The Wushan Lesser Three Gorges refer to Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, and Dicui Gorge along the lower reaches of the Daning River in Wushan County. Extending about 50 kilometers from the western entrance of Wu Gorge in the south to Tujiaba in the north, the area is among China’s first national 5A-rated tourist attractions. It has been recognized as one of the “Top 40 Tourist Destinations in China,” a National Scenic Area of China, and a Civilized Scenic Area of Chongqing. It has also been praised as a “wonder of China,” “an unsurpassed landscape,” “not the Three Gorges, yet surpassing them,” and “one of the world’s most extraordinary gorges.” Other well-known lines of praise include: “After seeing the vast sea, no other waters compare; after seeing the Daning River, no other gorges compare,” and “After returning from the Five Sacred Mountains, one need not see other mountains; after returning from the Daning River, one need not see other gorges.”

A visit to the Lesser Three Gorges is usually made by boat and takes about four hours. Along the route, visitors can enjoy steep peaks, shifting mists, quiet waterfalls and springs, ancient caves set into sheer cliffs, and dense forests of trees and bamboo. The landscape is often described as a natural miniature garden, delicate in scale yet rich in scenery. The area is also known for its wildlife, including monkeys climbing among trees and cliffs, pairs of mandarin ducks, waterbirds in flight, fish swimming in clear water, and birdsong echoing through the woods.

The Lesser Three Gorges are also rich in historical remains. The hanging coffins, boat coffins, and ancient stockaded villages of the Ba people add a strong cultural dimension to the natural landscape. Together, the gorge scenery and cultural heritage make the area one of the most distinctive attractions along the golden tourism route of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.

Major sights in the Lesser Three Gorges include Longmen Gorge, Longmen Bridge, Longmen Ancient Stockaded Village, Xiezi Rock, Green Lion Guarding the Gate, Lingzhi Peak, Panda Drinking Water, Fairy Tossing an Embroidered Ball, Fairy Peach Peak, Lion Peak, Guanyin Seated on a Lotus Platform, Bajie Worshipping Guanyin, the Hanging Coffins, White Snake Entering the Cave, Dicui Gorge, Ox-Liver and Horse-Lung Rock, Buddhist Cliff Carvings, Heavenly Spring and Flying Rain, Luojia Stockaded Village, Madu River, Heavenward Peak, Golden Monkey Peak, Red Cliff Rising to the Sky, the Boat Coffins, Two Eagles Playing by the Screen, and Flying Cloud Cave.

The Mini Three Gorges are the sister gorges of the Daning River Lesser Three Gorges. They are so named because they are smaller and narrower in scale. Located on the lower reaches of the Madu River, a tributary of the Daning River, the Mini Three Gorges consist of Sancheng Gorge, Qinwang Gorge, and Changtan Gorge, with a total length of about 15 kilometers.

Address: Wuxia Town, Shuanglong Town, and Dachang Town, Wushan County, Chongqing