Sculptures on Baihe (White Crane) Ridge

Situated near the southern bank of the Changjiang River, north of the city of Fuling, it is so called because a white crane that spreads out its wings to fily is carved on the ridge. In fact, the ridge is a huge rock 1,600 meters long and some 15 meters wide. It emerges when the water is low and is submerged when the water is high. On the middle section of the ridge are tablets bearing 163 inscriptions in different style since the Tang Dynasty. The lower part of the ridge is carved with 14 fishes, whose eyes serve as marks of the low water levels in the past dynasties. They are valuable information of ancient hydrology.

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The City of Ghosts in Fengdu County

Located on the northern bank and 72 kilometers downstream of the Changjiang River from Chongqing, the City of Ghosts is a treasure house of folk customs and culture of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Performances showing the folk customs and habits are held on the third day of the third lunar month every year.

The City of Ghosts is of great appeal to numerous tourists in and outside of China with its long history, unique culture, mystical legend, and enchanting landscape.

Shibaozhai

Built between cliffs on Yuyin (Jade Seal) Hill facing the Changjiang River in the south, the town of Shibaozhai is 45 kilometers east of the Zhongxian County seat and 52 kilometers west of Wanxian County. The solitary Yuyin Hill features a steep peak in the shape of a jade seal. Legend has it that the hill was formed with stones left by Nu Wa, a goddess in the Chinese mythology, who mended the sky. Hence, it is called Shibaozhai (the Town of Stone Treasure).

Shibaozhai consists of an entrance, a city tower, and an ancient temple on top. It is the only passage to the hill top. On display in the halls are historical relics from the Neolithic Age as well as works by famous calligraphers and painters.

The Temple of Zhang Fei

Nestling at the foot of Feifeng (Flying Phoenix) Hill on the southern bank of the Changjiang River in Yunyang County, the temple faces the county seat across the river. It was built to the memory of Zhang Fei at the end of Shu State (221 263) during the Three Kingdoms Period. With a novel layout, the 1 ,400-square-meter temple is composed of the Jieyi Tower, the main hall, side halls, the Wangyun (Watching Cloud) Kiosk, and the Zhufeng Pavilion.

Baidi City

The city we see today is a group of architectural structures built during the Ming and Qing regimes. It is on Baidi Hill four kilometers east of the Fengjie County seat, on the northern side of the western end of Qutang Gorge. The major structures in clude the Mingliang Hall, the Temple of Zhuge Liang, and Star Viewing Tower.

Baidi City overlooks the mighty Changjiang River and is a key link in eastern Sichuan Province. Many men of letters visited it and left poems and inscriptions. The imposing Chijia and Baiyan hills towering opposite each other on either bank of the Changjaing River.

Qutang Gorge

The eight-kilometer-long gorge starts from Baidi City of Fengjie County in the west and ends at Danxi of Wushan County in the east. At the starting point, Chijia and Baiyan hills rise opposite each other across the river. Here is the western entrance, known as Kuimen, to the Three Gorges. There are other ten-odd scenic spots.

Wuxia Gorge

It starts from the mouth of the Daning River and ends at Guandu Ferry. The 42-kilometer-long Wuxia Gorge is the most eautiful and the longest of the Three Gorges. The Changjiang River narrows when it flows to the western entrance of Wuxia Gorge and snakes between sheer cliffs. The well-known 12 Peaks of Wushan on either bank of the river are enveloped in mist. The most fascinating scenic spots include the Kong Ming tablet and the Shennu Temple.