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 two sections - the Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge and Bawu Gorge or the Iron Coffin Gorge.
"What a breathtaking sight!"
Twelve lofty peaks gleam above the floating mist which almost continuously hovers over the river (due to the depth of the gorge and lack of sunlight on the river). The mountains often appear to change shape as they peer out from the mist, giving the gorge a touch of romantic mysticism. Goddess Peak (Shennv Feng) is the highest of the twelve peaks and can be identified by the waterfalls that spill gracefully down her mountainside. When the sun shines on the Twelve Peaks of Wu Gorge, the view is breathtaking.
The river of Wu Gorge cuts its way through two majestic mountains, which provide a stunning green backdrop for the flowing water. The steep slopes of the gorge are green with trees and bushes. It was a dangerous place for boat navigators, who faced dangers including whirlpools, quicksand, and currents that varied from hour to hour. As the river cuts its way through the Mt. Wushan, its roaring currents change their directions constantly.
Why do visit
While the pristine mountains and picturesque surroundings alone make a trip to Wu Gorge worthwhile, a number of riverside attractions add even more to the area's appeal. Historical landmarks, ranging from ancient temples to notable inscriptions, are conveniently located on the river banks and should not be missed on your visit. In addition to the mountains, one finds smaller features, each of which has legends told about it. These include the Hengshi Brook, the Rat's Cave, the Mountain-Penetrating Arrow, the Arrow-Penetrated Hole, and the Dragon Back Rock.
Twelve Peaks
Looking down the Yangtze River, Mt. Wushan sees 12 high peaks, which are described by legend as 12 fairy spirits. These are the most prominent aspects of the scenery of Wu Gorge. Many legends relate to the twelve peaks. Among the twelve, the Goddess Peak (Shennv Feng) is the highest and most notable. As it is the first peak to welcome the sun's glow and says farewell to its afterglow, it is also called Wangxia Peak (Looking at the Sunglow peak). There are some popular legends relating to it that are worth knowing.
The six peaks along the northern bank are Denglong (Climbing Dragon) Peak, Shengquan (Sage Spring) Peak, Zhaoyun (Facing Clouds) Peak, Goddess Peak (Shennv Feng), Songluan (Fir Tree Cone) Peak, and the Jixian (Congregated Immortals) Peak. The southern bank has Feifeng (Flying Phoenix) Peak, Cuiping (Misty Screen) Peak, Juhe (Assembled Cranes) Peak, Jingtan (Clean Altar) Peak, Qiyun (Rising Cloud) Peak, and Shangsheng (Rising) Peak; the last three are not at the riverside.
Goddess Peak (Shennv Feng)
It is well known that, along the Wu Gorge, there are twelve unique peaks. Among them, the most prominent one is the Goddess Peak (Shennv Feng). The peak looks like a beautiful and pious maiden standing gracefully on the northern bank, Hence the name.
"Looking Sunglow Peak"
Because the Goddess Peak is the highest peak among the twelve peaks and is first to greet the sun and sees off the afterglow at sun set every day, it has another name - Wangxia Peak (Looking Sunglow Peak).
Legend about the Peak
For thousands of years, people have made up many legends about the Goddess Peak. Among them the most popular one goes like this: In the Prehistoric Times, there lived many fairies in the palace of heaven, among them, a clever and beautiful one was called Yao Ji. On the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, she invited her eleven sisters to visit the earthly world, as she felt lonely in heaven. When they arrived at the Wu Gorge, they encountered Yu the Great controlling the flood there. Moved by his spirit, Yao Ji decided to help by sending him a sealed book relating to the control of water.
However, before she deciphered the book to Dayu, she and his sisters were caught by the soldiers from heaven. In order to help Yu the Great, they broke the chain used to tie them, and returned to the earth. With the help of Yao Ji and her eleven sisters, the flood was finally overcome. Since then, Yao Ji and her sisters remained in the Three Gorges area and helped the local people to tame the water. They forgot to return and turned into twelve elegant peaks along the banks of Wu Gorge. Shennv Peak is the incarnation of Yao Ji.
Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge (Jinkui Yinjia Xia)
Jinkui Tiejia Gorge is one of the small gorges of Wu Gorge. It is located six miles along the lower reaches of the Wu Gorge. Here is a stream called Hengshi Stream on the northern bank. At the confluence of the stream and the Yangtze River is a residential area called Hengshi. A peak stands upright in this area. From afar, it can be seen as yellow in its upper part while the lower part is white resembling a knight wearing a golden helmet and silver armor. This is why the gorge has been named the Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge.
When viewed closely, the rocks in the Hengshi Area appear in many thin layers like the squama in a grayish white. They resemble the silver armor of the ancient knight. On the top of the peak, the limestone has a helmet's shape. Its color is filemot, which makes it resemble a golden helmet even more.
Kong Ming Tablet
The Gorge is most famous for its Kong Ming Tablet - a large slab of rock inscribed with a description of the alliance between the Shu and Wu states. It is beneath the Jixian Peak. On the quadrate white cliff, six characters have been carved. According to legend, the characters are those of Zhuge Liang's handwriting (a celebrity of Three Kingdoms Period). The Tablet actually resembles a huge pair of scissors, pointing skywards.
Small Three Gorges
Daninghe River flows into the Yangtze River from the western mouth of Wu Gorge, flanked by continuous strange peaks, some of them rising into the clouds and presenting an unusual scene. It is the largest tributary of the Yangtze. The Small Three Gorges located at the lower reaches of Daning River are worth a visit by tourists. When drifting along the Small Three Gorges, historic relics such as the ancient plank road, suspended coffins, and the boat coffins can be viewed.
Town of Zigui
Mt. Wushan at the entrance to Wu Gorge and Badong and Zigui in the broad valley of the Fragrant Stream (Xiangxi) are famous towns in the gorge. There are many famous historical sites too. The town of Zigui is attracting a large number of tourists because it is the native place of the great ancient poet and patriotic politician Qu Yuan and the famous beauty Wang Zhaojun from East Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago.