Pequeñas Tres Gargantas (Wushan)

The Wushan Lesser Three Gorges (Xiao Sanxia) are a trio of narrow, dramatically sculpted side gorges cut into the Daning River, a Yangtze tributary in Wushan County in eastern Chongqing. They have earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful water-borne excursions in all of China, often mentioned alongside — and sometimes preferred to — the main Three Gorges themselves. The sequence comprises Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, and Dicui Gorge, together stretching roughly forty-five kilometers through towering limestone cliffs, hidden tributaries, and dense subtropical forest.

The gorges are reached by boat, typically as a side excursion from a Three Gorges cruise. As the smaller vessel turns off the Yangtze into the Daning, the scale of the landscape changes: the river narrows, the cliffs rise closer, and the passage begins to feel less like a journey across open water and more like drifting through a vertical garden. Wildflowers, ferns, and hanging orchids cling to the rocks; rhesus macaques are sometimes spotted on the banks; and the river's surface, sheltered from wind, often mirrors the cliffs above.

Each of the three gorges has its own character. Longmen, the outermost, is the tightest and most dramatic entrance. Bawu is famous for its suspended cliff coffins, dating back roughly two thousand years and still visible high in the rock face — a burial practice unique to the ancient Ba people. Dicui, the innermost and longest, is the lush, quiet climax, where the river widens slightly and the greenery is at its most exuberant. A smaller boat ride continues from here into the Mini Three Gorges, an even more intimate passage for those with time.

For travelers planning a Yangtze itinerary, the Lesser Three Gorges are widely regarded as a non-negotiable inclusion, and most cruises build in a half-day for the detour. The experience is rewarding in any season, though water levels — governed by the Three Gorges Dam — shape the exact route and view. Binoculars help for spotting cliff coffins and wildlife, and a windbreaker is useful on the open upper deck.