Qutang Gorge

Qutang Gorge extends eastward from White Emperor Town to Daxi Town. Since the gorge is no more than eight kilometers long a downstream voyage is a short trip away. It has the capability of controlling the waters from Sichuan in the east and dominating the mountains of Hubei in the west. The river is flanked with steep cliffs and towering peaks. Mt. ChiJia in the north and Mt. Baiyan in the south penetrate into the sky facing each other closely with the bluffs almost touching in mid-air teetering dangerously. Looking from a distance on a fine day, one sees the former resembling a huge pink peach and the latter a huge heap of white salt constantly glittering. The two mountains disappear into the mist and clouds every now and then, creating one of the most spectacular scenes of the Yangtze gorges. The widest spot of the river is about two hundred meters and the narrowest spot is only ten meters. At Kuimen,the steep cliffs on either side look like two gigantic doors closing in on the roaring river and holding the strategic pass between Sichuan and Hubei perilously. Kuimen has been marveled as the most dangerous pass in the world. Darkening the daylight with only a narrow opening and the thundering river rolling by vigorously, it sounds like thousands of horses galloping ahead. You can’t help but marvel at the scene and wonder whether you are sailing.