(National 4A-class)
This tour site, a national 4A class one, is only 20 km away from the Three Gorges Dam. It’s an ecology site for exploration, leisure and touring through two routes – the road route and the water route. The road route starts at the Jiuwanxi Bridge, and ends at the start point of the Jiuwanxi Drifting. Through the road route, we can enjoy the natural sights as Xiannv Mountain, the Jieya, the Qingnv Peak, the Shenniu Spring, and General Rock, the Meinv Saixiu, the Forfex cliff, and the Monk Rock etc; and near 20 sceneries of humanities related Quyuan as Wentian Jia (Letter for ask heaven), the Tanbao, the Shengui Rock, the Juyu (giant fish) Memorial Archway, the Qiuzi (ask for words) Stele, the Nianwo (inkstone socket) Platform, the Bifeng Rock and the Lingzhi (glossy ganoderma) Rock etc; and ancient rock coffin groups worthy for science research and exploration, and there are 7 coffins came from thousands of years ago; and the developing religionary Shengtian Guan; and the unfrequented Ganxi Gou (dry river channel) remaining the same as remote ancient; and the extraordinary Wentiandi Feng as if done by the spirits. However, the water route is more attractive with total length of 13.2 km. And the drifting is divided into two parts. The upper one, 6.3 km, will be an intense and heartquake one through the torrent rapids, where you can enjoy the exciting exploration passing through steep cliffs, under rock coffins and etc.; and the downstream one, 6.8 km, is relaxed drifting in calm water, which depth is 70-80m. Drifting on the green water, through 48 peaks with peculiar for each, we can enjoy the magic natural scenery as the Bifeng Rock, the Wangfu (waiting for husband) Rock, the Houwang Zai, the Baixiao Chart, the Xiannv Muyu (Fairies Bathing); and charming virgin forests, sweet grass and particular animals etc.; and modern magnificence project as Jiuwanxi Hydropower station and the Jiuwanxi Bridge etc.; and exploration in the 800m deep earth crack.
The drifting here is well known for “intense, peculiar, deep and serene”. Passing the rapid current, you will soon enter deep and serene gorge with little sunshine; and later, you will meet rapid current again. The sounds, the backwash, the interval rapid currents will make you feel breathtaking and exciting. And the boat, just like a leaf in water, is rising and following along the rapid current. Therefore, it is a breathtaking drifting full of ladies’ screech and men’s shout; besides, the boat may be overturned by strong waves, then all people can swimming in such green water.
“Touring of Gorge Mountains, Reservoir Lake and Jiuwanxi Gorge” will take you to the magnificent Gorge Mountains, the great lake brought out by reserved water, the deep and serene mountains and rivers of Jiuwan River, and the peculiar Wentiandi Feng. In addition, you can enjoy the tradition cultures, such as dragon boating, folk songs and dances, the Xiajiang (mountains and rivers) civilization and the great patriotism of Quyuan.
The Kongling Gorge
As an old sayings, “the Qing shoal and the Xie shoal are not real danger, but the Kongling shoal is the gate to hell”. Through the Kongling Gorger, there were lots of rocks in rapid current. And the “Dazhu”, ”Touzhu”, “Erzhu” and “Sanzhu” were the most famous ones. The Dazhu rock, over 200 m in length, like a shark sleeping in the center, divided the water transports into two ways - the south broad one and the north narrow one. Both transports were full of submerged rocks. The “Touzhu”, “Erzhu” and “Sanzhu” were distributed next to the downstream of “Dazhu”, listing like 品. And these three big rocks used to be submerged all the time, so it was very dangerous to shipping through the Kongling Gorge. Especial in flood season, all rocks will be submerged under water, only leaving giant waves and water columns.
However, the fights against dangers have been covered by this clam reservoir water. Those dangerous rocks are no longer in existence. The waterway is widely and steadily passing through steep cliffs, laving beautiful landscape of mountains and rivers.
The Dragon Boat Racing
It would be a pity, if you didn’t join the dragon boating here, in the hometown of Quyuan. Although dragon boat may be existence other place of the world, the Zigui dragon boat is mainly for memorial of the great patriotist Quyuan. It’s said that, when Quyuan gave his life up diving into the Guluo River in May 5, the fellow villagers tried best to find his body through Guluo River and the Tongting Lake. However, they only found his hat. So, May 5 was defined as memorial day. On that day, people will hold great sacrificial ceremony as well as complex dragon boat racing, to call back the spirit of Quyuan and to express great memory. The complex dragon boat racing is divided into several standard procedures, such as beating drum, prepare paddle, travel in the river, call back the spirit, race and return. And the race music differs through the processes. Some likes pouring with tears, while some likes praise songs for triumphant return. The songs are led by drum beater, and chorused by all people, with tone cooperated with the action of paddles.
The Spirit Back to Hometown –Introduction to the Living Theatre “Li Hun”
A moment later, we will take pleasure in the living theatre “Li Hun”, which is promoted by Xi’an Film Studio. Its characteristics are: 1.The stage is on the water, where the whole play will go on; 2.The original version is the story of Quyuan; 3. Although the play lasts only 25 minutes, it shows the whole life of Quyuan, combined with dance and typical story; 4. The blocking, make-up, dressing and stage properties are full of the Chu folk customs. So, it’s not only a living theatre show, but also the description of culture of Quyuan.
Wentiandi Feng (Question-mark-shape Earth Crack)
This great question-mark-shape earth crack starts at the Jiuwan River, leading to the deep earth. Because of its question mark shape, there is a folk story about this crack. In ancient time, Quyuan asked the heaven 171 questions about patriotism in his works “Wentian” (to ask the heaven). But there wasn’t any reply. However, the earth, moved by Quyuan’s patriotism, marked a great question mark in its skin for witness.
The red float bridge with little sunshine will lead us to the deep gorge along this crack. About 300 meters later, we will hear some water roar as sounding upon over heads. Looking upward, the sky is only shown through the narrow gap of two cliffs. And some cool water is flying from these cliffs. Going ahead, we will reach the end, the source of the water roar. It’s a mountain spring falling from the top cliff, sounding as powerful as a thunderbolt.