Yellow Ox Gorge
The Yangtze zigzags its way through the Xiling Gorge, in a series of S-bends. With the rapid current rushing between rocky outcrops, navigating this section is extremely difficult, even though the scenic spots here are among the best in the area.
Yellow Ox Gorge, in the middle section of the Xiling Gorge, is named after Yellow Ox Mountain on the south bank of the river. With a height of 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), the mountain takes on a reddish brown color in the semblance of a man leading an ox. People passing by are bound to marvel at this masterpiece of nature. This natural image of a dark strong man and a yellow ox on the cliff hangs in high view. The Chinese Classic in the 6th century, Commentary on the Waterways, had the spectacle described in detail.
There is a legend that the Ox was in fact the one that helped Yu the Great (a tribal leader in ancient times) in dredging the Yangtze River. In honor of its great contribution, a Yellow Ox Temple was constructed at the foot of the mountain. Since it was originally built during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) , the temple has undergone reconstruction several times, and the name was changed to Huangling Temple, as it is known nowadays. It is recognized as the oldest architectural feature in the Three Gorges region.
Kongling Gorge
Kongling Gorge is a section of the Xiling Gorge where people were once fearful of traveling on because of the dense shoals that were once hidden from view. Because of the dangerous hidden shoals, Kongling Shoals were once known as the 'Gate of Hell'. In the past many ships and boats capsized or overturned and large number of people lost their lives in the gorge. More recently the shoals in this area have been removed and the conditions of navigation have greatly improved greatly with the construction of the Gezhouba Dam and the Three Gorges Dam. With the construction of the Gezhouba Dam the level of the river has risen 80 to 90 meters (262 - 295 feet) higher that what it once was which has enabled river traffic to pass through this area safely and without fear.
Ox Liver and Horse Lungs Gorge
It is five kilometers from Qingtan Shoal on the north bank. A lump of reddish brown shale suspended in the east, taking a shape of a bull's liver, and a dark brown rock in the west resembling a horse's lung, hence the name 'Ox Liver and Horse Lungs'. One of the 'Horse's Lungs' is missing, blown up by British gunboats during the reign of Guangxu (1875 - 1908) in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) .
