Wuxia Kou

　　Wu Gorge is situated between Wushan County in Chongqing and Badong County in Hubei Province, spanning a total length of 42 kilometers. With its high mountains piercing the sky, the gorge is home to the Twelve Peaks of Wushan, which are celebrated for their exceptional beauty. The 24-kilometer section within Badong starts from Bianyu Stream in the west and extends to Guandukou Town in the east of the county. Historically, this stretch was also referred to as Bashan Gorge.

　　Bianyu Stream, also known as Bianyu Creek, serves as the boundary river between Chongqing and Hubei. It is not only a geographical divide but also has a history of numerous conflicts between residents of Wushan and Badong counties over land and firewood, resulting in many casualties. After 1949, young people from both counties planted the “Youth Friendship Forest” in this area, which not only beautified the environment but also helped to heal the historical “rift between Chu and Shu.”

　　To the east of Bianyu Stream lies the “Iron Coffin Gorge,” named for its hanging coffins, which are dark in color like iron. Spanning 2.7 kilometers, the gorge features diverse scenery along its narrow passage and connects the Three Gorges. The upper section is called “Cloth Strip Gorge,” the middle section is the “Iron Coffin Gorge,” and about a hundred meters downstream is the “Stone Coffin Gorge,” formed by stacked rocks. The river here winds through dramatic landscapes, with cliffs rising between 300 to 500 meters, narrowing to less than 70 meters at some points. A line from Southern Song poet Fan Chengda describes it: “The cliffs clamp the river, almost closing it, leaving just a slit of sky in between.”

　　Menshan Gorge is located between Nanmuyuan and Wuxia Kou, stretching 2.5 kilometers. Here, the vast faces of Da Mian Mountain and Jianzi Mountain stand opposite each other like two giant doors blocking the river’s eastward flow—hence the name. The gorge is flanked by sheer cliffs, featuring the dangers of Banbi Rock and the ancient plank path of Lianzi Stream; the intriguing construction of the small stone-built Manyao Bridge; and the Huoyanshi (Flame Stone), whose reddish-brown rocks glow like flames under the sunlight, reaching toward the river. The cliff walls on both sides bear inscriptions (such as “I Show the Way of the Boat”), which serve as precious hydrological records of the Three Gorges. After exiting the gorge, the surrounding mountain peaks are lush and green, and the vast citrus orchards fill the air with the fragrance of flowers and fruits.