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Qutang Gorge Introduction
Just 8 kilometers (5 miles), from Baidi City the Qutang Gorge can be seen in all it's splendor. This portion of Qutang gorge is within the territory of Chongqing, which starts from the famous tourist attraction --Baidi City to the Town of Daxi. Although the shortest one of the Three Gorges, Qutang Gorge stands out with its imposing steepness of the lofty mountains and the rip current flapping on the cliffs.Down stream the river narrows sharply at the entrance of the gorge where bluffs on both sides tower like royal guards. The bluffs look like a huge door which is about to close; and people praise it as majestic Kui Men (Kui Door) so Qutang Gorge is also called Kui Gorge. Perilous peaks along both sides of the Gorge tower toward the sky, many reaching a height of 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) and some of 1,500 meters (4,921 feet). Confined to a narrow channel of some 100 meters (0.06 mile) wide, the water rushes torrentially through the narrowest section. Being only several score meters wide, the cloud-capped mountains are drawn much closer. People on a boat may find themselves in such a deep hollow which seems a chasm into the earth's core.
Scenic spots and historical relics along the shores add feelings of peace to the unique experience. The rising water line has impacted some sights, and a few spots are now under water never to be seen again but many relics and sites have been moved and relocated. Stone inscriptions on the Fenbi Wall and the Plank Road built along the cliff have been protected and are being moved. It is expected that these sights will be opened to public very soon. The changed landform is endowed with even more tourist potential since great efforts are being made to explore and open new sights by the government.
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What to See :
Ancient Plank Roads
Bellows Gorge
Chalk Wall
Iron Lock Pass
Meng Liang Stairway
Rhinoceros Looking at the Moon
Water-Stealing Holes
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