Yangtze River Three Gorges

The Three Gorges of the Yangtze are one of the most celebrated landscapes in all of China, a sequence of three great river canyons carved through the mountains of the interior between Chongqing and Yichang in Hubei Province. For centuries they have been a touchstone of Chinese poetry, painting, and travel writing, and they remain one of the country's most iconic natural sights. For most foreign visitors to China, a journey through the Three Gorges is one of the most memorable experiences available, and Yichang is the natural gateway from which to begin or end it.

The gorges themselves, the Qutang, the Wu, and the Xiling, each have their own character. The Qutang, the shortest and narrowest, is famously dramatic, with sheer cliffs rising almost vertically from the water in a brief but overwhelming passage. The Wu is celebrated for its deep, misty valleys and the layered peaks that line its banks, often wrapped in cloud and home to small historic sites along the shore. The Xiling, the longest of the three, was historically the most treacherous, known for its fast currents and hidden rocks, and today is the gorge most directly shaped by the Three Gorges Dam.

Beyond the natural scenery, the gorges are layered with cultural and historic associations. Ancient landmarks such as Baidicheng, the White Emperor City at the western entrance to the Qutang, are tied to defining events and figures of Chinese history, while smaller temples, cliff-side paths, and traditional villages speak to the long human presence along the river. The completion of the Three Gorges Dam has transformed the character of the gorges, raising the water level and turning the once-wild river into a series of vast, slow-moving reservoirs, but the cliffs and the surrounding peaks remain as dramatic as ever.

Most travelers experience the gorges as part of a multi-day river cruise between Chongqing and Yichang, or through one of the day cruises that focus on the Xiling Gorge and the dams from the Yichang side. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons for a river journey, with mild temperatures and the clearest views of the cliffs. For travelers building an itinerary around central China, the Three Gorges are an essential stop, and Yichang is the most convenient base from which to explore them.