Wushan & Fengjie

Kuimen Gate, the “world’s most majestic” gorge entrance, and Baidicheng; Wu Gorge’s Goddess Peak and the Lesser Three Gorges; Xiaozhai Tiankeng and late-autumn Wushan red leaves—the very best stretch of a Yangtze cruise.

Wushan & Fengjie lie in the heart of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze in northeastern Chongqing. This is where Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge are found, and it is the finest stretch of any Three Gorges cruise. Fengjie, known in ancient times as Kuizhou, earned the nickname “City of Poetry” from the many poems that Li Bai and Du Fu wrote here. Baidicheng (White Emperor City) and Kuimen Gate (the scene on the back of the 10-yuan banknote) are its signature sights, and the Peak of the Three Gorges on Chijia Mountain offers a panorama of Qutang Gorge. The mountains south of Fengjie hold the world-class Xiaozhai Tiankeng (Heavenly Sinkhole), Tianjing Gorge ground fissure and the “Dry Kuimen.” The town of Wushan sits at the western entrance of Wu Gorge; its highlights are the Lesser Three Gorges of the Daning River, Goddess Stream, Goddess Peak and the Goddess Skyway. To the north are Dachang Ancient Town, Xiazhuang Skyway and Dangyang Grand Canyon. Climate: humid subtropical monsoon—hot and muggy in summer, mild in spring and autumn. The best seasons are April–May and October–December; the Wushan red-leaf season from mid-November to early December is the busiest time. Getting there: since the Zhengzhou–Wanzhou high-speed railway opened, Chongqing North to Fengjie or Wushan takes about 2–2.5 hours, and Yichang East to Wushan about 1.5 hours; the high-speed train between Fengjie and Wushan takes about 15 minutes. Wushan Shennu Airport has flights, and Yangtze cruise ships call at both Fengjie and Wushan. Suggested time: 3 days—one day in Fengjie (Baidicheng + Peak of the Three Gorges), one day for Fengjie’s tiankeng and ground fissure, and one day in Wushan (Lesser Three Gorges or Goddess Stream + Goddess Skyway). Notes: popular sights such as Baidicheng require advance reservations; public transport to mountain sights is limited, so hiring a car is advisable; accommodation is tight during the red-leaf season and public holidays.

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