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. Chongqin City
Chongqing is a port city with the largest municipal area and population in China. It is situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers in southwest China. With an area of 82,400 square kilometers (31, 800 square miles), Chongqing shares borders with the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi. Besides the Han who form the majority of its total population of 30.9 million, numerous ethnic groups reside in Chongqing, including Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Qiang, You and Tujia.

Since its founding 3,000 years ago, Chongqing has been called Jiangzhou, Yuzhou, and Gongzhou, before getting its present name nearly 800 years ago. Since the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC), many dynasties have set up administrative institutions that have endowed the city with brilliant cultures. Perched beside the Yangtze, the "Golden River," Chongqing symbolizes Yangtze River civilizations and is the cradle of Bayu culture.

Today, Chongqing is a modern city, China's fourth municipality after Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Within its borders Chongqing encompasses a wealth of water reserves, mineral resources, dense forests, and abundant flora and fauna. The focal point of the unique Yangtze Three Gorges Dam, Chongqing is a tourist attraction as well as a commercial city.

Chongqing attracts visitors from home and abroad for its cultural heritage and other tourist attractions. The city is the starting point for the Yangtze River Cruise, which explores the stunning scenery of the Three Gorges. Other attractions include the Dazu Rock Carvings , valuable works of art carved during the Ninth Century, Gold Buddhist Mountain, a rich repository of diverse animals and plants; and Fishing Town, one of three ancient battlefields in China. Ancient Ci Qi Kou village lures tourists to linger in its streets to buy handicraft souvenirs.

Chongqing is famous for its hot Sichuan cuisine and world-famous hotpot dishes. Street vendors as well as restaurants feature exciting spicy delicacies for the adventurers.

Servicing western China, Chongqing provides convenient water, land, and air transportation. Hundreds of star-ranked hotels provide excellent facilities and services. Chongqing is ready to be the pilot in the Western China Development to usher in more investors and visitors.

. Yangtze River
Traversing eleven provinces of China, the Yangtze River divides China into northern and southern parts. Winding 3,900 miles, it is the largest river in China and the third largest in the world after the Nile in Africa and the Amazon in South America. Originating from the Tanggula Range in Qinghai Province, the Yangtze River flows into the East Sea from Shanghai. Branches of the Yangtze River include Min River, Jialing River, Wu River, Xiang River, Gan River and Huangpu River. In Jiangsu Province, it meets the Grand Canal in Zhenjiang City.

The Yangtze River is divided into three reaches including the upper, middle and lower reaches. Each reach has different characters and scenery.

Upper reaches refers to the section above the Yichang City in Hubei Province. Here, it is characterized by the rapid water and numbers of shoals. From Fengjie in Chongqing to Yichang, Hubei, there is the famous Three Gorges of Yangtze River (Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge) winding about 124 miles. Also, the world water control project, the Three Gorges Dam Project is just located in Sandouping, a town in the middle section of Xiling Gorge.

Middle reaches of the Yangtze River is from Yinchang to Hukou in Jiangxi Province. The section has wide, winding water courses and slow current. 576 miles long, this section takes 14.7% of the total river and forms many lakes. Two big water systems - Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake systems are formed here.

Lower reaches starts from Hukou. The river in this section is deep and wide measuring 524 miles (13.3% of the total length). The river in Yangzhou and Zhenjiang is called Yangtze River because there is Yangtze County during this section. Now, the Yangtze River is used to refer to the whole river as a general term by westerners. Many sandbanks are formed, among which the largest is Chongming Island.

Chongqin- Fuling- Fengdu- Zhongxia- Wanxian- Yunyang- Fengjie- Qutang Gorge- Wu Gorge- Badong- Zigui- Xiling Gorge- Yichang- Jingzhou- Wuhan- Jiujiang

. Qutang Gorge
The shortest and most majestic of the Three Gorges, winds five miles from Baidi City in Fengjie County to Daxi Town in Wushan County. The two banks of the Qutang Gorge contain numerous scenic spots.

Southwest of the Qutang Gorge is the Kui Gate, also called the Qutang Pass. Two peaks, Mt. Baiyan (White Salt Mountain) in the north and Mt. Chijia soar above the horizon. The two mountains resemble a gate that might have been created by Heaven and placed here on earth. As the peaks along the two banks are 3,281 feet to 4,921 feet high and the Yangtze River is only 109 yards to 219 yards wide, the Yangtze River looks like a narrow belt winding its way through the deep canyons. The deep gorge, fast-moving water, and chains of mountains form an imposing picture. Because of the Kui Gate, the Qutang Gorge is also known as the Kui Gorge.

Upstream from the mouth of Qutang Gorge is the ancient county of Fengjie where one can admire the Ba Zhen Tu (Eight Element Battle Formation). In the gorge, Baidi City (White Emperor City) lies at the top of the northern bank. On the southern bank one can find an unusual sight--the Chalk Wall--on which numerous inscriptions are carved. Also, Mengliang Stairway and Hanging Monk Rock, which have a legend associated with them, are located on the southern bank. The northern bank is also endowed with some interesting sights. Among them are Bellows Gorge (Fengxiang Xia) where the ancient hanging coffins are located and the remains of the ancient plank road. Holes for the road's supports were chiseled into the sheer face of the cliffs by the ancient people. The road was once the only means of transportation for people and goods while the river was in flood.

Other attractions include the Rhinoceros Looking at the Moon--a unique stone in the shape of a rhinoceros looking at the moon not far from the Bellows Gorge, the Iron Lock Pass--used to prevent enemy invasions during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), and the Daxi Culture Heritage Site - the perfect place to learn about Chinese Neolithic Culture.

After the damming of the Yangtze River for the Three Gorges Dam Project, great changes took place in Qutang Gorge; some historic relics along the two banks have been submerged in the water. As a result, the unique image of a smooth lake rising in the narrow gorge now appears.

. The Wu Gorge
Is the second gorge of the Three Gorges of Yangtze River and is famous for its elegance. Winding over 25 miles, it starts from the estuary of Daning River (east of Wushan) in the west and ends at Guandukou in Badong, Hubei Province.

Also called Da Xia (Large Gorge), the Wu Gorge is comprised of Golden Helmet and Silver Armor Gorge (Jinkui Yinjia Xia) and Iron Coffin Gorge. As strange peaks, grotesque rocks as well as fog and clouds surround the gorge, it is usually the most notable of the three gorges. Because of the long and deep canyons in the Wu Gorge, the daily period of sunlight is short which impedes the dispersal of air borne moisture within the gorge and so creates clouds and fog in a variety of fantastic shapes. How wonderful it is!

Twelve Peaks: Along the Wu Gorge, there are twelve peaks on each bank. These are the most prominent aspects of the scenery of Wu Gorge. Many legends relate to the twelve peaks. The six peaks along the northern bank are Denglong (Climbing Dragon) Peak, Shengquan (Sage Spring) Peak, Zhaoyun (Facing Clouds) Peak, Shennu (Goddess) Peak, Songluan (Fir Tree Cone) Peak, and the Jixian (Congregated Immortals) Peak. The southern bank has Feifeng (Flying Phoenix) Peak, Cuiping (Misty Screen) Peak, Juhe (Assembled Cranes) Peak, Jingtan (Clean Altar) Peak, Qiyun (Rising Cloud) Peak, and Shangsheng (Rising) Peak; the last three are not at the riverside. Among the twelve, the Goddess Peak is the highest and most notable. As it is the first peak to welcome the sun's glow and says farewell to its afterglow, it is also called Wangxia Peak (Looking at the Sunglow peak). There are some popular legends relating to it that are worth knowing.

. Three Little Gorges of Daning River
Daning River flows into the Yangtze River from the western mouth of Wu Gorge. It is the largest tributary of the Yangtze. The Three Little Gorges located at the lower reaches of Daning River are worth a visit by tourists. When drifting along the Three Little Gorges, historic relics such as the ancient plank road, suspended coffins, and the boat coffins can be viewed.

Also in the Wu Gorge Section, there is the historic relic - Kongming Stele. The stele is beneath the Jixian Peak. On the quadrate white cliff, six characters have been carved. According to legend, the characters are those of Zhuge Liang's handwriting (a celebrity of Three Kingdoms Period).

As the water level rises due to the Three Gorges Dam Project, more scenes in the Wu Gorge will be explored as attractions for tourists to visit.

Starting from Xiangxi (Fragrant Stream) Kou of Zigui County in the west and ending at Nanjin Pass in the east, Xiling Gorge, zigzagging about 49 miles, is the longest gorge among the three gorges of the Yangtze River. Because of numerous reefs and odd-shaped stones existing in rapid shoals, the gorge is also well known for its danger.

Scenery along the Xiling Gorge is spectacular. Some renowned streams, springs, stones and karst caves can be found along this section. As many historic celebrities such as Qu Yuan and Bai Juyi have been here and left numerous poems praising the natural scene of Xiling Gorge, it is bestowed with a great sense of history.

. Xiling Gorge
Is mainly composed of smaller gorges and dangerous shoals. From west to east, there are four gorges - The Military Books and Precious Sword Gorge (Bingshu Baojian Xia), The Ox and Horse Lungs Gorge (Niugan Mafei Xia), Kongling Gorge, and Lantern Shadow Gorge (Dengying Xia) - and some dangerous shoals such as Qingtan, Xietan, Xintan and Konglingtan. In the past, a great number of boats have sunk here, striking the reefs in the rapid flow of water. Thanks to the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project, the water now has been calmed to some extent.

Besides the natural landscape, some historic landmarks including the Huangling Temple and Three Travelers' Cave (Sanyou Dong) are also worth visiting. As your boat cruises out of Nanjin Pass at the eastern end of Xiling Gorge, the scenery of dangerous cliffs and shoals will be left behind as the middle section of the Yangtze River begins.

Now Xiling Gorge has become a highlight of the Yangtze River Cruise and has been praised by numerous visitors, both native and foreign.

. Fengdu Ghost City
Located on the Ming Mountain on the northern back of the Yangtze River, Fengdu County is known to most Chinese as the 'Ghost City.' Having nearly two thousand years' history, the Ghost City combines the cultures of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism with the mystique of ghosts. Many famous literary works like Journey to the West, Apotheosis of Heroes and Strange Tales of a Lonely Studio contain vivid references to Fengdu.

Fengdu got its name as the Ghost City in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Two officials from the imperial court Yin Changsheng and Wang Fangping decided to come to Ming Mountain to practice Taoist teachings. Through self-cultivation they became immortals. Combining their surnames produces the term "Yinwang" meaning the "king of hell." Later, during the Tang Dynasty, a stupendous temple was erected on Ming Mountain depicting life in hell. It displays demonic images and torture devices and reflects the notion that good people will be treated well in the afterlife and that bad people will be punished by going to hell.

In the Chinese vision of the afterlife, the dead (or ghosts) must undergo three major tests to enter the netherworld. These tests are taken at three locations - Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge; Ghost Torturing Pass and the Tianzi (son of heaven) Palace. These three locations are among many attractions in the Ghost City.

Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge: Built during the Ming Dynasty, the bridge connects the nether world with the real world and is a testing point for good and evil. According to legend, the Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge is composed on three identical stone arches. The middle arch is used for testing people. There are different protocols for crossing the bridge depending on your gender, age and marital status. Below the bridge are square-shaped pools of water. Virtuous people will pass over the bridge without obstacle; villainous people will fall into the pools below. The other two arches are called the golden and silver bridges respectively. When preparing to leave, visitors are encouraged to pass these two bridges because according to local superstition this will bring them good fortune.

Ghost Torturing Pass: The Ghost Torturing Pass is the second test before entry into the nether world. It is said that this is the place where the dead report to the Yama, the King of Hell, for judgment. In front of the structure there are eighteen sculptures depicting ferocious demons. Each of these devils is quite lifelike creating a feeling of true eerieness.

Tianzi Palace: Having over three hundred years' history the palace covers an area of nearly 2,908 square yards. It is composed of a temple gate (paifang) and the palace itself. The gate is an archway made of wood and stone rising to height of nearly 33 feet. The palace is the nerve center of the Ghost City and is the oldest and largest temple on Ming Mountain.

The third test to evade hell takes place at a large stone in front of the gate. The ghost must stand on the stone on one foot for three minutes. A good person will be able to do this while an evil one cannot and will be sent to hell.

One other ghostly attraction in Fengdu worth mentioning is the Last-Glance at Home Tower. This structure was built in 1985 and commemorates the site where spirits consigned to hell could take one last look at their families.

Visitors to the Ghost City will marvel at the artisanship of ancient craftsman, the unique styles of architecture and the culture of the ghost. Whatever your beliefs, you are constantly reminded the "Good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil." A major highlight here is the annual temple fair every March 3 - 5 featuring all kinds of folk activities and performances.

. Shenlong Stream
Shennong Stream is one of the most important ports of call for Yangtze Three Gorges tour. It is a 60-kilometer tributary of the Yangtze River, originates in the southern part of Shennongjia Natural Reserve and joins the Yangtze at Xirangkou in Hubei's Badong County. The crystal clear and unpolluted water flows swiftly. A tour by sampan is just like a shooting arrow. One exciting sport played here is "Gliding in Water". The section of the river earmarked for this game is twenty kilometers long and passes along the Mianzhu, Yingwu and Longchang Gorges. One rides a boat starting in a branch of the Shennong Stream and glides past the four-kilometer-long Mianzhu Gorge and then enters the main stream of the Shennong. The boat glides over the cobble-strewn river bed, its bottom often banging against the stones. It is not without risk yet exhilarating. It is thrilling to battle with the nature.

Drifting on the local "peapod", you'll be able to enjoy not only the beautiful scenery along the River, but also see cliff-wallows swishing in the air, groups of monkeys sporting among the trees, shoals of fish swimming in the clear water, as well as ancient coffins in the rocky crevices left by the Ba people, Shennong colorful pebbles.

It is newly opened to the outside world, and it has been considered as the highlight of the entire trip. Like the neighboring Lesser Three Gorges in WushanCounty, the ancient plank path runs along the river, mysterious ancient coffins suspended high on the cliff, wild monkeys running under the primitive trees and bushes. Dark green clear water, dark green trees, dark green mountains along the stream stretch and disappear into faraway.

The Shennong Stream fascinates the tourists with its special virtues of serenity, uniqueness, primitiveness and wilderness. Floating on a peapod boat, you can appreciate not only the natural scenes all the way, but also the joys and excitement in fighting the winds and waves

. Three Gorges DamThe Three Gorges Dam site is 27 miles upstream from YichangCity proper, at SandoupingTown, 38km upstream from the Gezhouba Dam Lock, inside the third of the Three Gorges. It is planned to be by far the largest hydroelectric project in the world. The Project calls for the construction of a concrete dam, a hydroelectric power plant and a series of locks just below the scenic Three Gorges region. The project is designed to be built in three phases and is scheduled for completion in year 2009. Upon arrival at Sandouping, passengers will take a bus across the ThreeGorgesBridge, which leads toward the top of the hill for a birds-eye view of the construction from the observation deck. Visitors will observe the five-step ship lock, the diversion canal, the dam in construction, and the power station. English speaking professional guides will be on hand to provide detailed information on the history of the dam and facts on its construction. In addition, an exhibition room displays a model of the dam, and offers passengers another opportunity to ask questions and learn about the benefits of this amazing project. One of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the world, the Three Gorges Project will forever change the face of the Yangtze River as we know it today. Possessing comprehensive utilization benefits mainly for flood control, power generation and navigation improvement. It will be a vital important and backbone project in harnessing and developing of the Yangtze River. Measures have been taken to preserve and move the historical and cultural relics found along its banks; however many scenic spots will be adversely affected. The most dramatic section of the river, what we refer to as "the heart of the Yangtze"-the area from the Three Gorges all the way upstream to Chongqing-will eventually be drowned by the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, an integral part of the Three Gorges Project.

. YichangLocation: Longitude 110'15' E to 112'04' E, Latitude29'56' N to 31'34' Nin the east mouth of the Three Gorges

Neighboring Areas: Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Henan provinces

Physical Features: higher in the west and lower in the east

Population: 3.92 million

Urban Population: 2.63 million

Area: 21,084 sq km

Nationalities: Han, Hui, Manchu, Miao, Tujia and Mongolian

History: with more than 7,000 or 8,000 years of history; called as "the throat of Chuan (namely Sichuan province) and E (namely Hubei province)"; in the Xia and Shang dynasties, used to be the ancient "lands of Jingzhou"; in Spring and Autumn Period, as well as Warring States, cortrolled by the Chu State, being called "the west frontier fortress of Chu" in history; one of the cradles of Chu Culture; called "Xiling" in remote antiquity; also known as "Yiling" for the Yishan Mountain in the northwest, "Xiazhou" for guarding the Three Gorges

Transportation and communication: Yichang arterial highways extend to every corner, No.318 National Highway crosses the whole Yichang City, through which you may reach Shanghai in the east and Tibet in the west. "The Golden Water Route" of the Yangtze runs through Yichang and it reaches Wanzhou, Chongqing in the west and Wuhan , Shanghai in the east. The express way is from Yichang to Wuhan, Beijing, Xi'an and the railway from Yichang to Zhenzhou, Wuxi, Huaihua, Guangzhou were put into use long ago and an international railway container transport network was also established. Air transport conditions are advantageous. Yichang civil airliners can fly to China's 23 large and middle cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen. The international temporary air-liners was opened, too.

Importance of Yichang: Yichang is where the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River are divided. Thanks to its advantageous geographic location, Yichang has been defined as a distributing center, an important trading port and a transportation hub along the Yangtze river linking west Hubei and east Sichuan since ancient times. For a very long time, it has been renown as "Gateway to the Three Gorges", and "Throat between Sichuan and Hubei". Today, Yichang remains a brisk river port of China, controlling the access to Chongqing to its southwest.

Climatic Features: in subtropical humid monsoonal climate zone, four seasons clearly demarcated; cloudy and sunny not certain in springs; with humid and hot summers; fine autumns; dry cold winters; with frost free period of 220- 300 days

Average Temperature: annual average temperature of 16C

Rainfall: annual even precipitation 1,100 mm; concentrated on June, July and August, as well as in spring

Mountains: Mt. Dasheng nongjia (with the highest peak of 3053 m), Mt. Wushan (with average height of 700-800m), Mt. Mingfeng, Mt. Guanmiao, Mt. Qingshan, Mt. Xiling

Rivers: Huangbaihe River, Qingjiang River, Juzhanghe River, Yuyanghe River, Jingjiang River and Xiangxi River