Holidays in China should definitely include a cruise on the river Yangtze. The Yangtze is the longest river in China and runs through a variety of spectacular country, including valleys and mountains. Your holidays in China would not be complete without a tour of the sights the Yangtze has to offer.
White Emperor City
White Emperor City (also called Baidi City) is a stop along the north bank of the Yangtze River that a visitor for holidays in China must see. It was built on the side of the Baidi Mountain over 2,000 years ago. The story is told that a local official, Gongsun Shu, during the Han Dynasty years of 206 BC to 24 AD, built this city as a stronghold for the Sichuan Province. A well is said to have produced “white gas” that looked like a “flying dragon.” Gongsun Shu began calling himself the “White Emperor” and the fort he built became known as “White Emperor City.” During the construction of the Three Gorges Dam project, the city can be seen in the reflection on the river and will appear as a “fairyland” to visitors participating in holidays in China. Inside the city, holidays in China visitors will see over 1,000 artifacts rich in cultural history from the years 1644 to 1911. This period ranges from the Neolithic Age to the Qing Dynasty. This city to be admired on holidays in China has also been called the “City of Poets” because its structures contain thousands of literary works of art left from the Tang Dynasty (618-906) and through later years. Its hours of operation are 09:10 to 17:00 and the admission fee is CNY 85.
Huangling Temple
This temple is the oldest and largest example of architecture in the Three Gorges area. It is located on the south bank of the Yangtze River and at the foot of Huangnui Mountain. The temple is believed to have been originally built between 770 BC and 476 BC; however, through the years and various wars, it was destroyed and rebuilt many times. The current temple was rebuilt in 1618 during the Ming Dynasty. Holidays in China need to include a visit to this temple.
The building was initially constructed to commemorate “Da Yu” who was known as a hero because he controlled the flooding from the Yangtze River according to Chinese history. He is purported to have used a yellow ox to help control the flood waters. Therefore, the temple is sometimes referred to as the “Yellow Ox Temple.” The temple is a powerful and imposing structure as seen by tourists on holidays in China, supported by 36 poles carved in the shape of dragons. One pole records the level of flood waters over the past 120 years. The year 1870 mark is visible to visitors on holidays in China to view the point at which the most severe Yangtze flooding was recorded.
Nanjin Pass
Nanjin Pass is at the end of the Three Gorges and divides the upper and middle portions of the Yangtze River. Cliffs border each side and there is a narrow river passageway that creates a great surging of the waters. Its primary scenic areas include Three Travelers’ Cave and Peach Blossom Country. After holidays in China travelers have gone through the Nanjin Pass, the river goes from a width of 300 meters to over 2,000 meters.
To experience your holidays in China to the fullest, make sure you take a tour of the Yangtze River valley and the Three Gorges area. These extraordinary places along the Yangtze River need to be experienced on holidays in China for the historical marvels they are.