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| Lesser
Three Gorges |
| The
Lesser Three Gorges, together with its competitor port Shennong
Stream, are the 2 most exciting and famous stops in the Yangtze
Three Gorges. They are often called the "highlight" of the
cruise, or even the whole China trip. So you will always see one of
them. |
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| When
your cruise ship gets to the county seat of Wushan wedged between
Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, you may
get off there and take a side trip upstream on the Daning River, the
chief tributary of the Yangtze River in the Three Gorges area, and
explore the Lesser Three Gorges. The Daning River is 300 kilometer
long. The 50 kilometer long stretch from Dragon Gate Gorge in the
south to Tujiaba in the north is even narrower that the narrowest
part of the Three Gorges. Plank road, old coffins of the ancient Ba
ethnic group, monkeys and birds in the bushes feature this part of
the river. |
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The Lesser Three Gorges view from sky |
| The
Lesser Three Gorges in Wushan refers to the three separate valleys
of the Daning River, namely "Dragon-Gate Gorge", "Misty
Gorge" and "Dicui (Emerald) Gorge". These three gorges,
with an area of 160 hectares of forest, lie on the lower reaches of
Daning, extending from the entrance of the Dragon-Gate Gorge in the
South to Tujiaba in the North for 50 km. Here sheer cliffs and steep
mountains rise on either side, creating one of natural fine arts gallery
as natural scenic wonders unfold on both banks of the river. Clear
water flows between precarious precipices and peaks covered with green
trees and bushes. Here you can board a small junk to enjoy the spectacular
views and experience a water-borne sensation you never did before.
Its "subtle mountains, clear waters, pretty rocks, dangerous
rapids, sharp turns, fantastic caves, and stalactites in various shapes"
characterize the natural landscape in the Lesser Three Gorges. Monkeys,
mandarin ducks, water birds and fish can be seen in this area. In
addition to the continuous natural scenery there are a number of historical
places of interest along the way, such as suspending coffin, boat
coffin, remains of ancient plank walkway. The area has been made one
of the key nature reserves in China and is becoming known as a tourist
attraction continuing to offer its charms. |
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| Dragon-Gate
Gorge, 3 km long, is the shortest of the three, stretching from the
Dragon-Gate Bridge to the Rapids of Silver Nest. It is spectacular
due to the mountains on both sides that are so high that they seem
to touch the sky. In the gorge, there are the remains of the longest
ancient plank walkway in China and a number of scenic sights, such
as the Dragon-Gate Spring, Gate Guarded by Lion, Nine Dragons Pillar,
etc. Shooting the Rapids of Silver Nest, the boats fly like arrows.
The Daning then meanders through terraced hillside before entering
the Misty Gorge. The boat has to pass the Panda Cave, Nameless Gorge
and Pipazhou. |
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Longmen
(Dragon Gate) Gorge |
| Misty
Gorge, 10 km long, starts at the Tortoise Shoal and ends at the Double-Dragon
Town. Stalactites in numerous shapes and various sculptured groups
have formed on both banks of the river. A good imagination is all
your need to enjoy the sights and perhaps discover a few of your own.
The traditionally seen shapes resemble the Monkey Fishing in the Air, |
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Bawu
Gorge |
| Horse-Returning
to Mountain, Dragon In and Tiger Out, Dragon-returning Cave, Fairy
Peach Peak, Fairy Throwing a Silk Ball, the Goddess of Mercy Seated
on Lotus Platform, Piggy Worshipping the Goddess of Mercy, Suspending
Coffin. All are remarkably lifelike, and many scenes are related to
wonderful fairy tales or touching legends. |
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| Emerald
Gorge extends for 20 km from the Double-Dragon Town to Tujiaba. It
is the longest and also gathers the beauty of the Lesser Three Gorges.
On the banks, each peak seems more beautiful than the other does and
the bamboo groves are luxuriantly verdant. No waterfall in not swift;
no water is not green. Mandarin ducks swim in pairs in the river and
monkeys leap from branch to branch. Other scenic spots include the
Water Curtain Cave, Stalactitic Buddha on Cliff, the Dancing Rain
from Heavenly Spring, Sheep Cliff, the Mini-Three Gorges on Madu River,
Imitation Plank Paths, Steel Rope Bridge, Sky-Scraping Red Wall, Boat
Coffin, Two Eagles Playing on Screen and Flying Clouds Cave. |
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The
Lesser Three Gorges, like a shinning pearl hidden in remote mountains,
has created a great attraction to the tourists both at home and abroad.
Those who have been to the place seem to return to the embrace of
nature. Tourists' hearty praise of the Lesser Three Gorges goes that
this is the most splendid river adventure throughout China. In order
to make it known to the outside world, they take photographs, write
articles, compose poems and draw paintings enthusiastically one after
another.
You'll find a cordial reception both in the natural scenery and in
warm local people. Welcome you, tourists of the entire world over,
to one of the Forty Top Tourist Attractions of China -- the Lesser
Three Gorges in Wushan. |
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The
boats used in Lesser Three Gorges |
| Other
scenic spots include: Yinwo (Silver) Shoal, Stalactite Buddhism Cliff,
Mianyang (Sheep) Cliff, White Dragon Crossing the River Waterfall,
Madu River. |
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Grand
Canyon in the Lesser Three Gorges |
| Lesser
Three Gorges (2) |
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Relating
topics:
Smallest Three Gorges in Madu River
Goddess Peak in Wu Gorge
Tales about the Goddess Peak
Twelve Peaks of Mt. Wu
Cloud and Rain over Mt. Wu
Mt. Wu, or Wu Mountain
Wu Gorge
Monkey Cries in Classic Poems
about Three Gorges
Shennong Stream |
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