Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡), also known as Kuimen Gorge (夔门峡), is the most breathtaking segment of the Yangtze River’s Three Gorges. Renowned since ancient times for its stunning beauty and grandeur, it is famously depicted on the back of the ten yuan note. The saying “Emei is known for its elegance, Qingcheng for its tranquility; Jianmen for its danger, and Kuimen for its majesty” refers to Qutang Gorge.
Standing at Kuimen, visitors are treated to the sight of towering mountains rising abruptly on both sides, enclosing the Yangtze River within the gorge as it flows powerfully through. Since the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, the scenery of the Yangtze River in this area has become even more beautiful. Although the grandeur of “many waters converging at Fuling, vying for a passage through Kuimen” may no longer be seen, the serene beauty of “clear waters revealing Kuimen, tranquil lakes presenting a hidden charm” is enchanting and unforgettable.
Despite its short length of only 8 kilometers, Qutang Gorge is the most breathtaking stretch of the river. The cliffs on both sides are steep and imposing, with the river surging through the sheer rock faces. It has long been celebrated for its reputation: “No danger exceeds Jianmen, no grandeur surpasses Kuimen.” As the shortest of the Three Gorges, Qutang Gorge boasts the impressive vista of “controlling Ba Yu in the west while embracing mountains in the east.”
The gorge is rich in historical and cultural landmarks, with many sites concentrated in the area. Upstream at the gorge’s entrance, visitors can explore the ancient city of Fengjie, the Eight Arrays Diagram, and the Yufu Tower. On the north bank of the gorge, the White Emperor City, with its extensive collection of cultural relics, is perched atop a mountain, along with the perilous ancient plank road and the mysterious Fengxiang Gorge. The south bank features walls inscribed with historical carvings, the legendary Meng Liang Steps, the Upside-Down Monk, and the Armored Cave. Near the Fengxiang Gorge’s downstream area on the south bank, there is a uniquely shaped peak known as “Rhino Gazing at the Moon,” which is strikingly lifelike.
Exiting Qutang Gorge, visitors encounter the Daxi Cultural Site on the south bank, which holds significant archaeological value, and the Du Fu Thatched Cottage ruins, located just a few kilometers from the White Emperor City, where the poet lingered fondly.
Travel Information about Qutang Gorge
Ticket and Opening Hours
Ticket Prices: The combined ticket for Qutang Gorge and White Emperor City during peak season is 90 RMB, while in the off-season, it is 50 RMB. This ticket includes the boat fare from White Emperor City to the Kuimen Ancient Elephant Museum.
Opening Hours: The area is open all day.
Getting There
Location: Qutang Gorge stretches approximately 8 kilometers, starting from White Emperor City in the west and ending at Shanda Creek Town in the east.
Transportation: From Chongqing Longtousi Bus Station, take a direct bus to Fengjie. After arriving, transfer to a minibus heading to the White Emperor City scenic area. Once you finish exploring White Emperor City, you can take a boat to tour Qutang Gorge.
Attraction Ratings:
- Beauty: ★★★★★
- Cultural Value: ★★★★★
- Unique Features: ★★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★★
- Romance: ★★★★★
- Adventure: ★★★★★
Highlights of Qutang Gorge
White Emperor City
White Emperor City (Baidi City) is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River at the mouth of Qutang Gorge. It is said that during the late Western Han Dynasty, Gongsun Shu seized control of Sichuan, proclaimed himself King of Shu, and established his capital here. He noticed that white smoke often rose from a well in this area, resembling a white dragon, which led him to name himself the White Emperor and change the name of Ziyang City to White Emperor City.
White Emperor City is the best place to view the magnificent “Kuimen.” The current structures are remnants restored during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Throughout history, many famous poets, including Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Liu Yuxi, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Fan Chengda, and Lu You, have climbed White Emperor Mountain and explored Kuimen, leaving behind a wealth of poetry. Li Bai’s poem “Early Departure from White Emperor City” is particularly well-known, earning White Emperor City the title of “City of Poetry.”
Inside White Emperor City, there are relics from the hanging coffins of Qutang Gorge, as well as over 1,000 artifacts from various dynasties, including 73 stone tablets and inscriptions from the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Among these, the “Bamboo Leaf Inscription” uniquely combines poetry and painting, showcasing a distinctive style. The “Three Kings Stele” is intricately engraved with phoenixes, peonies, and parasol trees, considered a gem of artistry. Additionally, there is a famous Ba-Shu bronze sword from the Spring and Autumn period, shaped like a willow leaf and crafted with exquisite technique. The east and west stele groves house over 70 well-preserved stone tablets, some of which date back more than 1,400 years to the Sui Dynasty.
Kuimen
The Kuimen section of the Yangtze River features turbulent waters, with towering cliffs on both sides rising several hundred meters high but measuring less than a hundred meters wide. It is named Kuimen because its shape resembles a doorway guarding the Three Gorges, serving as the western gateway to the Yangtze River Gorges, also known as “Qutang Pass.”
The water flow at Kuimen is swift and powerful. The great poet Du Fu once wrote, “The waters converge at Fu, and Kuimen competes for one entrance,” with the word “compete” vividly depicting the raging waters of Kuimen. On the cliff facing the river, there are large inscriptions by Sun Yuanliang stating, “Kuimen is majestic in the world (夔门天下雄),” and “Ships pass lightly through (舰机轻轻过),” alongside Li Duanhao’s seal script “Majestic Kuimen (巍哉夔门)” and running script “Kuimen Qutang (夔门瞿塘),” all of which are still clearly visible today.
Ancient Boardwalk of Kuimen
The Ancient Boardwalk of Kuimen is located on the sheer cliffs on the north shore of Qutang Gorge. It connects Baidi City to Qinglian Creek in Wushan, stretching a total of 65 kilometers. Funded by the governor of Kuizhou, Wang Jian, construction began in September 1888 during the 14th year of the Guangxu era and took three years to complete. The section within Qutang Gorge features 4 kilometers of stone troughs carved directly from the cliff walls, giving it a sharp, knife-like appearance from a distance.
The completion of this boardwalk established land transportation between Wushan and Fengjie, making it a vital route through the Three Gorges at the time. Later generations engraved the characters “Heavenly Ladder (天梯津隶)” and “Remarkable Achievement (开辟奇功)” on the cliff to commemorate this ancient feat. After the water level of the Three Gorges Reservoir reached 139 meters, portions of the ancient boardwalk have been submerged.
Baiyan Mountain and Chijia Mountain
The high mountains on both sides of Kuimen are known as “Baiyan Mountain” in the south and “Chijia Mountain” in the north, rising abruptly and towering into the clouds. The cliffs near the banks are steep and sheer, resembling a grand gateway created by nature. Baiyan Mountain gets its name from the calcium-rich water solutions that adhere to the rocks, giving it a color similar to white salt. Chijia Mountain, on the other hand, is named for the red appearance of its soil and rock, which is due to iron oxide solutions adhering to the weathered rock surfaces.
The two mountains face each other across the river, one adorned in red and the other in white, creating a remarkable sight. Both mountains are composed of limestone, and long-term weathering and erosion have shaped the cliff faces into strikingly vertical formations, resulting in stunning landscape sections. The sheer cliffs that face the river are barren, yet each displays unique colors that interplay beautifully with the dawn, dusk, and bright moon, creating scenic views such as “Chijia’s Sunny Glow,” “Baiyan’s Dawn Color,” and “Kuimen’s Autumn Moon.”
Fenbi Wall
On Chijia Mountain, there is a rock wall that stands out with its unique pink color, known as Fenbi Wall. This wall features famous inscriptions carved into the rock face, known as the Qutang Cliff Inscriptions. Among the many inscriptions, two are particularly notable and can be clearly seen by visitors from boats.
One inscription was written by General Sun Yuanliang during the Republic of China period, stating, “Kuimen is mighty, and ships pass through gently (夔门天下雄，舰机轻轻过),” capturing the essence of Qutang Gorge. The other, written by the renowned patriotic general Feng Yuxiang, reads, “Step out of Kuimen and drive away the Japanese invaders (踏出夔巫，打走倭寇),” serving to inspire the soldiers who set out from this area to resist Japanese aggression.
Fengjie Ancient City
Fengjie, located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, is a famous ancient city in eastern Sichuan. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it belonged to several small states, including Yong and Kuiba, before being incorporated into the state of Chu. From the Qin Dynasty to the Sui Dynasty, various counties (or prefectures) were established here, such as Yufu, Yong’an, Renfu, Xinzhu, and Yangkou. In the early Tang Dynasty, the city was renamed Fengjie.
Situated at the mouth of Qutang Gorge, Fengjie lies where the Yangtze River flows eastward, with the Meixi River and Caotang River coming from the north. Along the riverbanks, there are renowned scenic spots known as the “Twelve Views of Fengjie,” including “Wuhou’s Eight Arrays,” “Baidi’s Layered Peaks,” and “Autumn Moon at the Gorge.”
Within Fengjie City, visitors can find historical sites such as Yong’an Palace, where Liu Bei entrusted his son, the tomb of Lady Gan, and the residence of the poet Du Fu. According to local records, the site of Fengjie County has been relocated five times, generally within the area between present-day Fengjie and Kuimen along the riverbanks. The northern bank features the ruins of Baidi City, which can still be explored today. In the Three Kingdoms period, ancient Fengjie County was renamed Yong’an, with its administrative center around Baidi City. In the Song Dynasty, the city was moved westward to its current location, and it has remained there ever since. The current Fengjie City was built in the tenth year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty (1474), giving it a history of over 500 years. The city is nestled against the mountains and faces the river, with a circumference of 3,000 meters and five city gates.
Qutang Pass Ruins Museum
The Qutang Pass Ruins Museum is built around the ancient beacon tower and artillery platform of Qutang Pass, integrating elements of war, poetry, history, and nature. It has been acclaimed by experts as “the first museum of the Three Gorges.” Located on the left side of the entrance to Qutang Gorge, the museum faces Baidi City across the water. With the Yangtze River in front and the towering Chi Jia Mountain behind, the museum boasts an impressive architectural design and surrounding environment that reflect grandeur and ambition, creating a unique cultural landscape.
From the high point of the ancient artillery platform at the museum, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the serene lakes within the high gorges, the majestic Qutang Gate, and the ancient Baidi City, all of which are a feast for the eyes.
Collections in the Museum:
- Ancient Beacon Tower: Entering the “Qutang Beacon Smoke” hall, you can gaze out of the spacious and bright floor-to-ceiling windows to see the famous ancient beacon tower of Qutang Pass. This ancient beacon tower, constructed using natural, prominent rocks surrounded by neatly stacked gravel, is the best-preserved and most representative beacon tower in the Three Gorges region. It stands as a tangible witness to Qutang’s historical significance, possessing immense historical value.
- Qutang Pass Simulation Panorama: Located within the “Qutang Beacon Smoke” hall, this exhibit features an ancient city wall made of Han bricks dating back 1,800 years on the left side. On the right side, a stone wall constructed from the unique black rock formations of Qutang Gorge is showcased. The walls of the exhibition hall are adorned with large rubbings of the “Qutang” and “Kuilong” stone inscriptions left before the relocation of the Qutang Gorge cliff carvings, as well as weapons unearthed from the local area.
- Scenic Viewing Corridor: Built against the mountain, this corridor features the relocated Guanyin statue from the Guanyin Cave in Baidi City and the “Clouds and Rain” inscription from the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, alongside calligraphy from Master Hongyi that reads “No Boundaries.”
- San Ying Goddess Hall: This hall showcases Eastern Han kneeling female figurines, all excavated from Wushan. Among them, the “Nona” type sculpture is particularly unique. The original and distinctive form of the kneeling female figurines bears a striking resemblance to the figures of the Sanxingdui culture and Maya civilization, demonstrating artistic achievements untouched by Central Plains culture. Their forms evoke a sense of shock, mystery, and reverence.
- Yun Gen Tang: Named after Du Fu’s poetic line “Entering the sky, the color of stone; through water, suddenly the roots of clouds,” this hall displays ancient, darkened wood and the unique stones of Qutang, serving as a testament to the ancient ecology of the Three Gorges. The early inhabitants of the region believed that these large trees were a celestial ladder connecting heaven and earth, imbued with divine will and spirituality. Rare calligraphy pieces, including Feng Qiyong’s “Song of Qutang Stone” and Fan Zeng’s “Inscription on Jingyu Woodcarving,” are also featured here.