Qutang Gorge is the first gorge of the Three Gorges when cruising downstream along the Yangtze River. Though it is the shortest and narrowest one, it is the most imposing and steep gorge among the three.
Qutang Gorge Attractions:
Chalk Wall and Water-Stealing Holes Mengliang Stairway and Iron Lock Pass Bellows Gorge
Also named Kui Gorge, Qutang Gorge is 8 km (5 miles) long from Baidi City in Fengjie, Chongqing, to Daxi County in Wushan, Sichuan. As soon as your cruise ship enters the Qutang Gorge, you will first be inexpressibly astonished at the huge Kui Gate, which composed of a red Mt. Chijia and a white Mt. Baiyan. As your cruise on, you enter a Chinese landscape painting scroll. The peaks along the banks average 1,000 to 1,500 meters (3,280 to 4,921 feet) high, while the billowy Yangtze River cuts sharply down to the bottom of the valley, where the narrowest section of the river surface is less than 50 meters (54 yards). The narrow valley of Qutang Gorge makes it the most critical section of all the rivers in Sichuan and Chongqing area since ancient times. Further more, all shapes of hills and rocks on the mountains show the wonders of nature. You will find a phoenix holding up her head and regaling herself with sweet spring, a lively rhinoceros looking at the moon, and a "monk" hanging up-side-down on the cliff.
In addition to its spectacular natural scenery, Qutang Gorge is also known as a gallery of culture and arts. On Baiyan Mountain, there are the sites of Wushan Ape Man, which dates back to 2 million years ago. You can also find the 2,000-year-old hanging coffins and ancient battlefield of more than 2,000 years of history in Qutang Gorge. Located at the west end of Qutang Gorge, Kuizhou Ancient Town is the political, economic, and cultural center of Fengjie County. The ancient site of Yong'an Palace of the Three Kingdoms Period (220 - 280) enhanced the history of the town to nearly 2,000 years. There are also famous Baidi City, Dufu's Thatched Cottage, and Yufu Tower. Standing on the cruise ship, you will also see the mysterious Mengliang Stairway, impressive Chalk Wall which demonstrates the splendid art of Chinese calligraphy, and the amazing ancient Kuiwu Plank Road built along the face of the cliffs.
Kui Gate
Kui Gate is composed of two mountains at the western mouth of Qutang Gorge, Mount Baiyan and Mount Chijia. Mount Chijia (red armors in English) is covered with red rocks, resembling a giant in red armor, while Mount Baiyan (white salt in English) is composed of white limestone, which looks like a salt mountain. The two mountains stand opposite at the northern and southern bank of Yangtze River, like a heavenly-made gate for the river, hence the name Kui Gate. Yangtze River at Kui Gate is trussed by the mountains to only one hundred meters (109 yards) wide, and the river flow reaches 50,000 to 60,000 cube meters per second, so you will see the spectacular view of the river striving to rush out the "gate" between two huge and steep mountains when your cruise ship leaves the western end of Qutang Gorge. Actually, the magnificent view of Kui Gate has already been printed on the paper money of CNY 10.
Kuiwu Plank Road
Kuiwu Ancient Plant Road is 65 km long from the foot of Baidi City to Qinglian Stream in Wushan. The construction lasted for 3 years from 1888 to 1891 during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). The plank road is known for its dangerousness. In Qutang Gorge, part of the plank road was chipped on the cliffs of northern bank. After it was finished, Kuiwu Plank Road became the key route connecting Fengjie and Wushan at that time. However, part of the road was submerged under water due to the Three Gorges Project.
