Wuxia Gorge

Lying at the end of the Daning River valley is Sichuan's easternmost county of Wushan. Here the river broadens to as wide as 700 to 800 meters during high-water seasons. However, it narrows again to 100-200 meters in the following Wuxia Gorge. A check on the waters of the Changjiang, the Wuxia causes the water level 0of the river below Wushan to rise to almost 50 meters when the river is in flood. The Daning River enters the Changjiang from the suburbs of Wushan. Its three lesser gorges are considered by many to be equally as fascinating as the three gorges on the Changjiang. At 45 kilometers, Wuxia is the longest of the three gorges. It lies between the mouth of the Daning River in Wushan and Guandukou in Hubei Province's Badong County. In ancient times, the gorge provided refuge for a host of monkeys. "On cold, frosty morning," says Commentary on Waterways Classic, "the sad screams of monkeys can be heard in the woods, and echo and reecho in the valley." So sad were their screams that fishermen were often moved to tears. Hemmed in by perpendicular cliffs on both sides, the winding Wuxia is deep and secluded. It is always wrapped in mist or light rain from the water vapors entrapped by the high cliffs. Wushan’s famous 12 peaks are located on the banks of Wuxia below Wushan County. Shrouded in ever-changing cloud formations, they are the most attractive along the gorge. The most fascinating of the 12 peaks is perhaps Goddess Peak, named for its graceful nymph form. The celebrated Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen admired the clouds of Wushan so much that he wrote:" None but Wushan clouds call for a glance." Between Guandukou, the eastern terminus of the Wuxia, and the mouth of the Xiangxi River, lies the broad Xiangxi valley, which stretches for more than 40 kilometers. The valley embraces the two counties of Badong and Zigui and the two townships of Xietan and Xiangxi, all in Hubei Province. Densely populated, its slopes are covered with terraced fields and citrus groves.