The Three Gorges dam is filled with contraversy. The environmental impact of the dam, as well as the issues involved with relocating those who live in the flood plane are issues debated around the world. Read more in the New York Times article about the Three Gorges.
Contents |
[edit] Booking the Cruise
Booking your cruise can be a challenge. Luxury cruises start at around USD500 and have English guides. If you are more adventurous, you can try the Chinese tour boat - which is much cheaper around $130 but with no English.
Luxury cruises can be booked at the Regal China Cruises websites. Local crusises can be booked at the travel agency on the business card below. In addition, there is a CYCJ website that you can book tickets or get information on, though only in Chinese.
The price in October 2007 was 850RMB per person for a first class (2 people per cabin) ticket. This included entrance fees to all the sites, some of which can be pretty expensive.
[edit] Common Stops
A common cruise route is to go from Chongqing to Yichang or vice versa. Possible stops along the way are below. Typically it will take about 3 days and 4 nights to go from Yichang to Chongqing, and a given cruise is unlikely to stop at all of the stops. The Ghost City of Feng Du and Baidi City are not to be missed. Several of the stops along the way will have significant cost greater than RMB 100.
[edit] Ghost City of Fengdu
Below is the text on the placard entering Ghost City: "Fengdu the city of Chost, is reputed as a brilliant pearl on the tour hot-line of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Ghost Palace in the Liubeichi Valley of the northwest Fengdu is the largest active scenery throughout China about ghost culture. The magnificent architectural complex consist of more than 20 spots such as Naihe Bridge (the bridge to the Hell). Yama's Palace (a palace for the king of the hell), the Chinese Hell, the Palace for the queen of the Hell), and so on. Tourists can appreciate the unique atmosphere of the Nether World from those changing, breathtaking, miraculous scenery spots and the vivid sculpture."
Ghost Street is a small section of the Ghost City compound. Here's what it's placard says:
"Legend has it that the Ghost Street is a bazaar for the dead. Made up from the ancient Chinese construction it is composed of many spots like the memorial archway of the Ghost Street. Yuanyang Pavilion (the affectionate couple's pavilion(, the God Gateway, the 99 Immortal stairs, the temple for the God of Wealth, Town God's temple, the statute of Feng-du Emperorr, Magu Cave (the female longevity star( etc. The Ghost Street is dotted with imposing altars and memorial gateway, as well as many souvenir stores where you can buy handicrafts and local specialities of all kinds and various travelling souvenits. Besides, you can watch some large-scale activities such as the Town's God Patrolling and interesting puppet shows. Zhongkui catech the Fiend, the King of the Hell's Wedding, and Granny Dreaming Sells the Magic Tea. All of these will give you an unforgettable impression on the bazaar of the Nether Wold.You may wonder if you are in the real exciting Nether World."
A few notables to make your Ghost City visit the best. There is a "Haunted House" on the top of the hill at the Ghost Palace - don't go to it, it's pretty lame. If you don't feel like climbing up 400 stairs to get to the top of the Ghost City palace, you can take a cable car for 15RMB.
[edit] Shi Bao Zhai (Shi Bao Stockaded Village)
"The Bran-new Yangtze Three Gorges" pamphlet, which is sold at docks all up and down the Three Gorges contains the following charming text about the Shi Bao Zhai.
"Shi Bao Zhai (石宝寨) is situated in Shibao Town of Zhong Country, Shibao Zhai was builted on a skerry named YuYing. It's form from the three parts; gate, body and cockloft. With 56m high, it has 12 floors and is reputed as one of the eight ancient peculiar architecture."
[edit] Wanzhou City
Wanzhou city from the "bran-new" Three Gorges pamphlet: "Wanzhou City is the important port of Yangtze river and second biggest city in Chongqing. It's the traffic hinge of the Three Gorges resovoir. The main scenic spots are Taibaiyan garden, Bell-tower, Qinglong waterfall, Wanzhou Chiangjiang bridge etc."
[edit] Zhang Fei Temple
Zhang Fei Temple description from the pamphlet "Zhang Fei Temple in YunYang County of ChongQing was conostructed in last years of Shu Han Dynasty. Numerous collectors since Tang & Han Dynasty were exhibited here. It is famous for three peerless things: article, calligraphy, and imagery"
[edit] Baidi City (White King City)
Temple Placard says: "The original temple was built in the period of Republic of China occuping 243.4 square meters. The gratitude repaying Bodhisattva is mulian, who is one of the Ten followers of the Sakyamuni and is called "the first one of magic powerand fillial piety". According to the legend Mulian's mother was very vicious and harsh and not respect the Buddhism, after her death she was sent to Tieweicheng where all the evil souls were punished and never could get reincarnation. Mulian was determined to save his mother. With the pointers from Sakyamuni, suffering a lot of bitterness, he finally helped his mother to change by persuasion and saved her. The statue of gratitude-repaying Bodhisattva is 2.5 neters high and on both sides there are two disciples of Mulian."
The Palace of Heaven Placard Says: "The palace of Heaven situates on the peak of the Mt. Ming seat west face east previously called the "The Temple of Immortals". It was the renamed as the temple of Nobleness in the song dynasty. First constructed in wesen Jin dynasty. The palace was renorated and epanded in sui and Tang dynasty. Tod date it already has a history of ver 1600 years. The statue of Yama is six meters tall on the stone seat of the one point one meters tall in the middle of the palace. He looks august. The statue of his wife stays in the box at back of Yama's statue. Bothe side left and right of Yama carvings of the statues of six leading officers. Down carringed four judicial officers statues therr point five meters tall stand and carvinged Ten Comanders of the Nether institutions statues, thee meters tall standed. Eas and west. Hells were built on the left and right. Winding Cowidors of palace each king is charg of laws on over seat. Down sculpured. Many Ghosts and base people. The were punished hardship and suffering in the hell. The map of humor and terrific was realiled. Both left and right down archway had sculptured two Gods. The general Eagle and The snake. They are two meters tall and impermanance two Gods statues."
[edit] The Natural Pit and Ground Gap
"Located in the fenjie county. The Natural Pit is 666m at its deepest 622m in diameter at the top and 552m at the bottom. The Ground Gap extends for 37km, where is the longest one in the world. Both are considered as the worlds wonders."
[edit] Qutang Gorge
"Qutang Gorge is the shortest but the grandest one in the three gorges. The Mt. Chi-jia in the north bank, stand face to face, high and craggedess, like a grandiosity gate, so it is called "Kui-men". The Yangtze River is mighty and rapid here. There are many sight spots: Bellows Gorge, Cliff inscriptions, Rhinoceros-watching-the-Moon Peak etc."
[edit] Wu Gorge
"Wu Gorge is famous for the peculiar shaped twelve peaks. Downstream from the gorges, six peaks are on the north bank, the others on the south. But you can clap eyes on only nine peaks. Goddess Peak is the most famous scenery in Wu Gorge. As the story goes that the daughter of heaven Queen named Yao-ji befallened the world to help the people and guide route. Day went and month came she became the peak."
[edit] Three Lesser Gorges
"The Lesser Three Gorges is in the Wushan county of Chongqing. It make up of three seperate valleys of the Daning River, named "Dragon Gate Gorge" (3km), "Misty Gorge" (10km), "Emerald Gorge" (20km). These three gorges, with an earea of 160 hectares of forest, lie on the lower reaches of Daning, extending from the Entrance of the Dragon-Gate Gorge to Tujiaba for 50km. It is considered to be a scenic wonder."