| The Yangtze Three Gorges (Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge) The world-famous Yangtze Three Gorges extend from White King Town (West) in Fengjie County, Sichuan Province to Nanjinguan Pass (East) in Yichang, Hubei Province. With a full length of 193 kilometers, each has its own special characteristics. |
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| Qutang Gorge The spectacular Qutang Gorge is the shortest of the Three Gorges (8km), but it is by far the most dramatic. Its sheer steep cliffs are filled with stunning vistas and interesting oddities, including the Meng Liang staircase (carved by a bodyguard of a murdered Song Dynasty official, attempting to recover his master's body from the steep cliffside). |
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| Wu Gorge The Wu Gorge is 44km long and is known for its deep valley and quiet beauty of its forest-covered mountains. The "Twelve Peaks" lining the banks of Wu Gorge have been admired by visitors from all over the world. It is said that if you look carefully, a silhouette of a goddess can be seen at the top of Goddess Peak. On days when the Goddess emerges from the mist, she brings good luck to anyone who glimpses her. |
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| Xiling Gorge The Xiling Gorge is the longest gorge (66km), and in the past was known for its hazardous shoals. Today, the danger spots have been eliminated, but the fine scenery remains. The banks of the gorge are covered with orange orchards. Among cultural relics here is the "Huangling Temple," which was first built during the Three Kingdoms period and then reconstructed during the Tang Dynasty. |
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| Three Small Gorges (Dragon-Gate Gorge, Misty Gorge, Emerald Gorge) Board a small river craft at Wushan for about 50 kilometers to see the Three Small Gorges - one of the most spectacular sights in China. This area is made up of three separate valleys stretching 25 miles along the Daning River. Crystal-clear waters flow between rugged cliffs and peaks covered with green vegetation. They are similar to the great Three Gorges, but narrower and more impressive, with clear, fast flowing water and precipices and peaks towering to the sky. |
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| Dragon Gate Gorge The Dragon-Gate Gorge (Longmen) is the shortest of the three (3km) and is aptly named for the precipitous cliffs that form a natural entrance to the gorge. In this area we can find the remains of an ancient plank road and the famous Silver Rapids. |
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| Misty Gorge The Misty Gorge (Bawu) is so called for the perpetual misty cloud cover that surrounds its sheer cliffs all year. This gorge is well known for its beautiful formations such as Horse Returning Mountain, Goddess of Mercy Seated on Lotus Platform and the Suspended Coffin to name but a few. |
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| Emerald Gorge The jewel of the Lesser Three Gorges is the enchanting Emerald Gorge (Diziu). The beauty, adventure and wonder of the other two gorges is blended and enhanced by the local wildlife. Mandarin Ducks swim in the emerald water, as monkeys leap from branch to branch on the many trees that adorn the banks of this luxurious verdant, waterfall dotted paradise. |
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| The New Three Gorges Dam The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest construction project. It stands 185 meters high (606 feet), with a length of 1,983 meters (6,500 feet). The dam structure holds back the world's largest reservoir, stretching 600 km (360 miles) upstream to Chongqing. The goals of the dam project include flood control, hydroelectric power generation (satisfying 15% of the national demand), and navigation improvement for shipping. An aqueduct channels water from the reservoir to north China to relieve persistent drought and guarantee agricultural production for millions of Chinese. Full completion of all facilities is scheduled for 2009. |
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| Chongqing This "Mountain City" is bustling with activity typical in this part of the country. Overlooking the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, the old section of Chongqing resembles a giant tiered wedding cake built of the side of a mountain. With its many narrow lanes, covered outdoor marketplace and misty pine clad hills, Chongqing evokes images of the China of days gone by. The region's many attractions include Nanwenquan Park (South Hot Springs), 15 miles south of the city. Along the Flowery Creek you can take a picturesque boat ride, and then take an excursion to the delightful Caves of the Fairies. Historical Red Cliff Village and the Luchan Temple are other popular attractions. |
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| Fengdu With over 700 temples constructed on Mingshan Hill, many containing statues of ghosts and devils, it is easy to see how the city acquired the name "Ghost City." The many scenic spots, legends and places of interest make Fengdu a delight to all who visit it. |
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| Shashi Shashi is the place where we go ashore to visit the ancient city of Jingzhou; here we visit the Prefectural Museum containing a major collection of artifacts from the Eastern Zhou, Qin and Western Han Dynasties. |
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| Shibaozhai Along the Yangtze, about 30 miles from Wanxian, lies one of the Yangtze's most spectacular sites. Shibaozhai consists of a huge rectangular rock standing on the riverside, backed by sheer cliffs. Perched on top is a temple, a 12-story wooden pagoda built against the side perpendicularly next to the rock wall. It is truly a magnificent structure. It is over 400 years old, and has appropriately been named the "Pearl of the Yangtze." It is amazing that no nails were used in construction. |
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| Wanxian Wanxian is a small mountainous city, known as the "Gateway to the Eastern Sichuan Province." Situated on a lush and picturesque site, Wanxian is an old river city, which once rivaled Chongqing in size and importance. Today, Wanxian is an important port and industrial center. The Wanxian tangerines, oranges and peaches are renowned throughout China. The town is also famous for its textile industry and has some of the finest silk spinning and weaving factories in the region. Fine artists abound in the region, and there is a free market in town, where local produce and crafts are sold. |
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| Wuhan Wuhan is the capital of the Hubei Province, and is a fusion of three cities spanning the Yangtze River - Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang. With its accessibility to land and water, Wuhan is considered "a passage way to nine provinces." Other scenic sites that can be found in the area are Yellow Crane Tower, Guiyuan Temple and East Lake. |
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| Wushan Wushan is the gateway to the Lesser Three Gorges. It is here that the Daning River joins the Yangtze, where the most scenic vistas and the greatest numbers of wildlife like Mandarin Duck and the Golden-Haired Monkeys can be seen in their natural habitat. |
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| Yichang Yichang is the economic and cultural center of western Hubei Province. It is situated at the entrance of the Xiling Gorge and was formerly a place contested by warlords during the "Yiling War" in the Three Kingdoms Period. On the outskirts of the city, there are the Gezhouba Dam Project, Sanyou Cove (Three Poets Cave), Taohua Village (Village of the Peach Blossoms), and the Ruins of Ancient Fortress. |
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| Yueyang Yueyang is a 2,000 year-old city in the Northern Hunan Province located where the Yangtze River and the Donging Lake merge. Here the Yueyang Tower, famed as one of China's most beautiful, overlooks the expansive Lake with its Junshan Island. This area has been an inspiration for artists and weavers of fairy tales through the ages. The city's historical and cultural relics include the Cishi Pagoda and Quzi and Wen Temples. |
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| Zigui Located at the foot of Mt. Woniu. the city is sometimes referred to as either "Gourd City" because of the shape of the city walls, or "Stone City" because of the stone wall which surrounds it. Zigui is also the birthplace of Qu Yuan, the great poet and statesman, who committed suicide about 288 BC by leaping into the River. His suicide is commemorated each spring with dragon boat races. |
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