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The Three
Gorges of Yangtze River extend 193 kilometers from the western
Baidicheng in Sichan Province, to Nanjinguan of Yichang city in
Hubei Province in the east. They differ from each other in sceneries:
Qutang Gorge is straight and craggy; Wu Gorge, deep, serene and
exquisite; while Xiling Gorge perilous for its shoals and rapid
currents.
Qutang Gorge:- From east to west, it measures
8 kilometers, starting from Baidicheng and ending at Daixi township.
With vertical cliffs of some thousand meters high as its two flanks,
the Qutang Gorge is only a few dozens of meters wide just like
a narrow gateway. With swash and rumble, the surging Yangtze River
pours into the gateway with great momentum. Looking up towards
the tops of towering precipitous mountains along the Gorge, one
sees from a boat only a narrow strip of clouds and sky, but under
foot the River tears on violently.
Wu Gorge:- It extends 40 kilometers from the
mouth of Daning River of Wushan Mountain in the west to
Guandukou
of Badong in the east.
The Wu Gorge is gifted with exquisite peaks
and lush mountains and ranges. It's deep and serene with changeable
weather. The rolling River twists and turns and boats zigzag their
way along, as if cruising in a fantastic gallery.
The twelve peaks of Wushan Mountain
all rise to the blue sly. They are endowed with various fascinating
shapes. Among them, the most fabulous is the Peak of Goddess.
It pierces through the heaven, and towers over the Yangtze River.
A protruding rock of the Peak has the shape of a slim girl shrouded
in clouds and mist faintly visible as if clad in fine gauze dress,
looking attractive and exuding tenderness and love.
Xiling Gorge:
It measures 75 kilometers from Xiangxikou to
Nanjinguan. The whole Gorge area is covered with high mountains,
gullies, dangerous shoals and hidden reefs of various sizes. The
best-known perilous shoal is Qing Shoal. It's formed by collapsed
craggy cliffs. Surging waves and rapid currents churn over the
shoal embedded with rocks and stones here and there, and then
drop two meters in elevation. Ships go downstream over the shoal
at an arrow speed, but up the shoal it's as difficult as climbing
a steep hill.
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