No.5 Three Gorges

No.6 The Guilin

Three Gorges of Yangtse River

Apart from being the longest river in China and Asia, the Yangtze River is renowned for its having possessed a good number of historical sites and enchanting scenic spots.

Sailing downstream on the Yangtze from Chongqing to Wuhan, you are surely able to see the world-famous Three Gorges.

Qutang Gorge is the gateway between East Sichuan and Hubei Province. With overhanging precipices rising vertically on both sides, the gorge is like a narrow corridor. Hence the name Kui Gate or Qutang Pass. The river water is forced in between turbulent waves roaring on like wild horses stampeding. On the north bank of the gorge is the Red Halmet Mountain which looks crimson. Opposite it stands the White Salt Mountain. Beside Baidicheng, there are many scenic spots and places of historical interest in the gorge, such as the peculiar" Iron Lock Pass", the legendary Mengliang Staircase, an ancient plank road built on cliff faces and the mysterious Golded Cave.

Wuxia Gorge stretches across Sichuan and Hubei Provinces from the Daning River estuary in Sichuan to the Guandukou in Hubei. Flanked by craggy peaks and grotesque rock, it forms a meandering scenic gallery. Sometimes there seems no way ahead, suddenly an unimpeded path is in front. There are twelve peaks standing on both banks. Six line the north bank, the other six are on the south bank, and the most fascinating is perhaps the Goddess Peak. Legend says that after Yu the Great, a legendary river-taming hero, split the Wushan Mountains to release a huge body of flood water, a Goddess named Yao Ji flew to the scene. She helped the local people by killing marauding tigers in the mountains and sending heavenly birds to guide boatmen through the rapids and past dangerous reefs. The people built a temple to her, to show their respect and gratitude, and in return she became a mountain peak to keep eternal watch over them.

Xiling Gorge begins at the mouth of Fragrant Stream in the west and ends at Nanjin Pass in the east. It is known for its numerous hidden rocks, dangerous shoals and turbulent rapids. Xiling Gorge consists of four small gorges and several dangerous shoals, Kongling Shoal and Yaochahe Shoal.

Located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, Fengdu is an ancient city with long history. It is also known as the so-called "Abode of Ghosts." According to superstious legend, "the dead come to Fengdu and the devils go to hell." Since the Tang Dynasty, forty-eight temples have been built in this place, such as the "Hall of the Jade Emperor," the "Palace of Hell, " "Boundary Between the Living and the Dead, " the "ridge of Helplessness," and the "Balcony of Nostalgia." All of the temples there look quite magnificent while statues are extremely lifelike.

Situated on the north bank of the Yangtze River near Zhongxian County, Shibaozhai is a huge crag over ten metres high. Since its rectangular shape looks like a huge seal, it is called" Jade Seal Hill." Atop the hill is a temple called "Lanrou Hall. " A twelve-storey pagoda-shaped wooden pavilion contains a staircase leading up the way from ground to the hilltop, which is otherwise difficult to reach.

Located on the south bank of the Yangtze River in Yunyang County, 64,000 metres away from Wanzhou, the Zhang Fei Temple, built in memory of Zhang Fei, the famous general during the Three Kingdoms Period, is one of the well-known scenic spots in Sichuan Province. As an architectural complex, it has now become one of the famous cultural and historical relics on the Yangtze River. There are famous poems, calligraphy, stone and wood carvings and paintings in the temple. So the place is noted for its having housed some gems of the artistic works.

The Terra Cotta Warriors

Guilin, a city named after its lovely osmanthus, is hailed by many as being the most beautiful place in China. In an old Chinese saying, "Gulin overshadows all other cities of China for scenery". Its shapely-rising limestone towers and crystal-clear waters are portrayed in many Chinese works of art. It also has some fascinating caves. The city, which has inspired painters and poets for centuries, is in the northeast corner of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

There are more than 30 noted scenic spots within the boundaries of Guilin Peak, a hill standing in solitary loftiness in the center of the city; Elephant Trunk Hill, the city's symbol, so named because of its resemblance to an elephant sipping water from the Lijiang River with its trunk; Piled Festoon Hill that is broken here and there with its rock strata exposed on its sides like piles of fancy festoons; and Crescent Hill that is named after its moon-shaped cave opening.

There are two fantastic cave in the area--- the seven-star-rock cave, which derives its name from the arrangement of surrounding peaks resembling the pattern of the stars of the Great Bear constellation, and Reed-Flute Cave, named after the reeds growing around the cave mouth. They both contain spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

A boat trip from Guilin along the Lijiang River will present one of the finest excursions on your tour of China. The journey downstream to Yangshuo offers 30 miles of breathtaking scenery.

One of the first points of interest is pagoda-capped Elephant Trunk Hill, or Xiangbishan, long used as the symbol of Guilin. A little further downstream you will pass, on your left, Baotashan with a Ming Dynasty pagoda on top. East of it stands Chuanshan, or the Hill with the Hole. Then begins a series of beautiful scenes that unfold as you glide away from Guilin on your journey south.

On nearing the Erlang Gorge, a huge cliff comes into view. This is the famous "Picture Hill" which resembles horses of different colors in different positions.

On the right, after passing Picture Hill, is Huangbu (Yellow Cloth) Beach. Here the river is wide and flows gently. Seven graceful peaks are likened to seven quiet young girls standing shoulder to shoulder. The fabled Xingping Wonderland begins here. Xingping is a famous, ancient town. Caishi Hill looms high in front of the town, while behind are is thick with bamboo groves. As the boat sails near, and disturbs the peace, egrets take wing, adding charm to the picturesque scene.

The cruise ends at the colorful market town of Yangshuo. Your car or bus will then take you back to Guilin. On the way, you will see something of the lush countryside of the province.