Fengjie 奉节区 — Gateway to Qutang Gorge & Poetic Heritage
Fengjie sits at the western entrance to the Qutang Gorge, the first and most dramatic of the Three Gorges. The town has a rich literary heritage — it's mentioned in the works of Li Bai, Du Fu, and other great Tang Dynasty poets.
The famous line "两岸猿声啼不住，轻舟已过万重山" (Monkeys on both banks cry without ceasing, my light boat has passed ten thousand mountains) by Li Bai was inspired by the Fengjie section of the Yangtze.
The old city of Fengjie was submerged by the Three Gorges Dam, and the new city was built on higher ground. Some historical sites were relocated and preserved.
The shortest but most dramatic of the Three Gorges, stretching 8 km with cliff faces rising 300-1,200 meters on both sides. The Kui Gate (夔门) — a 90-meter-wide gap between sheer cliffs — is one of the most iconic images of the Yangtze River. Best viewed from a boat or from the Baidicheng fortress above.
Hours: Viewable from boats and Baidicheng
Admission: Boat tours vary
A legendary fortress city on a small island at the mouth of Qutang Gorge. Famous as the place where Liu Bei (founder of Shu Han) entrusted his kingdom to Zhuge Liang — one of the most famous scenes in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The site contains Ming-Qing temples, stele galleries with poetry by Li Bai and Du Fu, and panoramic views of Qutang Gorge.
Hours: 8:30–17:00
Admission: ¥100
Dramatic karst sinkholes and gorges in the mountains above Fengjie. The skywalk viewing platforms offer dizzying views of the enormous natural pits. The geological formations are some of the deepest in the world.
Hours: 8:30–16:30
Admission: ¥80