The Most Beautiful Scenery in 13 Cities of Jiangsu Province II

Zhenjiang
Zhenjiang, also called Runzhou, is a historical city with charming lakes and mountains. Some historical and legendary stories were set in the city. Flooding the Jinshan Temple is one of the most captivating plots in the Tale of the White Snake, which is backgrounded with Jinshan Temple. In Xijindu, visitors can roam along the old street built in Tang and Song dynsties, witness stone pagoda in Yuan and Ming dynasties and pavilions of late Qing dynasty. Life here is very enjoyable especially in teahouses which provides tranquil and cozy time.

Yangzhou
Yangzhou, a city near the junction of the Grand Canal and Yangtze River (Yangtze River cruise), was once the economic and cultural center of south China. The city prospered on the salt trade and attracted merchants and artisans who established residences and gardens. Yangzhou’s scenery is mainly concentrated around the Grand Canal in the west parts of the city where you can find Slender West Lake, Daming Temple. The main shopping area radiates out from Wenchang Ge, an old bell tower in the center of city.
Suqian
Located in northern Jiangsu, Suqian is appointed as the “capital of China’s liquor”. It is the hometown of Xiangyu who was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty and his comcubine, Consort Yu. Emperor Qianlong once stopped here for six time when travelling in south China so Qianlong Temporary Palace is a must-see in Suqian. The main spots in Suqian include Zhang Mountain, Luoma Lake, Nanda Temple, Yellow River Park and the old Chu Street.

Yangcheng
Yangcheng is the birthplace of Huai Opera. Located in the eastern Jiangsu (a mecca for affordable China tours), it borders Lianyungang to the north, Huai’an to the west, Yangzhou and Taizhou to the southwest, Nantong to the south and looks out to the Yellow Sea to the east. The main attractions in the city contains Dazong Lake, Yongning Temple, free Yandu Temple and Anfeng Old Street. It is an optional place for packages of China vacation deals.
Huai’an
Huai’an, aka Chuzhou, is renowned as the “capital of China’s Grand Canal” and the birthplace of Huaiyang Cuisine. In Huai’an, you can pay a visit to Lie Mountain, Hongze Lake, Ciyun Temple, free Shaohu Lake and ancient Shangban Street.

Lianyungang
Located in the northeastern Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang is a slow city. At first you can be hard to adopt to the slow life here. But if you are used to the life here, you will feel sad to leave the city. You can rent a bike and ride around this seaport city. Besides riding in the city, you can visit Huaguo Mountain, Qiangwei Lake, Bixia Temple, free Cangwu Park and Nancheng Old Street.
Nantong
Nantong is an optional tourist destination for your popular China travel package. The attractions in the city include Langshan Mountain, Haohe Lake, Langshan Temple, free Binjiang Park and Shili Street.

Taizhou
Taizhou, aka Phoenix City, is one of historical and cultural city in Jiangsu with history of 2100 years. Over 700 years ago, Marco Polo travelled here and praised “the city is not great but all happiness of the world”. The attractions in the city include Gu Hill, Qin Lake, Guangxiao Temple, free Taishan Park and Old Street.
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Source: http://goarticles.com/article/The-Most-Beautiful-Scenery-In-13-Cities-Of-Jiangsu-Province-II/7683840/

The Most Beautiful Scenery in 13 Cities of Jiangsu Province I

Since ancient times of China, Jiangsu was the “Land of Fish and Rice”. With rich China tourism resource, Jiangsu houses quaint old towns, famous temples with thousands of years, elegant classic gardens, captivating mountains and lakes and magnificent imperial tombs. So it has become the famous tourist destination since the ancient China. Tourists can experience the best that China offers in Suzhou from famous attractions like Nanjing City Wall and classic gardens to the delicate and fresh Huaiyuang cuisine. The following will introduce you the beautiful cities in Jiangsu Provice to guide your tour in Jiangsu.
Wuxi
Wuxi, also called Huishan, is a famous historical and cultural city with history of 3500 years in south China. Wuxi is a major tourist area of the Lower Yangtze Delta. It owns both natural and man-made scenery. The city was built on the shore of Taihu Lake. As an historical city, you can pay a visit to Nanchan Temple, Nanchang Street (an old street), Donglin Academy, Garden of Ecstacy and Grand Buddha at Lingshan.

Xuzhou
Known as Pengcheng in ancient China, Xuzhou owns such attractions as Yunlong Mountain and nearby Yunlong Lake, Baolian Temple, ancient Hubu Street and free Yunlong Park. Besides, the relics of Han Dynasty which including Terracotta Army of Han and Mausoleum of the Emperors of Han and the art of stone graving should not be missed. It is an optional destination for your last minute China travel deals
Nanjing

Nanjing, called Jinling in ancient China, is the capital city of Jiangsu Province. Largely enclosed within a magnificent Ming-dynasty city wall, Nanjing lies on the lower reach of Yangtze River (Yangtze River cruises ) and is one of China’s more pleasant and prosperous city in China. Set among a beautiful landscape of lakes, forested parks and rivers, the city offers you the oppurtunity to explore the ancient history of part of China in Qixia Temple, Nanjing Museum, Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, Presidential Palace, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, etc.
Suzhou
Suzhou’s fame was immortalized in the proverb ‘In heaven, there is a paradise, on earth Suzhou and Hangzhou’ - a line still very much plugged in the tourist complains. Suzhou is famous for its traditional classic gardens which is a symphonic combination of rocks, water, trees, buildings, reflect the Chinese apprecitation of balance and harmony. You can easily spend several enjoyable days to roam in the gardens. You can also visit Hanshan Temple, ancient Shantang Street and explore Suzhou’s surviving canal scene.

Changzhou
Many visitors pay a visit to Changzhou on their way to Suzhou (which attracts tourists for their popular China tour package with classic gardens) or Nanjing, but they can spend a pleasant day to explore the carm of city. Changzhou, also called Long City, owns a ancient temple -Tianning Temple, free park - Hongmei Park, an old street - Qing Guo Alley, a beautiful lake - West Taihu Lake.

Source:http://goarticles.com/article/The-Most-Beautiful-Scenery-in-13-Cities-of-Jiangsu-Province-I/7683829/

Leave winter behind

Using Guangzhou as a springboard, escape the chill that's gripped most of China and explore Hakka culture in Fujian province or the tropical delights of Hainan island for your packages of last minute China travel deals.
While the frigid wind and icy roads in northern China may keep people from taking a short road trip during the weeklong Spring Festival holiday, the warm seaside cities in the country's south are embracing tourists with open arms.

Passenger cars with fewer than seven seats are exempt from highway tolls during the holiday from Feb 9 to 15, so it's also cost-effective to set out from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and drive to tourist spots in neighboring Fujian and Hainan provinces.
Here are two suggested routes, one exposing you to Hakka culture and the tranquility of lakes and mountains, while the other includes lots of sunshine and takes you to the tropical sea.
Route 1: Explore Hakka culture during the weeklong holiday.
Having arrived in Meizhou, Guangdong province, go to the eastern suburbs to appreciate the stone carving art on the Thousand-Buddha Pagoda and stroll through the former residence of Huang Zunxian, a poet during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), to enjoy the peace and beauty of the Lingnan-style garden.
Spend the night at the Yearning Tea Plantation Tourist Attraction or Yanming Lake Holiday Resort. It will be refreshing to wake up to the sight of green tea fields or a mirror-like lake.
Get some exercise by climbing Yinna Mountain nearby, and then drive to Fujian to spend the night at tulou, the circular communal buildings built by local Hakka people.

Yongding and Nanjing counties are two must-see places to explore tulou. The local people's knowledge of building environmentally friendly houses that keep residents in close communication will amaze you. Tour around tulou and experience local customs together with hospitable tulou residents.
Drive to Xiamen to embrace the sea. Park your car and take the ferry to the car-free Gulangyu Island (popular destination for popular China tour package).
There are so many attractions on the island that it's worth spending two days here. You can climb to the top of Sunlight Rock for an overlook of Xiamen. You can visit China's only and the world's first-class treasure house of pianos, with more than 40 precious ancient pianos on display.

The piano museum is located in Shuzhuang Garden and has an intriguing layout. The sea view is hidden by a high wall until you pass through a gate.
Before you return to Guangzhou, spend some time walking across Xiamen University, one of the most beautiful universities in China.
IF YOU GO: Guangzhou visitors can drive to Meizhou following the route from Guangzhou-Huizhou highway onto Huizhou-Heyuan highway and then onto Meizhou-Heyuan highway.
Leave Yinna Mountain and take provincial road 224, then turn right onto country road 383. Go straight onto provincial road 223, then turn left onto county road 025. Then turn right on provincial road 332.
Turn onto provincial road 203 at Xiayang town, then turn right onto provincial road 309, which will take you to the tulou folk culture village in Yongding.
Drive west on county road 562 for about 30 minutes, and you will arrive at a museum about tulou in Nanjing.
To get to Xiamen, take county road 562 and turn onto Shanjiu line. Take Shanjiu to national road 319. Take the Nanjinghutong exit to enter Xiamen-Chengdu highway.
Route 2: Soak up some sunlight and dive into the tropical sea.
The plantain, sugar cane and eucalyptus in Leizhou Peninsula of Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, will ease your fatigue during the six-hour ride to the wharf in Hai'an town, where you will be shipped to the provincial capital Haikou by ferry.
Drive to Bo'ao to see the Yudai Beach, the world's narrowest and longest stretch of beach that separates the sea from fresh water. It looks like a white ribbon floating on the tumbling waves.
Head for Sanya (hot beach destination for your top 10 China tours) after lunch. Besides paddling at the beach, you can also venture into Yalongwan Tropical Forest Park for a look at an eco-system that you can't find anywhere else in China, except for Xishuangbanna in Yunnan province.
Take a boat to Wuzhizhou Island for water activities. Here you can explore the sea by snorkeling or diving. Adventure seekers can try water-skiing or parasailing.
Those who prefer relaxing can take a yacht out to the sea to fish.
Spend a night at a seaside villa, where you can fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Go to Nantian Hot Spring Resort nearby to wind down. There are 34 pools of different shapes and medical functions. You can also order spa services.
Head back to Sanya and go west for a tour of Hainan. You can stop at Shihua Water Tunnel in Danzhou city and take a boat into the long, narrow caves to see nature's craftsmanship. The stones have been shaped by water drops, and some look like flowers, waterfalls and elephants.
The Yangpu Ancient Salt Field is another site you should not miss. You can learn about the amazing methods invented hundreds of years ago that people still use today to evaporate seawater and produce salt.
If you spend the night in Haikou, stop at Chengmai Fushan Coffee Culture Gallery and try a local blend from Fushan town, whose coffee plantation has the longest history in Hainan. Then embark on the journey back to Guangzhou.
IF YOU GO: Enter the Guangzhou siding of Shenyang-Haikou highway via Guangzhou Huancheng Expressway. You will enter the highway by driving about 43 km down the siding. Go down Shenyang-Haikou highway for about 480 km and take the Xuwen exit onto national road 207.
Take the road to Hai'an port.
Take the one-and-a-half-hour ferry ride to Haikou.
Go along the Hainan Ring Expressway, or national road 98. It will take you from Haikou to Bo'ao, Sanya and Danzhou and then back to Haikou included in your China travel packages.

Putting war to rest

Contrary to popular belief, Suzhou's exquisite scenery embodies discordant principles and pursuits. It is the uncanny ability to blend them into harmony that created a town mellow to the extreme. And Suzhou became a famous travel place for affordable China tours.
On a first visit to Tiger Hill, one may well be disappointed and jump to the conclusion that Chinese poets are prone to hyperbole. "You will regret visiting Suzhou without touring Tiger Hill," wrote Su Shi, who sang the praises of so many wonderlands across China. What's there to miss? The park, at 20 hectares or 50 acres, is not much larger than some urban recreation areas. New York's Central Park is 17 times the size. True, the pagoda on Tiger Hill is showcased on many postcards, but it stands only 48 meters high, and the hill is 30 meters at the highest, so how tall can it be all together?

Suffice to say, Tiger Hill is not known for size or height. But as a microcosm of this historical city, it embodies its quirks and charms.
Some 2,500 years ago, the local king built the biggest city in Southeast China. Well, there was no unified China then. The kingdom was named Wu, after the belligerent king who conquered places as faraway as current Hubei province. But when King He Lu led an army into modern-day central Zhejiang province, just to its south, Wu was ambushed.
He died shortly afterward from the injury. Legend says he was buried under the Sword Pond, a narrow pool of water lined with steep cliffs. This is no Grand Canyon, but rather, a movie-set-like miniature ravine complete with hanging twigs and a stone archway on top.
It is rumored that as many as 3,000 swords were buried with him. For thousands of years, it has been the fascination of tomb raiders. But they have failed to locate the exact spot.
Not far from the pond lies the reason: a circular rocky platform called the Thousand Men's Rock.
When workers finished construction of the tomb, the king regaled them with food and drink. He brought the occasion to a climax by staging a crane dance.
However, the long-necked animal, a symbol of longevity, failed to appear. Instead, the audience members held out their necks like cranes, waiting impatiently, at which point a phalanx of soldiers jumped out and cut off their heads, thus sealing the secrecy of the tomb's location for posterity.
Another origin story is more benign. It claims that a monk some 800 years later used to preach here and the stony podium could hold 1,000 listeners. Modern science explains away the brownish rock as containing iron, not remnants of blood.
That He Lu guy must have been crazy about swords. Next to the steps along the path is a boulder with a neat crevice in the middle. Not surprisingly, it was supposed to be the place where the king tested his newly forged sword. He had ordered a husband-and-wife team of blacksmiths to make a pair of the weapons, and this was what they delivered - a sword that could cut a rock in half. No wonder the names of the couple are nowadays better known to ordinary people than the king's, for example, Mogan Mountain in Zhejiang province which also rely on local tourism in China to develop economy.

This reminds me of Notung, the sword Siegmund withdraws from the giant tree in the Ring of the Niebelung. Like the Nordic tale, much of the storied past about Tiger Hill, at least the part that's 2,000 years old, is shrouded in mythology. The verses and couplets we see today are mostly from the past millennium, through which more ancient history is refracted and romanticized.
Over the years, Suzhou evolved from a military power into a hub of gentle manners and sophisticated tastes.
Taoist monks and Buddhist priests arrived to search for immortality, leaving behind a 1,600-year-old monastery (the current architecture is 140 years old), a 1,050-year-old pagoda and numerous artifacts. Literary luminaries used to hang out here as recluses, leaving behind poems, pavilions and meditations on life and nature.
There is a well in memory of Lu Yu (AD 755-804), whose Tea Bible is the epitome of the art of Chinese tea-drinking.
Suzhou produces a fine tea called Biluochun - literally, Green Snail Spring. One sip and you'll understand why this canal-strewn town has given rise to a pervasively mild disposition and why so many of its literary and artistic talents eschew bacchanalian pursuits for subtlety and refinement. You can simply imagine a group of them partaking of tea at one of the hilltop terraces or pavilions, playing chess or singing Kunqu Opera while overlooking waves of curved roof-tiles. You can drink it in a teahouse after tired popular China tours
However, long spells of peace and tranquility were punctuated with war and revolution.
Some of the tombs are for those who rebelled against local tyranny or, in one case, one who led an uprising against exorbitant taxation. And around the time of the despotic King He Lu, a native son excelled with his wisdom about military action into The Art of War. His name was Sun Tzu and there is a pavilion in his honor.
How did a Sparta-like culture advance into quiet benevolence and subdued refinement? History books do not tell. Nor do the birds and brooks on Tiger Hill. But one saga may shed some light.
Before King He Lu died, he told his son to avenge him. The young king, Fuchai, invaded the Kingdom of Yue and captured its king and made him a slave. After showing sufficient submission, the Yue King was released. Upon returning home, he sent a femme fatale as a gift to King Fuchai, who promptly fell in love.
It turns out the beauty was a Mata Hari, who used the king's trust to alienate him from his advisers and generals. In the end, the kingdom was conquered by Yue while King Fuchai, who reigned 495-473 BC, was driven to suicide, though not on Tiger Hill.
It should be a cautionary tale for blind love, but it seems local people were set on a path for love, not war, as most of the relics in this small patch of nature show their love for a good and peaceful life.
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Put the HK in hike! Hong Kong treks

You might think that Hong Kong is just a morass of skyscrapers, luxury shopping malls and sweaty tourists, but you'd be wrong – there are many picturesque hikes for visitors to sample. And while most head to Dragon's Back and Lamma Island, hike-happy locals go straight for the New Territories, and in particular the 100km MacLehose trail, named after Sir Crawford Murray MacLehose, the longest-reigning governor of Hong Kong, a popular destination for last minute China travel deals.
A rambling enthusiast, he was also responsible for the establishment of Hong Kong's ubiquitous Country Parks, protected areas that surprisingly comprise 40 percent of the total land in the special administrative region. It's pretty much impossible to complete in one go, so we've created a series of recommended chunks, based on the already established 'Phases'.

For Phase 1, take the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) to Choi Hung station; exit at C2 and board the green minibus A1 to Sai Kung Town. From here, take bus 94 and alight at the Pak Tam Chung terminus, which is a 400m walk from the starting point. Phases 1 and 2 begin easy enough: a walk along the paved Sai Kung Man Yee Road. After 400m of limited views, the mountains give way to a panorama of the two massive High Island Reservoir dams. Get some snapshots done now, before the more demanding half of the walk makes you unphotogenically red and sweaty, and top up water bottles at the fountain – there is absolutely nowhere to do so for the next five hours, nor are there water bottles on sale. A little inconvenient, but a great reminder that the trail is not overrun with tourists.
From here it's a gradual climb into verdant hills. Trails are clearly marked, but pretty soon it feels distanced from human life, let alone the bustle of Hong Kong. At the end of the two-hour hike is one of the loveliest secluded bays on the island. Long Ke is a pristine crescent of white sand, jammed during the summer but nearly empty during the early months of the year. It's worth waking up early to begin this hike, if only to lounge for a few hours on what is arguably Hong Kong's best bay. The gentle waves and sun-warmed sand may tempt you to stay a while, but the second half of the walk is taxing, and it doesn't serve to relax for too long.
Leaving Long Ke, Phase 2 winds up a stretch of seemingly endless steps, with only brief respites to admire the contrast between the red soil and the jungle-like vegetation bordering the reservoirs. The volcanic rocks here are jagged and unforgiving, but it's worth risking a stumble or two to admire the view, especially of Tai Long Wan Bay, which is dimpled by four different beaches, and tiny coves and inlets. The end of Phase 2 is also the entrance point for the coastal hike of Tai Long Sai Wan (a must-see in Hong Kong for popular China tours).
To access Phase 3 of our trip, you can take bus 94 from Sai Kung and alight at Pak Tam Au, which is only 20 metres away from the opening of the trail. Measuring 10.2km, Phase 3 is less visited and even more demanding than Phase 2, kicking off with a straight uphill climb of uneven rock steps. Taking around four hours, the strenuous hike begins by passing the 451m peak of Ngam Tau Shan, then traverses abandoned Hakka farming villages from the early part of the 20th century.

According to the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, this area was the very last part of rural Hong Kong to be settled, with tea and indigo planted in the rugged hills where South China tigers and wild boars roamed. Nowadays, such beasts are long gone, replaced instead by the odd dead-eyed cow. Still, think back to the cramped conditions of HK's bustling Central MTR station when you're out here and the feeling of freedom is unbeatable.
There is a different vista to be found every way you look – on one side, the ocean; another, the mountains; then another turns back into the thick of the wilderness. The first half of the trail seems easy in comparison to the second, which is interrupted by a deep valley before climbing back up the peaks of Wa Mei Shan, Lui Ta Shek and Kai Kung Shan. These climbs require stamina. Yet this stretch is not the hardest part of our trek to color our China best tours . That honour is reserved for Phases 4 and 5, in the heart of the MacLehose Trail.
In fact, Phase 4 alone is incredibly difficult and, as there is no public transport at the end of it, it either needs to be done in conjunction with Phase 5 or walked backwards. This is an all-day hike that will take upwards of nine hours, and is the most difficult to access by public transport. The hike starts from Kei Ling Ha, which eventually leads you into the thick of the woods and another set of stone steps. An hour and a half in, there's a fork to decide whether or not you will continue to climb Ma On Shan.
Whichever route you pick, there are magnificent views on all sides. Along the way, look out for colourful butterflies and colossal spiderwebs; this part of the MacLehose trail has the most diverse flora and fauna. Finally arriving at the mountain peak of Tate's Cairn, those wanting to stay overnight will find a campsite at Gilwell.
Phase 5 has some of the most dramatic views, and is best known for containing all of the famous Kowloon peaks, including Lion Rock and Amah Rock – Hong Kong's answers to the Mainland's Huangshan. Skipping to the end of the trail, Phases 9 and 10 are easy walks that take two-and-a-half and five hours, respectively. Typically, these treks are less spectacular than the others, though they have the advantage of being somewhat easier to tackle.
Essential info
How to get there
Return flights to Hong Kong with Hong Kong Airlines (www.hongkongairlines.com) from 1,210RMB (including taxes and surcharges).
Where to stay
Camping is available at Long Ke between Phase 1 and 2 and at Gilwell at the end of Phase 4. At Long Ke, there is space for around six large tents, though you'll need to bring your own. At Gilwell, tents are 16RMB (call +852 2377 3300 for details).
You can obtain more via China tour operator.

China's top five museums

"Give me a museum and I'll fill it", said Spanish Artist and Painter Pablo Picasso. Museums are three-dimensional encyclopedia. Visiting China museums is a great way to learn about China's history and culture for China vacation deals. Here are handpicked China's top 5 museums for your reference.
Top 1: The Forbidden City (Beijing Palace Museum)
The Forbidden City (UNESCO), situated north of the Tian'anmen Square, is historically and artistically one of the most comprehensive museum in China, and is world's largest imperial palace complex. The yellow-glazed tiles and ancient relics in the Forbidden City make it easy to feel like you're being transported back in time, when the city existed in all its imperial glory.

The Palace Museum in the Forbidden City has the country's largest collection of ancient art works, some of which are invaluable national treasures. Art works in the museum's collection total 1,052,653, including paintings, pottery, bronze wares, inscribed wares, toys, clocks and court documents. The Forbidden City is a must-see for your China best tours.
Top 2: Taipei Palace Museum
The Taipei Palace Museum and the famous Forbidden City in Beijing are derived from the same institution. The splendid architecture of the structure is modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and incorporates elements of traditional Chinese royal design in feudal society.

The Taipei Palace Museum houses large collection of priceless Chinese artifacts and artwork, including ancient bronze castings, calligraphy, scroll paintings, porcelain, jade, and rare books, many of which were possessions of the former imperial family. The full collection, which consists of some 650,000 pieces, spans many dynasties. Each exhibit, however, puts on display only about 1,700 pieces at a time. At this rate, assuming a duration of three months for each exhibit, it will take 100 years to cycle through the entire collection.
Top 3: The National Museum of China
The National Museum of China, a four-storeyed main building with two symmetrical wings, runs more than 300 meters north and south along the eastern side of Tian'anmen Square. The predecessors of the National Museum are two museums: the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of Chinese Revolution, which shared the same building complex. The building was one of ten famous architectures built in 1959 to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. The Museum of Chinese History was in the South Wing while the North Wing housed the Museum of the Chinese Revolution. They were both opened to the public in 1961.

Many of the items on display are national treasures and precious rarities.
Top 4: Shaanxi History Museum
Built in traditional Tang architectural style, Shaanxi History Museum is a much modernized national history museum in China. The museum is free and a must-see for Silk Road tours.

The museum treasures more than 370,000 cultural relics, all of which are unearthed in Shaanxi province, including relics made of stone, bone, bronze, terra-cotta, china, jade, gold, silver and also murals, seals, calligraphy and paintings, etc. These relics can be traced back from over 1 million years ago to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and they reflect the history and people life in many aspects from culture, art to science etc. Most of the relics are rare old treasures in the world.
Top 5: Shandong Provincial Museum
At the foot of the Thousand Buddha Hill (Qian Fo Shan), Shandong Provincial Museum covers the nature and history of the ancient Qi and Lu States.

From intricate bronze wares, tourists can learn the customs of various dynasties, such as the worship of Shang Dynasty gods, ancestor worship in the Zhou Dynasty, and Han Dynasty human relationships. In the natural collections, specimens cover 200 species. Among them, fossils of trilobite, the Taishan swallow, the dinosaur, and so on, influence knowledge in ancient biologic and geographic fields.
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The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River

The Three Gorges are grand canyons situated in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River (Yangtze River cruise). At the place where the river reaches the eastern Sichuan Basin, it makes its way deep into and through the Wushan Mountains, forming the most spectacular and absorbing gorges. The Three Gorges, namely Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, with breath-taking sceneries, extend 192 km from Baidi City of Fengjie in the west to Nanjin Pass of Yichang in the east.

The Qutang Gorge, known for its magnificence, is the shortest and most marvelous one among the three gorges. Its magnificence lies in mountains and waters. The precipitous peaks, steep cliffs and roaring currents present a splendid sight. The Wu Gorge is famed for its deep valley and quiet beauty. On the banks of the Wu Gorge are exquisite sceneries. To cruise here is like wandering in a natural art gallery. The most absorbing scene here is the twelve peaks, like a string of emerald jades dotted on the banks, among which the Goddess Peak is the most exquisite and famous. The Xiling Gorge, full of turbulent currents and whirlpools as well as rising cliffs and rugged rocks, is one of the most dangerous shoals. Notable tourist attractions in the Three Gorges area include Baidi City, Fengdu City, General Zhang Fei’s Temple, Shibao Fortified Village, and Baiheliang Hydrological Inscriptions and Carvings. The Yangtze River is always contained in the packages of China vacation deals.

At the two ends of the Three Gorges locate two plains—the Chengdu Plain in the west and Jianghan Plain in the east. The two plains are homes to two different but equally brilliant ancient civilizations - Shu and Chu. The Three Gorges area can be compared to a book of Chinese culture and history with cultural relics and historic sites (always listed as the destinations for best tours of China) reserved from the Paleolithic Age to the Qing Dynasty.