Journey of Chongqing-Wanzhou and Fengjie

(Wanzhou District)

The plane landed on Wanzhou Airport and I felt that the weather was not that hot as expected. I could see the high buildings of Wanzhou. Wanzhou District is a city on the upper reaches of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in China. It is currently governed as a district of Chongqing Municipality, bordering Sichuan to the northwest, and Hubei to the southeast.

(Kuimen Bridge)

Wanzhou literally means "myriad-prefecture," where "a myriad of rivers converge and a myriad of traders gather." If you stand on the mountain of Wanzhou, you can see the mighty river flow eastward and it is magnificent.

(Mountains of Chongqing)

The east of Wanzhou is Fengjie County and this county is very famous for Baidicheng in China. Baidicheng is an ancient temple complex on a hill on the northern shore of the Yangtze River, 8 km east of the present day Fengjie County. The name Baidicheng literally means White Emperor Walled-city (or just White Emperor City). During the Tang Dynasty, the great poet Li Bai wrote Departing from Baidi in the Morning and every educated man in China can recite this poem.

(Xiaozhai Tiankeng)

The mountain road was very rugged and the bus traveled on the mountain road for about 3 hours and then we reached Xiaozhai Tiankeng. I felt like I was in the lost paradise.

(Looking down into the sinkhole)

The Xiaozhai Tiankeng, also known as the Heavenly Pit, is the world's deepest sinkhole. When I reached the view deck of the sinkhole, I was astonished.

(The road to Xiaozhai Tiankeng)

The hill road was rugged and I felt tired. Luckily, I found a rest area.

(Rest area)

I tried and climbed to the bottom of the sinkhole and I was shocked. If you look into it, you will feel this hole is round. When you are inside the sinkhole looking up, you will find that the hole is square. That is very interesting.

(Inside the sinkhole, looking up)

You may feel Xiaozhai Tiankeng is mysterious though it is not very large.

(The book from heaven)

This journey was very long and I felt very tired. I washed my face with cold water from the creek and continued to climb to the peak.