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Three Gorges
Majestic gorges on the Yangtze River
As the saying goes, “Qutang Gorge is stately, while Wuxia is elegant and Xiling risky."
Since ancient times, the country- side around the Yangtze River Three Gorges has been known as “Four Hundred Li Art Gallery." Here is a continuous view of landscapes, impressive and ever changing, a combination of vigour and charm.
The Yangtze River Gorges start at Baidi city, Fengjie county in Chongqing, and extend 121 miles (193km), arrogantly extending to Nanjinguan, Yichang city, in Hubei province. During its course, it crosses the Wushan mountain range that runs from south to north and passes through numerous deep valleys with torrents sweeping down un- controllably.
When travelling downstream by boat, with sheer precipices on both sides sliding by and roaring water like galloping horses under their feet, travellers may experience some fear, but only the boatmen who have worked on the river for many years can fully understand the risk involved. A boatman's song that circulates around Xiling Gorge which is characterized by roaring torrents and numerous reefs and shoals- goes like this: “Terrible it is when the boat is travelling past Xiling George; Sweating all over with every tune, Courage called up with every tune." When you hear this song, you realize the challenge involved in undertaking the Yangtze River voyage.
Of the Three Gorges, the Wuxia Gorge is the quietest section. It has 12 peaks, one of which is Shennu peak. On the north bank, a stone pillar stands high, with giant and lofty peaks gathering and acting as escorts all around, and clouds and mists veiling and unveiling the scene by day and night. This is the Shennu (Fairy Girl) peak. It is said that the Fairy Girl meets the king of Chu at Gaotang, and during that time there are clouds in the morning and rain in the evening. The story adds glamour to the mystery of the scenery. Three Gorges has three singular features: the Overhanging Tombs, the Plank Roads along the Cliffs, and the stone carvings. These are the essence of the culture of the Three Gorges.
The Plank Roads were built on the cliffs along the Qutang Gorge. There are two kinds of plank roads: wooden ones and stone ones. To construct the former, workmen fixed wooded pegs into the cliff, and then laid wooden boards on them. For the latter, they dug roads directly along the cliffs. Many people sacrificed their lives to build the roads.
The Overhanging Tombs are said to have connections with the Ba people who used to live in the Three Gorges areas. They were descended from the Tibeto-Burman people. Coming from Hanshui and the upper streams of the Yellow River, moving continuously to the east and west of the Yangtze River and known for their strength and bravery, they played an active part in the history of this area during the sixteenth century BC. They planted paddy rice and wheat along both banks and they created a civilisation as brilliant as that of the Yellow River. They disappeared into history, which is something of a mystery to anthropologists.
As well as the Ba, there was the Chu culture. Chu people practiced wizardry. The legend of the Wushan Fairy Girl was the natural development of this tradition. It seems to be the source of the mythological culture that features worship of maternity.
There are so many stories about the Yangtze River Gorges that have been passed down from generation to generation. An example is QuYuan, whose motherland was in the region of the Yangtze River. Wang Zhaojun, a famous beauty in the Han dynasty, once lived in the upper reaches of the Xiangxi River, at the west end of Xiling Gorge. A well on the northern bank of Qutang Gorge in Yufu county is called Baidi (White King) city, owing to the fact that white fog is forever rising from the well.
Rain is plentiful in this region. Clouds gather in the evening and it begins to rain in the dead of the night. The rain falls, pitter-pattering on the roofs, on the palm leaves, leaving sadness in the hearts of the poets. Li Shangying (Tang dynasty) once wrote, "Asked when to return, I can only say there is no certainty. Around Ba mountain area, the evening rains are overflowing the autumn ponds." There are many others, such as Li Bai and Du Fu, who left poetic stories behind them, too.
Location
The Yangtze River Three Gorges is the general term for Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. It starts in the west at Baidi City, in Fengjie county of Chongqing province, and extends 6 miles (10km) to Nanjinguan, Yichang City in Hubei province. People usually refer it to it as the Big Three Gorges.
Climate
There is a moist subtropical climate, obviously influenced by the topographical features. The annual average temperature is 68F (18.4C), coldest in January when the average temperature is 44.78F (7.1C) and hottest in July, with an average temperature of 84.74F (29.3C).
Of Special Interest
The Yangtze River Three Gorges is the most attractive section of the landscape gallery along the Yangtze River.
Main Attractions
Besides the Three Gorges, Ghost City in Fengdu and the so-call Small Three Gorges are also worth a visit.
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