The Three Gorges 三峡

Qutang Xia
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After visiting Shennongjia, I continued my journey to the Three Gorges. Unfortunately, I had waited 5 hours at Badong 巴东 for the ferry to Wushan 巫山. I couldn't see the scenery of Wuxia 巫峡 as it was already dark. The Old Town of Wushan was gradually pulling down and a New Town was built at the top of the mountain. Yet it seems that the locals still preferred to do business and live in the Old Town until the last building was totally torn down! It's just a typical migration city among the many being affected by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.

Yangzi River Cruise
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Then I visited the Lesser Three Gorges 小三峡 which was radiated from Wuxia along Daning River　大宁河. The Lesser Three Gorges was much narrow than its Big Brother. The water was shallow that it allowed only small speed boats to run. The holes for supporting the narrow footway planked over the cliff  栈道 built thousand years ago could still be seen today. Similar to the Three Gorges, this Lesser Three Gorges will be flooded after completion of the Three Gorges Dam.

the locals still preferred to do business and live in the Old Town

175m - The future water level
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From Wushan, I took another passenger ferry to Fengjie 奉节 where the famous Qutang Xia 瞿塘峡 and Baidicheng 白帝城 were situated. Baidicheng or "White King Town" is an important town for the Kingdom of Shu 蜀国 during the era of the "Three Kingdom". 刘备白帝城托孤的故事就是发生在这里．

Among the Three Gorges, I liked Qutang Xia most because I had the chance to walk along the cliff for a few hours to see the magnificent view of Qutang Xia and Baidicheng. I met some local villagers along the path and talked with them for a while. They invited me to visit their village uphill but I reluctantly refused as I had to catch a 37-hrs ferry to Chongqing 重庆, the finish point of my Yangzi River trip. What a pity!

Gezhou Dam, Yichang
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After staying a few days in Chongqing, I arrived Chengdu 成都 today hoping to change another train in the evening for Lugu Hu 泸沽湖 but everything was sold out due to the week's long Labour Day Holidays. I can only get a hard seat ticket tomorrow night. It is this tourist boom that drives me to the quiet Lugu Hu which is between the border of Sichuan and Yunnan Province. Hope that the lake will not be flooded with tourists...

Well, see you after come back from Lugu Hu (hoping that it is possible to go there from Sichuan side!).