Home

Wu Gorge

Top 5 Lists

Overview

Wu Gorge is the second of the Three Gorges, through which the Yangtze River flows. It was also called Ba Gorge in ancient times. It is the most graceful and charming of the Three Gorges, known for its forest covered mountains and changeable clouds and mists wreathing around the tops. It is Chinese poets’ favorite among the Three Gorges, providing the inspiration for a lot of sentimental and widely prevailing poems.

Wu Gorge rises to about 1000 meters (3280 feet) above river level. After the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the water level in Wu Gorge rose about 80 meters (262 feet). Though the raised water inundated some historical sites, such as a plank road built along the cliff from Qutang Gorge to Wu Gorge, and many cliff inscriptions from the past dynasties (which is a great pity), it doesn’t affect the grace and beauty of Wu Gorge.

Location

Wu Gorge stretches 44 kilometers (27 miles) from Wushan County, Chongqing Province to Badong County, Hubei Province. It’s about 500 km (300 miles) northeast, down the Yangtze, from Chongqing City and about 150 km (100 miles) upriver from Yichang, in Central China.

Features

As Wu Gorge is long and narrow and the duration of direct sunshine is short, the humidity of the gorge usually yields clouds and mists easily. They waft and wreath around the peaks in frequently-changing shapes, and are sometimes accompanied by Buddha's light (a kind of optical phenomenon that can be observed on cloud-shrouded high mountains).

As a result of the phenomenon a colorful halo surrounds the observer's own shadow, and thus was often taken to show the observer's personal enlightenment (associated with Buddha or divinity). With mists and clouds curling around, Wu Gorge seems more fascinating and mysterious, when the observer knows the legends passed down from generation to generation.

The most attractive scenic spot of Wu Gorge is the Twelve Peaks of Wushan (Wu Mountain) located on both sides of Wu Gorge. Among them, Shennv Peak (Goddess Peak) is the most famous. It resembles a lifelike slim and graceful girl standing among the cloud and mist. As a Chinese legend goes, she was once a goddess who helped people by controlling floods. It faces east, the first to welcome the alpenglow and the last to see off the afterglow. Therefore, it is also called Wangxia Peak (Viewing the Morning or Evening Glow Peak).        

Travel Information

The best way to see Wu Gorge is on a Yangtze Cruise. Read more on Yangtze Cruises.
For the best time of year to travel see Yangtze River Weather.

Nearby Attractions

Xiling Gorge
Qutang Gorge
The Lesser Three Gorges
 

Tips & articles

2011-05-23
Locate adjacent horizontal stone small stream of downstream 10km of Wushan, peak high to insert cloud, the intersection of mountain and color yellow to down pale, looking at afar and wearing the gold helmet like one, the warrior who wears armour, stand upright ...Read More
2011-05-23
Lie in Wu Gorge the the west end and large north bank of Ninghe River intersection. Made up of fresh water, gold bamboo, three ancient holes of Yulin. Each independence of three holes, are also mixed with pile, is well versed in each other, combine together. ...Read More
2011-05-23
The ship enters Wu Gorge, visitors always can t help overlooking in accordance with the column, appreciate 12 peaks of famous Wushan with enthusiasm. These 12 peaks are made up of limestone completely, is higher than about river surface kilometer, stand erect ...Read More

forum discussion

Recent posts

by Tormod 2011-05-23
As you sail on past Qutang Gorge, you will gradually enter Wu Gorge, an area that's pristine beauty has captivated artists, poets, and sightseers for centuries. Wu Gorge begins at the bayou of the Daning River in Chongqing and stretches about 45 kilometers to Badong County where it ends in Guandukou, Hubei Province. It is a long and neat gorge divided into ...
by Yasir 2011-05-23
Wu Gorge starts from the Port of Daning River, Wushan Counry, Chongqing city in the west and ends at the Guandu port of Badong County, Hubei Province in the east, which is zigzagging more than forty km in the Yangtze River. Wu Gorge is famous for its depth, serenity and winding, which consists of Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge(Jinkui Yinjia Xia) and ...
by Cal 2011-05-23
The Three Gorges region is a scenic area along the Yangtze River in China with a total length of approximately 200 km. Although it is primarily famous for its scenery, the Three Gorges region is historically and culturally an important region in China, including Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. Qutang Gorge, the shortest and most majestic of the ...