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.
Qutang 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.
Qutang Gorge