Xiling Gorge in Yangtze River in Yichang

Xiling Gorge in Yangtze River in Yichang

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Xiling Gorge (西陵峡) is located in the northern part of Zigui County (秭归县), Yichang City (宜昌市), Hubei Province (湖北省), China. It stretches from Xiangxi Kou (香溪口) in Zigui (秭归) to Nanjinguan (南津关), with a total length of 66 kilometers, including a 42-kilometer narrow gorge section. It is the longest gorge among the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River (长江三峡).

The name Xiling Gorge originates from its location to the west of the ancient areas of Chu’s Xisai (楚之西塞) and Yiling (宜陵, the old name of Yichang). The gorge is recognized for its spectacular natural beauty and geological features, which include an almost egg-shaped convex structure, known as the Huangling Uplift (黄陵隆起), primarily composed of granite and gneiss. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Xiling Gorge has undergone extensive navigation improvements, particularly following the construction of the Gezhouba Dam (葛洲坝), which has made the water level more stable while preserving the scenic landscape.

In 2004, Xiling Gorge was designated as a National 4A Tourist Scenic Area (国家AAAA级旅游景点).

Development History

Since it opened to the public in 1979, Xiling Gorge has developed into a major tourist destination. The scenic area now includes eight major attractions:

Leizu Temple (嫘祖庙)

Peach Blossom Village (桃花村)

White Horse Cave (白马洞)

Five Continents Leisure Park (五洲休闲娱乐园)

Xialaoxi (下牢溪) (Natural Baths and Rafting)

Longquan Stone Tree Garden (龙泉石树园)

Fairy Stream (仙人溪)

Forest Park (森林公园)

Geographical and Geological Features

Location

Xiling Gorge is located in the northern part of Zigui County (秭归县), Yichang City (宜昌市), Hubei Province (湖北省). The scenic area covers a total area of 142 square kilometers. In the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River (长江三峡), Xiling Gorge lies to the east, between Badong (巴东) and Yichang (宜昌). It stretches 66 kilometers from Xiangxi Kou (香溪口) in Zigui to Nanjinguan (南津关), with a 42-kilometer narrow gorge section.

Geological Structure

From a geological perspective, Xiling Gorge is an almost egg-shaped uplift in the China satellite map, known as the Huangling Uplift (黄陵隆起). The gorge is mainly composed of granite and gneiss. On both sides of the uplift, there are towering rocks dating back 80 to 200 million years, primarily made up of limestone and shale.

Main Scenic Spots

西陵峡 (Xiling Gorge) is divided into two sections by the Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝): the upper and lower segments. The upper section is entirely within Zigui County (秭归县), featuring the “Three Sands” — Xietan (泄滩), Qingtan (青滩), and Konglingtan (崆岭滩). The area also includes three famous gorges: Niugan Malung Gorge (牛肝马肺峡), Bing Shu Bao Jian Gorge (兵书宝剑峡), and Kongling Gorge (崆岭峡), as well as the Qu Yuan Temple (屈原祠) and the largest cultural relic protection site in the country, Phoenix Mountain (凤凰山) in Zigui County. Additionally, the area is home to China’s only Dragon Boat Training Base (中国唯一龙舟训练基地) in Zigui County. The lower section includes two more gorges: Dengying Gorge (灯影峡) and Huangniu Gorge (黄牛峡), with notable historical sites such as Huangling Temple (黄陵庙) and San You Cave (三游洞).

Notable Scenic Spots

Bing Shu Bao Jian Gorge (兵书宝剑峡)

Located at the intersection of Xiangxi (香溪) and the Yangtze River (长江), Bing Shu Bao Jian Gorge is renowned for its unique attractions, including the ancient hanging coffins (兵书) and “Treasure Sword” (宝剑). The gorge is historically linked to the story of Zhaojun (昭君) leaving for the frontier.

Niugan Malung Gorge (牛肝马肺峡)

The Niugan (牛肝) and Malung (马肺) are limestone stalactites formed by carbonates in the underground water. Niugan remains intact, while Malung was destroyed in 1900 by British warships during the Boxer Rebellion (义和团). The famous Chinese writer Guo Moruo (郭沫若) criticized the invasion in his poem “Passing through Xiling Gorge” (《过西陵峡二首》), condemning the British imperialist aggression against China.

Kongling Gorge (崆岭峡)

Known for the treacherous Kongling Sandbar (崆岭滩), this gorge is marked by fast currents and rocky reefs like Da Zhu (大珠), Tou Zhu (头珠), and San Zhu (三珠). Historically, navigating the sandbar was perilous, especially during the flood season, where the waves could smash boats. A popular saying in the area goes: “Qingtan Xietan are not true sands, only Kongling is the gate of Hell” (青滩泄滩不算滩，崆岭才是鬼门关).

Qu Yuan Temple (屈原祠)

The Qu Yuan Temple is dedicated to the famous poet Qu Yuan (屈原) and was originally built in the Tang Dynasty (唐代). It is a prominent stop on the “Three People’s Line” (三人线), a historical travel route connecting the poet Qu Yuan, the beauty Wang Zhaojun (王昭君), and the Wild Man of Shennongjia (神农架野人).

Dengying Gorge (灯影峡)

Also known as Mingyue Gorge (明月峡), Dengying Gorge is famous for a unique sunset phenomenon. As the sun sets, the evening glow shines on four stones resembling the characters from the Journey to the West (西游记), including Tang Seng (唐僧) and his disciples. The images are reminiscent of shadow play, and thus, the gorge is named Dengying (灯影), meaning “shadow of the lamp.”

Huangniu Gorge (黄牛峡)

Huangniu Gorge features towering cliffs and rugged rock formations. Fossils of fish, trilobites, and other marine life can still be found here, revealing the changes over hundreds of millions of years in the Three Gorges (三峡) region.

Nanjinguan (南津关)

Nanjinguan, the exit of Xiling Gorge, has historically been a strategically important location. The area inside the pass is filled with rugged peaks, steep cliffs, and winding riverways, while the area outside the pass opens up to a vast expanse of water. The change from a narrow river to a broad, open expanse gives visitors a feeling of vastness and serenity.

San You Ancient Cave (三游古洞)

Located in the cliffs of Xiling Mountain (西陵山), San You Cave is a famous historical site known for its stunning landscape and tranquil waters.

Shiwai Taoyuan Scenic Area (世外桃源风景区)

The Shiwai Taoyuan Scenic Area is a picturesque area surrounded by mountains and water, with rich natural beauty. It consists of six scenic spots: Zhaojun Park (昭君园), Three Flowers Garden (三花园), Tujia Ethnic Customs (土家民俗风情), Bayi Tribe (巴人部落), the starting point of the Yangtze Three Gorges (长江三峡起点线), and Bai Ma Water Rock (白马水岩).

Three Gorges Monkey Creek (三峡猴溪)

Also known as Xianren Creek (仙人溪), Three Gorges Monkey Creek is a famous eco-tourism area known for its steep peaks, bizarre rocks, unusual caves, beautiful waterfalls, and rich biodiversity. This area also focuses on Monkey Culture (猴文化).

Happy Valley Scenic Area (快乐谷景区)

The Happy Valley Scenic Area is known for its unique natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. It integrates sightseeing, extreme sports, leisure accommodation, and training activities, making it a versatile tourist destination.

Honors and Recognition

In 2004, Xiling Gorge (西陵峡) was awarded the National 4A Tourist Scenic Area (国家AAAA级旅游景点).

Tourist Information

Transportation Guide

Self-Driving Route
Night Mingzhu Road (夜明珠路) → Sanxia Road (三峡路) → Nanjinguan (南津关) → Xiling Gorge Scenic Area (西陵峡风景区) Visitor Center → Shiwai Taoyuan (世外桃源) (Bai Ma Cave, White Horse Cave) → San You Cave (三游洞).

Public Transportation
Take B10 (西陵峡三游洞专线车):

Summer Operation (6:30 AM – 6:45 PM)

Winter Operation (6:30 AM – 5:45 PM)

Upward Route: Ganghong Road (港虹路) → Leizu Memorial Hall (嫘祖纪念馆) → Kangfu Mountain Villa (康福山庄) → Nanjinguan (南津关) → Bai Ma Cave (白马洞) → Xiling Gorge San You Cave (西陵峡三游洞).
Downward Route: Xiling Gorge San You Cave (西陵峡三游洞) → Bai Ma Cave (白马洞) → Nanjinguan (南津关) → Kangfu Mountain Villa (康福山庄) → Leizu Memorial Hall (嫘祖纪念馆) → Ganghong Road (港虹路).