Yangtze Cruise -- White Emperor City -- Three Gorges -- Shennong Stream -- October 15,2013

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Not far downstream from Fengdu City is 'White Emperor City', Although the White Emperor City dates back to 25 AD, it is named after a petty Han dynasty official who dubbed himself the "White Emperor". There are two routes to the top of the hill where the buildings are, a longer route which is preferable, compared to the shorter more crowded route, which is straight up a long series of steep stairs. The longer route also provides the first glimpse of the entrance to the Three Gorges. 2,330 years ago people buried their dead in hanging wooden coffins along the side of the river. There is one on display at the White Emperor City.

The Gorges are everything they have been reported to be. Rising peaks on both sides of the river. At the Third Gorge we exited the boat to take an excursion on the Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze. The Shennong has breathtaking scenery with cliffs rising at 80 to 90 degree angles. After taking a smaller boat up the river we boarded a small sampan with 3 rowers using long pole paddles in the front, one rower in the back and one chap steering. Our crew were members of a smaller ethnic group that had largely displaced when the Three Gorges Dam was built.

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Photos

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This city was lite up as we passed in the night.

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One of the wooden coffins that were hung along in the cliffs along the side of the river.

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Not the way I would want to see the Three Gorges, but fine if you are in a hurray.

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Our boat was similar to this

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One of the new settlement cities constructed as a result of the Dam