Xiling Gorge

Xiling Gorge is the easternmost and largest of the famed Three Gorges located on the Yangtze River in Hubei province, China. Historically, it was renowned as the most dangerous of the gorges to navigate, characterized by formidable whirlpools and powerful rapids that posed significant risks to travelers. The gorge's name originates from Mt. Xiling, a prominent peak situated at its eastern terminus, a designation that has been in use since at least the Three Kingdoms period, as noted in the historical geographical treatise Shui Jing Zhu.

Geographically, Xiling Gorge is situated in Zigui County and Yiling District, extending from Xiangxi down to the western outskirts of Yichang. The area is not a single continuous gorge but rather a series of four distinct gorges: Precious Sword Gorge, Horse Lung and Ox Liver Gorge, Soundless Bell Gorge, and Shadow Play Gorge. These combined sections constitute nearly half the total length of the entire Three Gorges region.

The landscape and hydraulic conditions of Xiling Gorge have been dramatically transformed by modern engineering. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam, one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the world, was undertaken in the central part of the gorge at Sandouping. Prior to the dam's completion, the river's depth in some areas of Xiling Gorge was as little as 3 meters. However, following the construction of the Three Gorges Dam and the Gezhouba Dam upstream, the river's depth has increased substantially, now exceeding 100 meters throughout much of the reservoir's expanse, fundamentally altering its character and navigability.