Qutang Gorge
Why visit here?
The Qutang Gorge is the shortest, most imposing, and spectacular of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Only 8 kilometers long, its vertical cliffs rise up to a thousand meters, narrowing the riverbed to a mere hundred meters wide. It is the true gateway to the gorges.
Its icon is Kui Gate, formed by two enormous cliffs that appear to have been split by a giant axe. At its feet, the greenish waters of the river roar, forming whirlpools. The ancients believed that dragons inhabited these whirlpools, protecting the boats that dared to cross them.
On the walls of the canyon, you can still see the wooden platforms where the Yangtze porters, the trackers, dragged the junks upstream. Further up, the Treasure Chest Caves hold archaeological mysteries, and hundreds of inscriptions in ancient calligraphy narrate the passage of poets and imperial officials.
From the viewpoints, the gorge reveals its legendary profiles: the Peak of the Essay, the Golden Rooster Gorge, and the Peak of the Heavenly Axe. Clouds entangle themselves in the peaks while cruise ships glide silently beneath the gaze of the cliffs that guard the spirit of China's oldest river.
Pros & Cons
- The iconic Kuimen Gate on the back of China's RMB 10 note is this exact spot. Hold up your bill against the actual gorge; the mountains haven't moved a centimeter
- Fog is beautiful in photos, brutal for visibility
Recommended Tours incl.
Qutang Gorge
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