Silver Child Gorge

Silver Child Gorge is the section of the river between Siqu and Maodu, stretching 8.26 kilometers in length. Within the gorge are two perilous rapids: Silver Child and Young Master Zhang. The Silver Child rapid features a narrow river surface with a long stretch of turbulent flow, where roaring waves crash against the banks, sounding like thunder. The Young Master Zhang rapid, in contrast, has a wide river surface with the water flow curving like a drawn bow, winding through peaks and along bending shores — a spectacular and extraordinary sight. It’s as if the Silver Child and Young Master Zhang are playing hide-and-seek. An ancient poem reads: “The raging current can’t be tamed, nor the busy clouds and waters still; yet once again we steer our boat gently through this gorges land. Ascending the pass at Maodu’s mouth once more, the Silver Child must laugh at Young Master Zhang’s wildness.” The gorge also features attractions such as Sleeping Beauty, One-Basket Stone, and the ruins of the Tang Dynasty Wuzhou ancient city. Sleeping Beauty is formed by several elegant peaks that together resemble a beautiful woman lying peacefully asleep on a green carpet, reluctant to leave. One-Basket Stone consists of two massive boulders standing side by side on the riverbank, each about 5 meters tall, resembling a carrying pole — hence the common name “One-Basket Stone.” The ruins of the Tang Dynasty Wuzhou ancient city can be accessed through a cave on the western bank of the Young Master Zhang rapid. This was the site of the Tang Dynasty Wuzhou administrative center, which had both eastern and western gates, and the ruins are still visible today.