The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River starts from Baidicheng in Fengjie County, Chongqing City in the west and ends at Nanjinguan in Yichang City, Hubei Province in the east, with a total length of 193 kilometers. Along the way, there are steep peaks and cliffs on both sides, and from west to east are Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge, and Xiling Gorge.
climatic conditions
The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River belong to the subtropical monsoon climate zone. In 2001 (December 2000 to November 2001), the overall climate characteristics of the Three Gorges Reservoir area were dry and warm. The annual precipitation in various regions is generally low, and the temperature is generally high. Compared with the usual season, the winter precipitation in the reservoir area is higher, and the precipitation in spring, summer, and autumn continues to be lower. The temperature changes significantly throughout the year, with higher temperatures in winter, autumn, early spring, and summer compared to usual, and lower temperatures in mid spring, early summer, and late summer. The average wind speed in the storage area is slightly lower than usual and has little seasonal variation.
Qutang Gorge
Qutang Gorge, located in Fengjie County, Chongqing, is 8 kilometers long and the shortest gorge in the Three Gorges. It is a majestic and steep gorge. At the entrance, there are cliffs and walls standing on both sides, less than 100 meters apart. It is shaped like a gateway and is called Kuimen, also known as Qutangxia Pass. There are five characters on the mountain rocks that read “Kuimen is the most powerful in the world”. The mountain on the left is called Chijia Mountain, and it is said that the ancient Ba state’s Chijia General once camped here. The pointed mouth of the mountain resembles a large peach, while the mountain on the right is called Baiyan Mountain, which always emits layers of silver brilliance, whether bright or dark, regardless of the weather. Although Qutang Gorge is short, it can “control the waters of Chongqing and Sichuan, and choke the throat of Ba and E”, with a magnificent momentum of “controlling Ba and Chongqing to the west and collecting thousands of valleys, and connecting Jingchu to the east to suppress mountains”. The ancients described Qutangxia as follows: ‘The case connects with the heavenly gate, and the boat travels through the underground cave.’.
Wu Gorge
Wuxia is located in Wushan County, Chongqing and Badong County, Hubei. It stretches for 45 kilometers from the mouth of the Daning River in the east of Wushan County to Guandukou in Badong County, including Jinlan Yinjia Gorge and Tiecoffin Gorge. The gorge is particularly deep and winding, formed by the Yangtze River crossing the Wushan main vein anticline. Wuxia, also known as Daxia, is renowned for its deep and beautiful scenery. The entire gorge area is characterized by abrupt peaks, rugged rocks, and continuous cliffs, making it the most impressive section of the Three Gorges. It is like a winding gallery, full of poetic and literary charm. It can be said that there are scenery everywhere, and the scenery is connected.
Xiling Gorge
Xiling Gorge is located in Zigui County, Yichang City, Hubei Province. It starts from Xiangxikou in the west and ends at Nanjinguan in the east, with a length of about 66 kilometers. It is the longest gorge in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and is famous for its many beaches and fast flowing water.
The flood season of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River is the peak season for Three Gorges tourism. During this time, visitors can fully enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides of the river. Only during this period can boats travel to the Three Gorges. During the dry season, there may be some places where boats cannot travel due to shallow water, causing regrets. But after the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, the water level in the Three Gorges section rose by more than 100 meters, and there is no difference between high and low water when visiting the Three Gorges.
The tourism of the Three Gorges has its own characteristics, such as the fact that scenic spots are located on both sides of the strait, and the mountains and steep ridges on both sides are not suitable for driving. Therefore, the most ideal way to visit the Three Gorges is by waterway. Generally speaking, when it comes to visiting the Three Gorges, unless otherwise specified, it is referred to as a boat tour.