make the scene of the Wu Gorge most prominent. There are several legends associated with these twelve peaks. Six peaks which lie to the northern banks are Climbing Dragon or Denglong peak, Sage spring or Shengquan Peak, Facing clouds or Xhaoyun Peak, Godess or Shennu Peak, Fir Tree Cone or Songluan Peak, Congregated Peak or Jixian Peak, Misty Screen or Cuping Peak, Assembled Cranes or Juhe Peak, Clean Altar or Jingtan Peak, Rising Cloud or Qiyun Peak and Rising or Shangsheng Peak. The last among these three are not at the riverside and the Goddess peak is highest among all and most notable as it is the first peak that welcomes the glow of sun and say farewell when it is dawn.

Daning River flows to the Yangtze River from the wester of the Wu Gorge. It is the largest tributary of Yangtze River. There are three little Gorges located at the lower reach of the Daning River and a worth visit for the tourists. You can see the historic relics like the ancient plank roads, boat coffins and suspended coffins while drifting along the Three Little Gorges.

Qutang Gorge is the shortest as well as most majestic among all Three Gorges and winds five miles from the Baidi City of Fengjie County to the Daxi Town of Wushan County. Two banks of this gorge contain various scenic spots.

Kui Gate, which is also called as Qutang Pass is to the southwest of Qutang Gorge. There are two peaks namely Mt. Baiyan or White Salt Mountain in the north and Mt. Chijia above the horizon. These two mountains resemble gate that is created by the Heaven and placed on the earth here. The peaks along the two banks are about 3,300 and 5,000 feet in hight and Yangtze River is only 100 to 220 yard wide, the River looks like the narrow belt which is winding its way through the deep canyons. This deep gorge has fast moving water and several mountains forming an imposing picture. Because of Kui Gate this is also known as Kui Gorge.

To the upstream of the mount of Qutang Gorge lies the ancient county of Fengjie where you can admire the Ba Zhen Tu which is the Eight Element Battle Formation. In the gorge, White Emperor City or Baidi City lies at the top to the northern bank. The unusual sight, the Chalk wall is to the southern bank having numerous inscriptions carved on it. Hanging Monk Rock and Mengliang Stairway have several legends associated with them which lie on the southern bank. Northern bank has some interesting sites and Bellows Gorges or Fengxiang Xia having the ancient hanging coffins and ancient plank road remains. Holes for the support of road were also chiseled into the sheer face of the cliff by ancient people. This road was used as the only means of transportation for goods and people when the river was flooded.

Other attraction at this site includes the Rhinoceros looking at the moon which is a unique stone shaped in the form of rhinoceros near the Bellows Gorge, the Iron Lock pass which was used for prevention of enemy invasions in the Song Dynasty and the Daxi Culture Heritage Site to know about the Chinese Neolithic Culture.