Qutang Gorge
» Chongqing, Si Chuan

瞿塘峡 '众水汇涪万,瞿塘争一门'

Three Gorges

Immediately below Baidicheng is Kuimen, the entrance to the first of the three gorges of the Yangtze River, the eight--kilometre (five-mile) long Qutang Gorge. Known as the "throat" between Sichuan and Hubei provinces, the widest point here measures only 150 meters wide, while the mountains along it reach as high as 1,200 meters. This combination of narrow canyons among high mountains with several switchbacks in only 8 kilometers creates spectacular vistas, and it is often considered the most beautiful of all.

What to see

Sheer precipices on both sides form a colossal gate over the river, called Kuimen. The water roars through the gorge like galloping horses. There are many historical sites in Qutang Gorge. On a hilltop on the north bank is the town of Baidicheng, boasting many rare historical relics. On the south bank are the Chalk Wall covered with carved inscriptions, the legendary Meng Liang Stairway, Hanging Monk Rock, Armor Cave and the sweet-tasting Phoenix-Drinking Fountain in a deep cave. Also on the south bank, not far downstream, is a very strange-looking peak standing by the river; it is called the Rhinoceros Watching the Moon because it looks like a rhinoceros.

Baidicheng

Also called "White Emperor City," Baidicheng is a place full of poetic sense, gleams amongst forest-covered hills on the north bank of the Yangtze River near the entrance of the Qutang Gorge. Surrounded by waters, it gains its popularity by its rich heritage of literature contribution during thousands of years.

Surrounded by the river on three sides and backed by a mountain, the ancient city is actually a mini city scattered with temples and gates. Climbing over 500 steps, you reach the top, the starting point of Three Gorges and have a wonderful view! The City was said to be built by Gongsun Shu, an official turned soldier, as the site of his headquarters during the end of the Western Han Dynasty.

Kuimen (Kui Gate)

Also known as Qutang Pass, Kuimen (Kui Gate) is the west door for Three Gorges, the western tip of Qutang Gorge. Here the river is flanked by sheer cliffs on both sides. Eroded over the centuries by wind and rain, the cliffs on both banks are perpendicular as if they have been hewn with an axe, presenting a marvelous natural scene.

Kuimen is the gate through which the Yangtze River flows into the Three Gorges from the Sichuan Basin. The White Salt Mountain is on the southern bank and the Red Armor is on the northern bank. Both rise perpendicularly into the sky. The sheer cliffs on either side of the river are like a gate guarding the river, narrowing it in a width of just over 100 meters.

Rhinoceros Watching the Moon

Among the scenery of Qutang Gorge, there is a huge stone in the shape of a rhinoceros looking at the moon. The stone lies on the top of the hill east of The Armor Cave on the northern bank of the Yangtze River. From a distance, the stone looks like a rhinoceros standing on top of the hill looking westward towards the moon. Hence the name Rhinoceros Watching the Moon.

The best time to admire the scenery is during twilight. Prior to the water rising due to the Three Gorges Dam, there were two such stones like the rhinoceros looking at the moon, one on the bank of the river at the foot of the hill and the other on the top of the hill. But now, the one along the riverbank is submerged in the river. The top stone is now easy to watch.

Ancient plank roads

Cruising on the majestic Yangtze River, visitors will notice some narrow meandering paths hung on the cliffs about 33 feet above the river. They are the ancient plank roads - the typical ancient Chinese mountainous roads that are mostly seen on the borders of Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing and Hubei Provinces. It is such roads that make a deep chasm turn into a thoroughfare.

Why built them

A question may arise in your mind: Why the ancient Chinese people build this kind of road on cliffs? It served the survival needs of the local people. For centuries, the dangerous rapids and currents of the Yangtze River along the Three Gorges section made transportation really hard work, especially in flood seasons when all shipping along the river closed. Until the late Qing Dynasty, the intelligent Shu People began to solve the problem by drilling holes in cliffs to beat in stakes in order to support the planks, or they chiseled a road directly into the cliffs. These are the two forms of plank roads. With iron chain railings or stone balustrades along the sides of the roads, they were safe for people to walk on.

The construction of this plank road put many project techniques into use that offered some knowledge to today's road building. As a monumental feat in Chinese transportation history, the plank roads show to the people of the world how the ancient Chinese people conquered nature.

Bellows Gorge

1.2 miles from Baidicheng along the Yangtze River, there is snuff colored precipice. Some gaps can be seen on the cliff and from afar a large cave can be seen in which there are piles of quadrate wooden boxes. In the distance, they look like bellows, so the gorge is called the Bellows Gorge.

According to the legend, the bellows are placed there by Lu Ban, the founder of Chinese woodwork living during the Zhou Dynasty (770 BC - 221 BC). As a matter of fact, they are not the bellows but the suspended coffins of the ancient Ba people (people lived in eastern Sichuan and western Hubei Provinces from the Warring States Period to the Han Dynasty). The mystery was unveiled in 1971 when three brave gatherers of herbs climbed into the gap of the gorge. Cultural relics such as the fragments of bones, swords and the copper axe of the Ba People were discovered there. Besides the cave, there are two higher caves where more wooden coffins are suspended.

The best place to view the gorge is the plank road of the gorge. As the coffins lie over 32 feet high in the cliff, it is difficult to climb. So, the method used to suspend them in the cliff is a mystery that still puzzles people today.

Chalk Wall

The Chalk Wall of Qutang Gorge refers to the wall located among the crumbling walls of the White Salt Mountain. The wall is over 1,094 yards long with many words carved into it. It is called the Chalk Wall as the wall is white in color, having been brushed with lime powder during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279). It is also called Fen Bi Tang (The Hall having White Wall) because the wall is inscribed with tablets originating from different dynasties in various fonts. Thus, it resembles the wall of a hall hung with calligraphy works, hence the name.

The word carvings on the Chalk Wall date back from Song Dynasty. The largest word inscribed is two yards, and the smallest is only the size of a finger. When the cruise ship passes the mouth of Qutang Gorge, the words "Kui Men" and "Qu Tang" can be seen. These four words are written by celebrities of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) in Li script (official script). Among the inscriptions, there is a large tablet of four yards high and eight yards wide. Over 980 characters are carved on the tablet. It is the work of Zhao Gongshuo, a calligraphist from the Southern Song Dynasty. The achievements and virtues of Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Xiaozong are described in the words.

Daxi Culture Heritage Site

Daxi Culture belongs to the Neolithic Age of the middle reach of the Yangtze River. The culture got its name because of the Daxi Culture Heritage Site in Wushan County in Sichuan Province. Daxi Culture lasting from 4400 BC to 3300 BC consists of the Daxi Heritage Site, and over ten sites in Hunan and Hubei Provinces. The pottery of Daxi Culture is the distinctive red kind of multiple shapes.

Located on the southern part of Qutang Gorge, in Wushan County, Daxi Culture Heritage Site can be found in the territory of Daxi Village. The site, rich in soil and endowed with natural beauty, is the ideal place to visit.

From 1959 to 1975, the site was excavated three times covering a total area of 682 square yards. As a result, more than 50 graves were found on the site. Among the cultural relics excavated from the site, there were potteries, stone wares, bone objects and jade artifacts. As the site differs in soil composition, pottery type and burial methods, it is divided into two layers. The upper layer is regarded as the late period of Daxi Culture and the lower layer is considered the early period of the culture.

Similar relics have also been found in a section of Xiling Gorge. They all belong to the Daxi Culture. To learn about the ancient culture of the Neolithic Age, Daxi Culture Heritage Site is a good place to visit.

Iron Lock Pass

On the northern bank of Qutang Gorge, opposite the Meng Liang Stairway, there is a small branch of the Yangtze River, called Caotang River. Just at the place where the Caotang River flows into the Yangtze River, there is a stone disk bearing two iron posts. On the southern bank, there is a stone hole. In ancient times, people threaded iron chains between the posts and the hole in order to block the Yangtze River and prevent the intrusion of the enemy. This is called the Iron Lock Pass.

The Iron Lock Pass was firstly constructed during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). In the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), a general called Xu Zongwu once built seven Iron Lock Passes in order to prevent the intrusion of the army of Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368). It is said that, the two iron posts remaining were consecrated by General Xu. The two iron posts are seven feet high and have been rusty for years. Besides the posts, there are inscriptions from the Yuan Dynasty caved onto the rock.

Meng Liang Stairway & Hanging Monk Rock

On the remains of the Chalk Wall, are carved some square holes (each of one foot deep, 0.9 foot wide and 0.8 foot high). The holes are three feet in distance from each other, form a special "Z" shape and reach to the mountainside. The holes are called Meng Liang Stairway by the local people. Close to the Meng Liang Stairway is a strange stone extending out of the precipice. As it resembles a monk hung upside down, the stone is called the Hanging Monk Rock (in Chinese Daodiao Heshangshi).

The legend

According to the legend, General Yang Jiye of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) was killed by a treacherous court official. His corpse was buried on the Glance at Home Terrace on the top of the White Salt Mountain. One of his henchmen called Meng Liang entered Qutang Gorge wanting to bring his skeleton back and bury it in his hometown. He cut holes and inserted wood every night and stopped his work before daybreak. However, his deed was discovered by a monk living in the Baidi Temple opposite to the precipice Meng Liang climbed. The monk crowed like a cockerel during the night causing all the cockerels in the Baidicheng area to crow. Meng Liang mistakenly thought that daybreak was coming and stopped his work. Later, he discovered the monk's behavior and hung him upside down on the wall after killing him. For years, the monk became known as the Hanging Monk Rock.

As a matter of fact, the corpse of General Yang Jiye was not buried in Qutang Gorge Area; his legend only reflects the people's love for the general. The holes caved on the precipice were in fact the relics left by the ancient local people when they built the ancient plank road. And the Hanging Monk Rock is nothing more than a stalactite.

Water-Stealing Holes

On the northern cliff at the western end of Qutang Gorge, there are stone holes positioned in a series up the cliff. They are the so-called Water-Stealing Holes.

The legend

People say that the holes were cut into the cliff by Zhang Xianzhong, leader of a peasant uprising in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), and his army. In order to oppose the dark rule of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xianzhong led his army to occupy the Area of Kuimen as it was often a place of battle.

He overcame and occupied Baidicheng. When the Emperor Chong Zhen heard the news that Zhang Xianzhong had taken Kuimen, he sent forces to shut off the source of water supply to the mountain, giving Zhang Xianzhong's army the choice - surrender or thirst to death. As it was sunny and rainless at the time, it was difficult to get water on the mountain. Zhang Xianzhong and his army, in order to reach the riverside to obtain water, chiseled holes in the cliff and inserted wooden pegs or steps to climb down every night. These are the Water-Stealing Holes.

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area
  1. What's the history of Yangtze River?
  2. What are the characteristics of Yangtze river?
  3. How's the environment around Yangtze River?
  4. When is the best time to cruise on the Yangtze River?
  5. What's the difference between upstream and downstream?
  6. What are the sightseeings alongside the river?
  7. What does the cruise ticket include?
  8. How are the ship meals arranged?
  9. What is the difference between an ocean cruise ship and a Yangtze River cruise ship on management structure?
  10. Is there any limit for luggage?

  1. What's the history of Yangtze River?

    The Yangtze Harbor is important to the cultural origins of southern China. Human activity was found in the Three Gorges area as far back as 27 thousand years ago, initiating debate over the origin of the Chinese people. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Ba and Shu were located in the western part of the river, covering modern Sichuan, Chongqing, and western Hubei; Chu was located in the central part of river, corresponding to Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and southern Anhui. Wu and Yue were located in the eastern part of the river, now Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Although the Yellow River region was richer and more developed at that time, the milder climate and more peaceful environment made the Yangtze river area more suitable for agriculture.

    From the Han Dynasty, the region of the Yangtze river became more and more important in China's economy. The establishment of irrigation systems (the most famous one is Dujiangyan, northwest of Chengdu, built during the Warring States period) made agriculture very stable and productive. Early in the Qing dynasty, the region called 'Jiangnan' (that includes the southern part of Jiangsu, the northern part of Zhejiang, and the southeastern part of Anhui) provided 1/3-1/2 of the nation's revenues.

    Historically, the Yangtze became the political boundary between north China and south China several times because of the difficulty of crossing the river. Many battles took place along the river, the most famous being the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 AD during the Three Kingdoms period.

    Politically, Nanjing was the capital of China several times, although most of the time its territory only covered the southeastern part of China, such as the Wu kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period, the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and smaller countries in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms periods. Only the Ming occupied most parts of China from their capital at Nanjing, though it later moved capital to Beijing. The ROC capital was located in Nanjing in the periods 1911-1912, 1927-1937, 1945-1949.


  2. What are the characteristics of Yangtze river?

    The Yangtze flows into the East China Sea and was navigable by ocean-going vessels up to a thousand miles from its mouth even before the Three Gorges Dam was built. As of June 2003, this dam spans the river, flooding Fengjie, the first of a number of towns affected by the massive flood control and power generation project. This is the largest comprehensive irrigation project in the world, and has a significant impact on the China's agriculture. Its proponents argue that it will free people living along the river from floods that have repeatedly threatened them in the past, and will offer them electricity and water transport -- though at the expense of permanently flooding many existing towns (including numerous ancient cultural relics) and causing large-scale changes in the local ecology.

    Opponents of the dam point out that there are three different kinds of floods on the Yangtze River: floods which originate in the upper reaches, floods which originate in the lower reaches, and floods along the entire length of the river. They argue that the Three Gorges dam will actually make flooding in the upper reaches worse and have little or no impact on floods which originate in the lower reaches. Twelve hundred years of low water marks on the river were recorded in the inscriptions and the carvings of carp at Baiheliang, now submerged.

    The Yangtze is flanked with metallurgical, power, chemical, auto, building materials and machinery industrial belts, and high-tech development zones. It is playing an increasingly crucial role in the river valley's economic growth and has become a vital link for international shipping to the inland provinces. The river is a major transportation artery for China, connecting the interior with the coast. The river used as a waterway for commerce offer now the possibility to cruise at leisure. Since 2004 a European luxury cruising company has brought very high standard and with the help of Swiss hotelier Nicolas C. Solari developed and opened three beautiful vessels now cruising the mighty river. The river is one of the world's busiest waterways. Traffic includes commercial traffic transporting bulk goods such as coal as well as manufactured goods and passengers. Cargo transportation reached 795 million tons in 2005. River cruises several days long especially through the beautiful and scenic Three Gorges area are becoming popular as the tourism industry grows in China.

    Flooding along the river has been a major problem. The rainy season in China is May and June in areas south of Yangtze River, and July and August in areas north of it. The huge river system receives water both from southern and northern flanks, which causes its flood season to extend from May to August. Meanwhile, the relatively dense population and rich cities along the river make the floods more deadly and costly. The most recent major floods were the 1998 Yangtze River Floods, but more disastrous were the 1954 Yangtze river floods, killing around 30,000 people. Other severe floods included those of 1911 which killed around 100,000, 1931 (145,000 dead), and 1935 (142,000 dead).

    The Yangtze is very polluted, especially in Hubei (Shashi).

  3. How's the environment around Yangtze River?

    In 2007 fears were expressed that China's Finless Porpoise, known locally as the jiangzhu or'river pig' might follow the baiji, the Yangtze river dolphin, into extinction. The baiji was declared functionally extinct in 2006.

    Calls have been made for action to be taken to save the porpoise, of which there are about 1400 left living, with between 700 and 900 in the Yangtze, with about another 500 in Poyang and Dongting Lakes.

    2007 population levels are less than half the 1997 levels, and the population is dropping at a rate of 7.3 percent per year.

    Heavy river traffic on the Yangtze has driven the porpoise into the lakes. On Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, sand dredging has become a mainstay of local economical development in the last few years, and is an important source of revenue in the region that border it. But at the same time, high-density dredging projects have been the principal cause of the death of the local wildlife population.

    Dredging makes the waters of the lake muddier, and the porpoises cannot see as far as they once could, and have to rely on their highly-developed sonar systems to avoid obstacles and look for food. Large ships enter and leave the lake at the rate of two a minute and such a high density of shipping means the porpoises have difficulty hearing their food, and also cannot swim freely from one bank to the other. About 30% of river's major tributaries like Minjiang, Tuojiang, Xiangjiang and Huangpu are heavily polluted by massive quantities of ammonia, nitrogen, phosphorus and other pollutants which are causing significantly smaller fish catch.

    The Three Gorges Dam is having a major adverse impact on the Yangtze River basin, especially the biota and archaeology.

  4. When is the best time to cruise on the Yangtze River?

    Any time is okay to travel when ships are sailing. The most popular times are April, May, September, October and even November as the good weather lingers much longer in China than that in North America.


  5. What's the difference between upstream and downstream?

    The advantage and disadvantage of upstream trip and downstream trip is the following

    • UPSTREAM

      1, Upstream trip is more relax and comfortable because of one more day staying on the cruise ship. The passengers will not feel tired and busy during these days.

      2, For foreigners, you may have more chance to know and learn some chinese culture and custom.

      3, For persons who have not enough time to travel, upstream is not a good selection.

      4, The place of the begining is Yichang city in which the airport route is not enough for the travellers around the world.

    • DOWNSTREAM

      1, Chongqing has a bigger airport, so it's easier for them to get to Chongqing boarding the cruise ship from many cities.

      2, Most people think downstream trip gives you the feeling that you're going down the main stream.

      3, For some travellers who have not enough time. The downstream trip is best choice.

      4, As there are more people take downstream cruises, it's more expensive and more crowded.


  6. What are the sightseeings alongside the river?

    The cruise will allow you to enjoy some unique sights including superlative natural scenery, important historical sites.
    Some of the highlights from Chongqing to Yichuan are:

      • Chaotianmen Gate Chaotianmen Gate is the largest harbor on the upper reach of the Yangtze River. It is an amazing place where the brown, muddy Yangtze meets the clear Jialing River.

      • Fengdu Ghost City It is said to be the home of devil. The whole place has an eerie feel to it with deserted streets, tower blocks, empty shops and banks.

      • Shibaozhai Shibaozhai is a rectangular rock with sheer cliffs, standing on the riverside. A 12-storey red wooden pagoda with upturned eaves stands on the top.

      • Lesser Three Gorges The Lesser Three Gorges refers to the three separate valleys of the Daning River with the names of Dragon Gate Gorge, Misty Gorge and Emerald Gorge. The gorges are truly spectacular. Sheer cliffs soar up towards the sky from the brown-green water. Mountain tops hover above the ribbon of mist, disconnected from their roots.

      • Shennong Sream Shennong Stream is a tributary of the Yangtze River. The crystal clear steam flows swiftly from north to south through deep gorges.

      • Baidi City(White Emperor City) Baidi City clings to grand hills and cliffs. It is well known as 'the Poet City' Many ancient scholars once visited it and left many literary relics.

      • Gezhou Dam The dam is 2,606 meters long and 70 meters high. There will be 5 ship locks and even an elevator to lift smaller ships over the dam.

    Note: You may only see some of those sights along your trip, which depends on the ship you take.

  7. What does the cruise ticket include?

    The price is very comprehensive as it includes the accommodation, all meals on board, shore excursions and port taxes. The extra costs would be gratuity which is your personal discretion, drinks in bars, long distance telephone calls and faxes, laundry, barbershop, clinics, massage, shopping and others personal expenses.

  8. How are the ship meals arranged?

    Each ship has a big restaurant, which can accommodate all passengers on board the ship. So, there are no shifts on board the ship.Passengers are arranged at appointed tables, which are planned by travel group, nationality, habit of food, religion and culture. Usually, ten persons are at one table. Sometimes, three to five persons are at one table, which depend on the total number of the passengers. There are many collective activities such as shore excursions and they have fixed schedules, so the meal schedules are fixed, too. It takes 1-1.5 hours to have your meals rely on the schedule. A three-star or above cruise ship provides room dinner service and local flavor banquet if you book half or one day in advance. If you are a patient, or Moslem, or Buddhist, you may give advanced notice. Diet, vegetarian, low sugar and low salt food are also available.

    Each ship has a welcome banquet and farewell banquet, on which dishes are delivered to table. Some five-star ships offer authentic western banquets, with silver forks and knives, provide imported butter, cheese. Most cruise ships arrange buffet meals, with both Chinese and western food.

    Most ships also take orders for Chinese dishes. If you want to treat somebody special on the ship, even with a banquet, it can be arranged. The main menu is published on the notice board in front of the restaurant. Ask the waiter or waitress if you are not sure.

    Here is a list of food provided on board:

      • Chinese Wine Tsingtao Dry Wine, Dynasty Dry White Wine, Dynasty Red Wine, Loyal

      • Cocktail with Alcohol tw Medini, Grass Hopper, Whisky Sour, Teqinla Suririse, Planter Punch, Tom Collins, Margarita, Daiquiri, Pina Bloody Mary.

      • Cocktail without Alcohol Royal Cruise, Pussy Foot, Fn, iit Punch

      • Soft Drinks (aerated water, mineral, juice) Cola, Diet Cola, Spirit Sodri Tonic, Evian Water, Pemer Water, Localwater, Orange Juice, Tomato Juice, Coconut Milk

      • Aperiiifs Campari, Pemo4 Martini

      • Sherry Port Cream Sheny, Fino Sheny, Sandeman Port

      • Whisky Scotch Whisky, Whisky, Irish Whisky, Malt Whisky, Bour Whisky

      • Vodka Smimoff Vodka, Stolichiiaya Vodka

      • Gin, Gordonfs

      • Rum Captain Morgen, Bacardi Rum

      • Congnac Courvoisier Napolone, Remy Martin. Hennessy

      • Congnac Courvoisier X. O, Remy Martin X. O, Hennessy X. O, Martell Cordon Bleu

      • Spirit Pernod, Underberg, Tequila

      • Beer and Stout Carlsberg, Heineken. San Miguel, Stout

      • Chinese Spirits Fen Jiu, Mao Tai, Bai Yun Bian, Wu Liang Ye

  9. What is the difference between an ocean cruise ship and a Yangtze River cruise ship on management structure?

    The management system on the Yangtze is simple. The general manager is in charge, which is different from ocean cruise vessels. Captain is in charge of the operation of mechanical part of the ship. He must concentrate on the sailing because there are lots of gorges, reefs and shoals in the river. The captains on the Yangtze River are experienced and have been examined and promoted strictly. Ordinarily, there are one hundred and half travelers and one hundred staffs on one ship.


  10. Is there any limit for luggage?

    There is no rule for the number of the pieces or weight of personal luggage on your cruise ship. But closet space is limited, so bring things you intend to use. There is a luggage rack in every room and luggage deposit service is available. If you are a member of a travel group, your luggage will be sent to ship in advance or arrive at the same time you check in. The luggage will be sent into your cabin by the bellboy once your cabin is assigned. If you are traveling individually, the bellboy will help you. But the ships usually charge $1 per piece, arrival or departure. Please note this is not tip and you have to pay upfront on the spot.If you want to pay tip when he has finished his job, give him one or two ten-yuan bills when you do not have a lot of stuff.

As the shortest and most spectacular of the Three Gorges, Qutang Gorge is also the narrowest one. With vertical cliffs of some thousand meters high as its two flanks, the Gorge is only a few dozens of meters wide just like a narrow gateway. Looking up towards the tops of towering steep mountains along the Gorge, one sees from a boat only a narrow strip of clouds and sky, but under foot the river roars through the gorge like galloping horses.

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