The Lesser Three Gorges of Wushan

　　Renowned as the "Marvel of China" and the "Most Spectacular Scenery Under Heaven," the Lesser Three Gorges and the Even Smaller Three Gorges of Wushan are recognized as a "National Scenic Area" and among the first group of AAAAA-level tourist attractions in China. In 1991, they were listed among the "Forty Best Tourist Attractions in China." The Lesser Three Gorges refer to the collective name for the Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, and Dicui Gorge—three gorges formed by the Daning River, the largest tributary of the Yangtze River—as it flows through Wushan. Stretching over 50 kilometers, these gorges feature majestic and precipitous cliffs, narrow passages that seem to slice the sky, where mountains touch the heavens and boats sail through subterranean canyons. Verdant forests, emerald bamboo, and dramatic peaks offer diverse and ever-changing views. Sometimes shrouded in delicate mists, serene and pristine; at other times punctuated by roaring waterfalls and dynamic energy—pairs of mandarin ducks, monkey troops playing along the cliffs, waterfowl soaring in the sky, fish gliding through clear waters, alongside rocks, flowers, and trees—all form an endless poem or painting at every turn.

　　The Longmen Gorge, 8 kilometers long, is the first of the Lesser Three Gorges. Its towering cliffs rise sharply on either side, facing each other like a gate, and due to its grandeur, it’s praised as “a match for, if not superior to, the Kuimen Gate.” At the mouth of the Longmen Gorge stands the Longmen Bridge, completed in 2010, with a main span of 240 meters and a total length of 855.9 meters, adding a stunning highlight to the Lesser Three Gorges. Attractions within the Longmen Gorge include "Green Lion Guarding the Gate," "Lingzhi Peak," and "Nine-Dragon Pillar."

　　The Bawu Gorge is the second of the Lesser Three Gorges, extending from Dongpingba to Taipingtan, spanning 10 kilometers. The gorge is characterized by sudden towering peaks, bizarre rock formations, tranquil green currents, unique stalactites, and is often veiled in mist during spring and autumn. Major sights include the Fairy Throwing the Embroidered Ball, Sleeping Beauty, Guanyin Sitting on a Lotus Throne, Zhu Bajie Worshiping Guanyin, and hanging coffins. Especially during early winter, the vibrant red leaves across the mountains are remarkably eye-catching, drawing numerous tourists to view them from boats or hike ashore to admire or photograph the red foliage up close. The Bawu Gorge is also the best area in the Lesser Three Gorges for spotting wild macaques.

　　The Dicui Gorge is the third of the Lesser Three Gorges, running from Shuanglong Town to Tujia Dam, covering a distance of 20 kilometers. This gorge features continuous towering cliffs, staggered peaks, jade-green river water, emerald forests, colorful stones lining the banks, cascading waterfalls hanging in mid-air, mandarin ducks playing in the water, and agile monkeys swinging from branches. It is the deepest, most elegant, and most poetic of the three gorges. Major attractions include Ox Liver and Horse Lung Rock, Cliffside Buddha Statues, Heavenly Spring Shower, Luojia Village, Madu River, Ascending Heaven Peak, Golden Monkey Peak, Red Cliffs Reaching the Sky, Boat Coffins, Twin Eagles Playing Before a Screen, and Flying Cloud Cave.

　　The mystery of the hanging coffins and the enigma of the plank roads spark the most profound historical imagination, as if traveling through time. On the western cliff of the Daning River, rows of square holes are carved into the stone, spiraling around the mountain for over 320 kilometers. Within the Lesser Three Gorges alone, there are 6,888 such holes—remnants left by ancient people who built plank roads. What was their purpose? Why did the ancients undertake such a massive project? For military use? To channel salt springs? These questions continue to stir the imagination. In recent years, a nearly three-kilometer-long section of the plank road has been restored along the eastern cliff of the Dicui Gorge using the "original scale, original craftsmanship, and original appearance," offering visitors an ideal spot for strolling, sightseeing, photography, and letting their imaginations soar.

　　Address: No. 170, Guangdong Middle Road, Wushan County, Chongqing

　　Type: Gorge, River, Historical Site

　　Rating: AAAAA

　　Recommended Visit Duration: 3–5 hours

　　Phone: 023-57756666

　　Opening Hours:

　　8:00–17:30