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The Three Gorges, or Yangtze Gorges region is a scenic area along the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in the People's Republic of China, which is classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.
The Three Gorges span from the western-upriver cities of Fengjie and Yichang in Chongqing Municipality eastward-downstream to Hubei province The Three Gorges region attracts global attention due to the Three Gorges Dam, which is firmly changing the culture and environment of the river and Three Gorges region.
The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)-Three Gorges region has a total length of approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi). The Three Gorges occupy approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) within this region. Although it is primarily famous for its scenery, the Three Gorges region is also a historically and culturally important location in China. Many settlements and archeological sites will be under submersion from the rising Three Gorges Dam.
Features of The Three Gorges
The Yangtze Gorges is a great valley with a most splendid landscape in the Yangtze (Changjiang) River and it is one of the ten most famous scenic sites of China. It extends from White Emperor City in Fengjie County, Chongqing Municipality to Nanjin Pass in Yichang, Hubei Province, consisting of Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, with a full length of 193 km.
It converge the essence of the scenery on the Yangtze River. Within this distance, they are arranged in such a manner with other gorges and valleys that one is narrow and the following one is wide by turn. Because of this topography, the momentum of the river water is pent-up in the narrow valleys and released abruptly in gorges. In those bottle-necks, water rushes down swiftly and wildly, reminding one of any angry beast. Traveling in a cruise ship in this part of the Yangtze River, one can not only enjoy grotesquely shaped rock formations and magnificent mountains along the river and the rolling water but also poems inscribed by ancient scholars. With a variety of landscape of China, it has been displaying its special charms for thousands of years.
The Yangtze Gorges presents a scene of boundless variety with the magnificence of Qutang Gorge, the elegance of Wu Gorge, the perilousness of Xiling Gorge as well as the primitive simplicity and the mysteriousness of the Daning River, and Shennong Stream, which flow into the great valley. The whole landscape is so kaleidoscopic. It is picturesque everywhere, and what more, each scene is related to a wonderful fairy tale or a moving legend which will kindle your meditation on the remote past.The beautiful landscape of the gorge region has given birth to a splendid culture. It is one of the birthplaces of the civilizations of China. The famous Daxi Culture, which originated here, has shed brilliant light on the civilizations in the long history. The valleys were once the battlefields during the period of the Three Kingdoms, where countless heroes displayed their proness and talent. Besides, a great many well-known historical sites such as White Emperor City, Huangling Temple and Nanjin Pass, add charm to the landscape.
The gorge region is also rich in natural resources. You are welcome to the Yangtze Gorges to enjoy the charming landscape and splendid culture as well as the colorful folkways.