Xiling Gorges

Starting at Xiang Xi and zigzags for 76 kilometres (47 miles) down to Yichang，Xiling Gorges is the longest part of the Three Gorges system with dangerous rapids like Xietan, Qintan and Kongling, collectively known as the Three Rapids of Xiling. The whole Gorge area is covered with high mountains, gullies, dangerous shoals and hidden reefs of various sizes.

 

The Xiling Gorge is located at the eastern entry (Nanjin Guan Pass) of the Three Gorges in Yichang, Hubei Province. It starts from the entrance of the Xiangxi River in Zigui in the west and ends at Nanjin Pass in Yichang in the east.

 

As one of the Three Gorges of Yangtze River, Xiling Gorges is of warm and humid subtropical climate which is obviously affected by the landform full of gorges. The annual mean temperature is 18.4℃(65.12?). January is the coldest with a average temperature of 7.1℃(44.78?) and July is the hottest with a average temperature of 29.3℃(84.74?). However, because of the deep gorges, the bottoms of these gorges receive sunlight in quite short time. In the valleys, the wind is extremely strong and fix to specific direction—mainly in the same direction with the valley: east wind or west wind. By the late spring and early summer, the weather is chop and change.

 

The beautiful Xiling Gorge looks like a colorful and scenic landscape painting, that is, the giant Yangtze Bridge and eye-catching scenery on the two banks. In the springtime, vivid flowers blossoming make the Xiling Gorge more gorgeous. Scenery along the Xiling Gorge is spectacular. The main sightseeing spot are Huangling Temple, Lantern Shadow Gorge, Military Books and Precious Sword Gorge, Nanjin Pass, Ox Liver and Horse Lungs Gorge, Three Travelers’ Cave. Some renowned streams, springs, stones and karst caves can be found along this section. Mainly composed of smaller gorges and dangerous shoals from west to east, there are four gorges - The Military Books and Precious Sword Gorge (Bingshu Baojian Xia), The Ox and Horse Lungs Gorge (Niugan Mafei Xia), Kongling Gorge, and Lantern Shadow Gorge (Dengying Xia) - and some dangerous shoals such as Qingtan, Xietan, Xintan and Konglingtan.The wondrous limestonecaves dotting the peaks on both banks are enough to make him or her gasp with admiration , the three biggest and most famous being the Stone Dragon Cave , the Huangsang Cave and the‘Three Visotors’ Cave. Each with its unique features, these fantastic geological formations provide valuable material for related studies.

 

As many historic celebrities such as Qu Yuan and Bai Juyi have been here and left numerous poems praising the natural scene of Xiling Gorge, it is bestowed with a great sense of history. Some historic landmarks including the Huangling Temple and Three Travelers’ Cave (Sanyou Dong) are also worth visiting.