Three Gorges

From Wiki China org cn
Qutang Gorge, Chongqing
Wu Gorge, Chongqing
Xiling Gorge, Chongqing

The Three Gorges refer to the Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge.

The Qutang Gorge is the first of the three and extends eight kilometers, from Kuimen near Baidi City in the west to Daxi Town in Wushan County in the east. It measures no more than 150 meters at its widest point and less than 100 meters at its narrowest point. A dozen or so tributaries of the Yangtze River converge and flush through the narrow cliffs of Kuimen in frightening surges. An ancient plank road, over a meter wide, at the precipice on the northern side of the Yangtze River winds from Baidi City to Qinglian River of Wushan County for 65 kilometers. It was first built in the Ming or Qing Dynasty or even earlier, and completed between 1888 and 1890.

The Wuxia Gorge covers a length of 46 km from the mouth of the Daning River of Wushan County in the west to Guandukou of Badong County in the east.

The Xiling Gorge is the longest of the Three Gorges, 76 km in length, from Xiangxikou of Zigui to Nanjinguan of Yichang, is noted for the quantity and speed of its rapids.