Lesser Three Gorges (Daning River)
巫山小三峡
Longmen, Bawu, and Dicui gorges on the Daning River, with green water, monkey troops, and hanging coffins along ancient plank roads. Called a “wonder of China,” this is where cruise passengers often transfer to small boats to go deeper.
The Lesser Three Gorges of Wushan are three gorges on the Daning River, a tributary of the Yangtze, which runs upstream from Wushan County town. Longmen Gorge has Longmen Bridge at its entrance and stone holes from an ancient plank road. Bawu Gorge has hanging coffins and stalactites on both banks, and monkey troops often gather by the river. Dicui Gorge is the longest and deepest, with waterfalls cascading down its walls and lush bamboo and trees. The three gorges span 50 km in total. Inside Dicui Gorge, the Madu River, a tributary, has three more gorges: Changtan, Qinwang, and Sancheng. Together they form the “Xiaoxiao Three Gorges,” covering 15 km. This section requires transferring to small wooden boats, where you can watch the boatmen pole along.
How to visit: Take a sightseeing cruise from the pier at the Wushan County Visitor Center. The round trip takes about 4 hours. The transfer to small boats for the Xiaoxiao Three Gorges is charged separately. Admission is about 120 to 150 yuan. The site is open from 8:00 to 18:00, with ticket sales ending at 14:00. There are morning and afternoon departures. Yangtze River cruise ships often schedule half a day in Wushan, and the Lesser Three Gorges or Shennü Stream is usually included in their shore excursions.
Getting there: Wushan County lies between Chongqing and Yichang. The Zhengzhou–Wanzhou high-speed railway has a Wushan station. From Yichang, the high-speed train to Wushan takes about 1.5 hours. Driving from Baidicheng in Fengjie takes about 1 hour.
Tips: Each small boat carries about a dozen people. Wear a life jacket and do not stand up. The red-leaf season (mid-November to December) is crowded, so book tickets early. The river air is cool, so bring a jacket. Do not feed the monkeys.
Opening hours
08:00–18:00 (last ticket sales at 14:00)
Nearby sights
- Wushan Museum
- Wenfeng Scenic Area
- Shennü Sky Road
- Shennü Stream
- Dachang Ancient Town
- Wu Gorge & Goddess Peak
- Xiazhuang Sky Road
- Peak of the Three Gorges