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The Yangtze River (Changjiang), over 6,300 kilometers long, is the largest and longest river in China, and the third-longest in the world, next only to the Nile in northeast Africa and the Amazon in South America. It is called the mother river of the Chinese nation which rises in the Qinghai-Tibet and Flows through eight provinces before disgorging its waters into the Yellow Sea. This extensive waterway cuts through the heart of China, and is regarded by the Chinese as marking the division of their country into north and south, both Geographically and culturally. Along the watercourse, There are many famous scenic spots and historical sites by both sides, which form an integral part and enjoy a high reputation in the world.
The most impressive section of the river is the three Yangtze River Gorges: Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge, collectively known as Sanxia, or the Three Gorges. They are the sole canyon for tourists to visit the whole course in the world.
The Three Gorges have an ineffable scenery. The splendors of Qutang Gorge, the elegance of Wu Gorge and the adventurousness of Xiling Gorge form the majestic picture of this world-renowned tour resort. Qutang Gorge which runs eight kilometers, is the shortest among the Three Gorges and the most spectacular. When the river flows out of Qutang Gorge and passes the broad valley of the Daning River, it enters the scenic Wuxia Gorge. Noted for its deep and serene scenes, Wuxia Gorge is full of zigzag, weird peaks, rising mists and beautiful sights. The longest among the yangtze gorges, Xiling Gorge stretches west to east for 76 kilometers and is known for turbulent rapids and numerous shoals.
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Located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, Fengdu is an ancient city with a long history, known as the “Fengdu Ghost City” to most Chinese people; it got its reputation as the “Fengdu Ghost City” in the Eastern Han Dynasty (A.D.25-A.D.220). Two officials from the imperial court Wang Fangping and Yin Changsheng, got bored with the political life in the court and came to Mt. Minshan outside Fengdu City to practice Taoist teachings. Both of them later became immortals by carrying out self-cultivation. This story widely spread and makes Mt..Minshan become famous. When combined together, their surnames Yin and Wang, sound very much like “King of Hell” in Chinese, hence the people began to call Fengdu the “Fengdu Ghost City”. |
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It is a hill along the bank of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in Zhong County, chongqing, China. This rocky and craggy hill has extremely steep sides and is about 200 meters (700 feet) tall. On the river side of the hill is a red pavilion of nine floors which leans against the side of the hill providing a walkway to the temple at the top of the hill. A yellow entrance at the base of the pavilion provides an entrance. At the top of Shibaozhai is a three-storied hall dedicated to Manjusri built during the reign of the Xianfeng Emperor (1850-1861), called the Purple Rain Pavillion. In the year 1819, the nine-story pavilion was constructed adjacent to the cliff to aid people in getting to the top of the hill. Prior to the construction of the pavilion, visitors to the temple were hoisted to the top using a system of chains. In 1956, three more stories were added at the top of the structure.
At the base of the hill alongside the river bank is a row of merchant stalls which follows the path from the dock to the entrance of the pavilion.
Many river cruise boats dock at Shibaozhai for a few hours to allow passengers to tour the pavilion and temple.
With the construction of the Three Gorges Dam the base of the red pavilion will be beneath the water level. There are plans to build a coffer dam around the base to protect it from the rising water level.
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Wu Gorge, long and deep, has fantastic scenery with countless twists and turns. The Twelve Peaks are breathtaking and lie on both sides of Wu Gorge. Among the twelve peaks, the Goddess Peak is the most strange and attractive one.
The legend about the goddess Peak is popular in the area of the Wushan Mountains. There are several versions. In memory of her, the local people in ancient times gave her the honorable title of “Wonderful True Taoist” and a Taoist temple (the Goddess Temple), which was built at the foot of Flying Phoenix Peak.
When traveling in the Wu Gorge, people are most concerned about whether the charismas of the Twelve Peaks of the Wu Gorge still remain. “The Goddess Peak if she is still there, will marvel at a world so changed.” Today the Twelve Peaks still compete their beauty and magnificence each other. The Goddess Peak is still slim and elegant. Romantic stories and legends attract countless tourists |
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About 40 minutes from the mouth of the river, at its confluence with the Yangtze River, the entrance to the first of the gorges is reached. This is the Dragon Gate Gorge (Longmen Xia), 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) long. The excursion is undertaken in air-conditioned boats, whose strong experienced boatmen pole with all their might when the river is too shallow for the engine to be used, heaving their bodies forward as they thrust long iron-tipped bamboo poles into the riverbed and following through until they are almost lying on their backs in their struggle against the current. Some of the local boats encountered are not motorized and the boatmen must tow the boats --- laden with local merchandise and tracking in harness, along the waters edge or along cut pathways in the rock face. Negotiating a rapid may take several exhausting attempts before the boat is finally hauled over. Unfortunately, while the splendor of the scenery will remain, by 2003, the waters having risen about 50 meters (164 feet), the trackers paths will have disappeared, and this description will be a souvenir of times gone by. |
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Shen Nong Stream is a tributary of the Yangtze River, located in the Hubei Province of central China. Originally the Shen Nong Stream watercourse consisted of a wild river traversing a tortuous alignment flanked by almost vertical limestone cliffs; however, since the beginning of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam downstream on the Yangtze, the water level has risen approximately 155 meters at the mouth of Shen Nong Stream. The lower reaches of the Shen Nong Stream are presently a torpidly flowing river, most of whose previously scenic vertical gorge is now submerged. By the completion of the dam construction in 2009, a further 20 meters of gorge will be inundated. Shen Nong Stream is also known by its Chinese name of "Shen Nong Xi". |
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The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River has been a dream for generations and will be one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by mankind. This great dam, the largest of its kind in the world, will provide China with tremendous power generation and flood control services. It was in 1992 that the Chinese Government finally gave the go ahead for the scheme, some seventy years after Dr. Sun Yet-Sen, pioneer of the Chinese democratic revolution, first proposed the idea.
It is planned to be by far the largest hydroelectric project in the world. The Project calls for the construction of a concrete dam, a hydroelectric power plant and a series of locks just below the scenic Three Gorges region. The project is designed to be built in three phases and is scheduled for completion in year 2009.
One of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the world, the Three Gorges Project will forever change the face of the Yangtze River as we know it today. Possessing comprehensive utilization benefits mainly for flood control, power generation and navigation improvement. It will be a vital important and backbone project in harnessing and developing of the Yangtze River. |
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