Daning River Mini Three Gorges
The Daning River Mini Three Gorges is also called the Wushan Lesser Three Gorges. The Daning River, originating from Mount Zhongnan of Pingli county, Shaanxi province, flows through the high mountains and lofty hills. It passes canyons of different size, taking in clear rivers and streams all the way through high cliffs and perilous peaks between Wuxi and Mount Wu, before it finally injects into the mighty Yangtze River in the area west of Wu Gorge. Looking quite mysterious from different angles, the Daning River only became popular recently when tourism developed in China. Some people admire its magnificence and beauty by saying: “Though it’s not the Three Gorges, it is more spectacular. What a miraculous and breathtakingly beautiful view nature has created.”
On May 8, 2007, Chongqing Wushan Lesser Three Gorges, also known as the Mini Three Gorges, was authorized by the National Tourism Administration as a national 5A tourist attraction.
The Daning River Lesser Mini Three Gorges, the general term for Longmen (Loong Gate) Gorge, Tieguan (Iron Coffin) Gorge and Dicui (Emerald Green) Gorge, are the essence of Daning River landscape. About 60 kilometers in length, the Lesser Three Gorges stretches all the way from Wushan county in the south to the ancient town of Dachang in the north.
In ancient times, the Lesser Three Gorges was a vital military region from Hubei to Sichuan where Qin Liangyu, a famous female general of late Ming Dynasty fought against Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai. (History of the Southern Ming Dynasty, Volume 70, Biography 50, Biography of Qin Liangyu)
Longmen Gorge
Longmen Gorge is only about 3 kilometers long. Its mouth features two mountains confronting each other, making it difficult to access.
When visiting the Lesser Three Gorges, one usually boards a ship (an excursion ship powered by a diesel engine that can accommodate over 20 people) at the estuary of the Daning River beside Wushan county. The ship, which goes upstream to Longmen Gorge, will pass through Bawu Gorge to Dicui Gorge and then go back.
