Qutang Gorge

From west to east, Qutang Gorge is the first gorge of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, also known as Kui Gorge, it is considered the most beautiful gorge of the three. It starts at Baidi Mountain in Fengjie District in the west and ends at Daxi Village in Wushan District in the east, with a length of 8 km, which is the shortest among the three gorges, however It is the steepest and most magnificent.

Attractions of Qutang Gorge

The Qutang Gorge Mountains are located in the valley, and some of them can reach up to 1,500 meters high. The river is not wide, and the widest part is about a hundred meters, while the narrowest is only a few tens of meters, which makes the cliffs on the river bank seem steeper.

Without a doubt, Qutang Gorge is an art gallery of natural landscapes and culture, there are many scenic spots and historical sites here, such as Fengjie Ancient Town, White Emperor City, Kuimen, etc. As the peaks along the two banks are between 3,281 and 4,921 feet high and the Yangtze River is only 109 to 219 yards wide, the Yangtze River looks like a narrow belt winding through deep canyons. The deep gorge, the rapid movement of the water and the mountain ranges form an imposing image.

Upstream from the mouth of the Qutang Gorge is the ancient Fengjie district, where you can admire the Ba Zhen Tu (Eight Element Battle Formation). In the gorge, White Emperor City stands on top of the north bank. On the south bank there is an unusual sight - the chalk wall, on which numerous inscriptions are carved. Additionally, the Mengliang Staircase and Hanging Monk Rock, which have a legend associated with them, are located on the south bank as well. Of course, the north bank has places of interest, such as Fengxiang Glen, where the ancient hanging coffins and the remains of the ancient plank road are located. The ancients chiseled holes for road supports into the steep face of the cliffs. The road was once the only means of transportation for people and goods while the river was in flood. In the magnificent Qutang Gorge there are other very grand attractions including Xi Wang Yue, a stone in the shape of a rhinoceros looking at the moon, the Iron Lock Pass, used to prevent enemy invasions during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) and the Daxi Cultural Heritage Relic, the perfect place to learn about Chinese Neolithic culture.

After the completion of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, great changes have occurred in the Qutang Gorge: Some historical relics along the two banks have been submerged in water. As a result, a unique image of a gentle lake emerging in the narrow gorge now appears.