The Xiling Gorge Guide

Xiling Gorge is the last and also the longest of the Three Gorges, 75 kilometers long, starting from the Dadong County in the west and ending at the Nanjin Pass of Yichang in the east, crossing Hubei Province entirely. The name of Xiling Gorge came from the mountain of the same name that is located at the ending point of the Three Gorges. Xiling Gorge consists of four smaller gorges (from the west) called Military Books and Precious Sword Gorge (Bingshu Baojian Xia), The Ox's Liver and Horse's Lung Gorge (Niugan Mafei Xia), Kongling Gorge and Lantern Shadow Gorge (Dengying Xia).

In old times, the Xiling Gorge used to be a dangerous part of the Yangtze for boat people because there are many treacherous rapids and dangerous reefs and whirlpools in the river. But nowadays the gorge has become a safe and beautiful waterway, easy for travelling with magnificent scenery displaying at two sides. The most famous historical sites, cultural relics and natural scenery in this area are: the Huangling Temple with over 1800 years history; Quyuan Ancestral Hall, an old temple to honor the memory of Quyuan; and the Sanyou Cave.

Crowned as the most wonderful gorge scenery, Xiling Gorge is a popular travel spot along the Yangtze River with its various gorges with different styles and zigzagging rapids with whirlpools. Many great poets and artists in ancient times had admired and marveled at its beauty and magnificence. Now it has become a highlight of the cruise and has been praised by numerous travellers, both native and foreign. The vast construction site of the world's largest hydro-electric project, the Three Gorges Dam, offers the possibility of side travels to view the lock and ship lift mechanisms and an exhibition about the dam.

• The Xiling Gorge
• The Wu Gorge
• The Qutang Gorge
• White King Town
• Shibaozhai
• Three Gorges Dam
• The Ghost City of Fengdu
• Shennong Stream
• The Yangtze River
• Wanxian County