The first gorge going downriver from Chongqing to the Three Gorges dam is Qutang Xia or the Bellows Gorge. At only five miles long, it is the shortest of the Three Gorges, but has some of the most dramatic scenery. The Yangtze River narrows to a width of only about 300 feet in Qutant Xia, and the cliffs tower overhead.
Before reaching the second gorge as you cruise downstream, Yangtze River boats come upon the city of Wushan. Our our Viking River cruise, we transferred to smaller boats here for a day trip up the Daning River through the Lesser Three Gorges or Xiao Sanxia. This day was one of our favorites on the cruise. Spectacular cliffs line the Daning, and you can spot monkeys in the trees along the river bank and remnants of wooden coffins and burial sites from an ancient civilization tucked into the mountain crevices. After sailing up the Daning for a couple of hours, we had a delicious lunch ashore before going back downstream to the Yangtze.
Continuing downstream from Wushan, the second gorge of the Yangtze is Wu Xia, the witches gorge. This gorge is 28 miles long, and the river is calm. The last gorge is Xiling Xia, and it is the longest gorge at 41 miles long.
These pictures capture a little of the beauty of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze and the Lesser Three Gorges of the Daning River.
Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and Lesser Three Gorges of the Daning River
Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in China - Bridge Between Daning and Yangtze Rivers
Sailing the Lesser Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in China
Sights along the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in China
Lesser Three Gorges - Yangtze River Cruise in China
Viking Century Star Yangtze River Cruise - Lesser Three Gorges Scenery
Lesser Three Gorges of the Daning River in China - Yangtze River Cruise
