Xiling Gorge


Xiling Gorge, starting from Xiangxi (Fragrant Stream) Kou of Zigui County in the west and ending at Nanjin Pass in the east, zigzagging about 49 miles, is the longest among the three gorges of the Yangtze River. However, Xiling Gorge has become a highlight of the Yangtze River Cruise and has been praised by numerous visitors, both native and foreign.

What to see? 
Xiling Gorge is also well known for its danger because of numerous reefs and odd-shaped stones existing in rapid shoals,Scenery along the Xiling Gorge is spectacular. Some renowned streams, springs, stones and karst caves can be found along this section.  As many historic celebrities such as Qu Yuan and Bai Juyi have been here and left numerous poems praising its natural scene , it is bestowed with a great sense of history.

Four smaller gorges
Xiling Gorge is mainly composed of smaller gorges and dangerous shoals. From west to east, there are four gorges - The Military Books and Precious Sword Gorge (Bingshu Baojian Xia), The Ox and Horse Lungs Gorge (Niugan Mafei Xia), Kongling Gorge, and Lantern Shadow Gorge (Dengying Xia) - and some dangerous shoals such as Qingtan, Xietan, Xintan and Konglingtan. In the past, a great number of boats have sunk here, striking the reefs in the rapid flow of water. Thanks to the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project, the water now has been calmed to some extent.

Huangling Temple
Situated on the south bank of the Yangtze River, within the Xiling Gorge and 7 kilometers away from the Three Gorge Dam site, Huangling Temple is one of the oldest ancient buildings in the three Gorges area. Huangling Temple was the first built in the Spring and Autumn Periods over 2500 years ago, which was a truly splendid building with crimson walls and yellow roof. Legend says this temple was built to honor Yu the Great, who found the method of managing the flood of Yangtze River, also the first ruler of the Xia Dynasty (about 2000B.C-1600B.C.)(the first Chinese Dynasty). And remind people how to harass the raging Yangtze River.

Three Travelers' Cave
Also known as Sanyoudong 三游洞 in Chinese, the  Three Travelers' Cave is located  In the sheer cliff at the northern side of Xiling Gorge , one of three gorges, there lies Sanyou Cave, which is that is about 10 kilometers or about 6 miles away from Yichang City. Thus, it offers possibly the best cave scenery in the Three Gorges area. As early as the Tang Dynasty, poets have come here to appreciate the scenery and leave poetic inscriptions.   It is still a must-see in the Three Gorges area for the scenery and the ancient inscriptions that are still left. Highlights at the sight are seeing the cave itself, seeing the scenery, walking up the path from the cave to the Zhixin Pavilion, and the ancient inscriptions. 

Nanjin Pass
As one of the two natural gateways of the Yangtze River (the other is Kui Gate, the gate of Qutang Gorge), Nanjin Pass is the end of Xiling Gorge at the eastern end of the Three Gorges. As your boat cruises downstream out of Nanjin Pass, the scenery of dangerous cliffs and shoals will be left behind as the middle section of the Yangtze River begins. On the two banks of Nanjin Pass, cragged peaks tower into the sky majestically and river narrows. So the pass makes this part of Yangtze River like a mouth of a flask. Here is the natural boundary of the upper and middle sections of Yangtze River and frequently the point of battles in history due to its great strategic value. Nowadays, because of the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project, great changes have taken place in Nanjin Pass. A bridge, navigation tower and buildings have replaced part of the dangerous cliffs. Standing on the bridge, the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project is just within view.


Travel Tips
Add: No.8,Nanjinguan Road,Xiling Ditrict,Yichang City  宜昌市西陵区南津关路8号
Tel: 0717-8862161
Opening Hours: 08:30-17:00
http://www.xilingxia.cn/


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