Three Gorges Grand Waterfall Scenic Area

Three Gorges Grand Waterfall Scenic Area

The Three Gorges Grand Waterfall Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Three Gorges Grand Waterfall (formerly known as: Baiguo Tree Waterfall) is located in the Xiaofeng Tourist Scenic Area. A half-hour drive from downtown Yichang will bring you to this renowned scenic area famous for its natural waterfall clusters and canyon forest landscapes. Upon entering the scenic area, you’ll be greeted by an old-fashioned forest path. To the left of the path is the gurgling stream, its waters cool, sweet, and crystal clear—sometimes rushing, sometimes meandering—winding along and continuously playing light, melodious, or stirring tunes. To the right of the path are continuous mountain ranges covered with dense forests and lush grass, where butterflies dance among blooming flowers and birds chirp in the valleys. Various precious trees and flowers are scattered throughout. Looking deep into the woods, you can even see groups of monkeys playing on the mountains. If you’re lucky enough to catch the feeder’s schedule, at the sound of a whistle, the monkey troop will leap down from the mountaintop through the trees. While you’re still marveling at their agility, they’ll soon settle down not far away to enjoy their meal. Such close contact with wild macaques is truly thrilling, isn’t it?

Traveling against the flow of water, you’ll encounter different mountains and diverse waters, with colorful scenery and breathtaking views everywhere, making it hard to take it all in. Scenic spots such as the Cambrian Heavenly Scriptures, Five Peaches Offering Longevity, Divine Turtle Greets Guests, Marvelous Brush Creates Flowers, Earth’s Rings, Scripture Cave, Paper-Pasted Cave, Water Curtain Cave, Turtle Laughing at the Sky, Horse-Drinking Rock, Unicorn, Long Bridge Flying Across, Bashu People’s Dawu Cave, Wild Man Valley, Tiger Mouth Waterfall, Pearl Waterfall, Buddha Leaf Nanmu, Dragon Pool, Grand Waterfall, and Mount Tai Giant Buddha—over 20 attractions and dozens of magical natural landscapes make every step of the scenic area a picturesque scene, each with its own beautiful legend.

Just as you are immersed in the beauty around you, a thunderous roar suddenly reaches your ears. Following the sound, you’ll see a huge white cascade hanging high in the mountains, stretching straight down to the valley floor—that’s the Three Gorges Grand Waterfall ! Getting closer, you can see the waterfall surging down, sending blooms of water and mist into the air, with gauze-like vapors drifting about and a rainbow stretching across the mountains, making the waterfall appear even more ruggedly majestic and incredibly beautiful. Standing on the waterfall viewing platform and looking up at the falls, the crystal-clear droplets that splash onto your face and body feel like a spring breeze, and you can sense the uniquely gentle side of the Baiguo Tree Waterfall. Below the waterfall is the pool, where the waters near the cascade foam and churn, white as snow, resembling the sky streaked by a jet plane. At the foot of the mountain behind the waterfall is a corridor, built entirely into the rock. Wearing a raincoat, you can walk along the corridor to look back at the waterfall, quietly admire its majestic descent, listen to the roaring sound like a tiger’s growl or dragon’s roar, feel the overwhelming momentum like a mountain collapsing or tsunami surging, and experience the “attack” of waterdrops like a hail of bullets—you’ll feel completely one with the waterfall, a sensation entirely different from that on the viewing platform. Compared to the Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou, known as “China’s No.1 Waterfall,” the 102-meter-high, 80-meter-wide Three Gorges Grand Waterfall is 30 meters taller, has a greater volume of water, and presents a more magnificent momentum, ceaselessly performing a moving “Heroic Symphony.”

To the left of the waterfall is a long, deep pool, surrounded by mountains on three sides. On the rocks are various small “mini waterfalls” of different sizes, with thin mists drifting down the mountains and falling into the pool like petals scattered by fairies. At the end of the pool lies another astonishing natural wonder—the Mount Tai Giant Buddha. The serene and kindly-faced Buddha on the huge rock is smiling gently with its mouth slightly open—undoubtedly bestowing blessings upon visitors. Legend has it that long ago, the region suffered from constant drought and people lived in misery. The locals prayed to the gods here, eventually moving the Tai Mountain fairy who was meditating here. She turned her tears into mountain spring water to save the people. Over a thousand years, a giant Buddha appeared on the rock, blessing and dispelling disasters, always effective. To show gratitude and commemorate the Tai Mountain fairy, the villagers built a popular ancient temple at the exit of the valley, renamed the place Tai Mountain Temple Village, and gave the name “Tai Mountain” to the Buddha. Praying sincerely in front of the statue here is believed to bring health, strength, and the fulfillment of wishes.

Returning via the channel on the other side of the stream, you’ll encounter another stretch of new scenery. The Three Gorges Grand Waterfall stream stretches 5 kilometers in total, with dozens of waterfalls of various sizes along the way, differing in shape, size, and flow: some are wide and deep, unfathomable; others are crystal clear with cheerful flows… Each spot is a favorite setting for photographers and a highlight in landscape paintings. After enjoying the water, you can also go hiking, wandering through the dense forests and truly savoring the thrill of being in a green maze. If you climb to the mountaintop, you can admire ancient dwellings hundreds of years old, taste authentic local farmhouse meals, fully experience the rustic rural charm, and truly enjoy a pastoral scenery that is completely different from urban life.

“The mountain’s splendor delights the birds; the pool’s reflection clears the heart.” Wandering through the spiritual mountains and beautiful waters of the Three Gorges Grand Waterfall Scenic Area, feeling the grandeur of Tang poetry and the gentleness of Song lyrics, you may find yourself dreaming of home, completely enchanted.

Address: Provincial Highway 312, Yiling District, Yichang City

Type: Canyon Forest Waterfall

Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0717-6452417

Opening Hours:

Monday–Friday: 10:00–16:00; Saturday: 9:00–17:00; Sunday: 9:00–16:00.