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The Plank Road & The Suspended Coffins

The Suspended Coffins and the Plank Road are a particularly unusual spot along the Three Gorges route. Situated high on the cliffs on the northern bank of the river here are several crevices, each spanning about about half a meter wide. Tucked inside these crevices are tiny coffins, suspended from the roof of each section.

Nine coffins have been discovered here, some containing bronze swords and human bone. Also found here are inscriptions detailing ancient poems, exquisitely carved in various calligraphic styles.

Situated in the Mini Three Gorges, is an observatory designed to allow tourists to look at the coffins in more detail from the cliff side.

The ancient Plank Road refers to the numerous stone holes spread out along the cliffs. Most of these holes are situated 30m above water, arranged in 2 lines. In ancient times, people inserted wide wooden sticks into each hole and laid planks along them, thereby providing a passage for people to walk and transport materials along. It is estimated that there are altogether 6888 stone holes stretching from between Dragon-Gate Gorge and Wuxi Salt Works.