Does the Three Gorges belong to Chongqing or Hubei?

 The Three Gorges are three spectacular canyons on the upper Yangtze River, stretching about 193 km from Baidi City (Fengjie, Chongqing) in the west to Nanjin Pass (Yichang, Hubei) in the east. They are famous worldwide for steep cliffs, dramatic scenery, and cultural mystery.

1. Qutang Gorge: The Shortest, Steepest & Most Iconic

• Length: Only 8 km – the shortest of the three gorges.
• Feature: Extremely narrow channel with nearly vertical cliffs (up to 1,500 meters high).
• Fame: This is the view printed on China’s 10-yuan banknote. The rocky gateway is called Kuimen.

Unsolved Mysteries of Qutang Gorge

• How it formed: Ancient legend says Emperor Yu cut the mountain to drain a huge lake. Scientists believe it was carved by rising water from a prehistoric lake as the Qinghai‑Tibet Plateau lifted.
• Hanging coffins: More than 2,000-year-old coffins stuck high on cliff walls. No one fully knows how ancient people placed heavy coffins there.

2. Wu Gorge: The Misty, Beautiful Gorge

• Length: 45 km, from Wushan (Chongqing) to Guandukou (Hubei).
• Feature: Winding, quiet, and covered in year-round mist and clouds.
• Twelve Peaks of Wushan: Legend says they are 12 fairy maidens. A famous ancient Chinese poem praises: “No other clouds compare to Wushan clouds”.

3. Xiling Gorge: Longest, Most Dangerous & Home to the Dam

• Length: 66 km – the longest Three Gorge.
• Past reputation: Wild, fast, and dangerous for boats; many shipwrecks happened here.
• Today: Home to the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam. The water level rose more than 100 meters, making the river calm and safe.
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Why Was the Three Gorges Dam Built HERE?

The dam is located in Xiling Gorge (near Yichang) for three key reasons:

1. Perfect rock foundation

   Only this area has solid, thick granite bedrock. Granite is waterproof, strong, and earthquake-resistant – ideal for a giant dam.
2. Natural construction help

   A small island called Zhongbao Island splits the river into two channels, allowing engineers to build the dam in stages without stopping the whole river.
3. Best flood control position

   Right below Xiling Gorge is the Jianghan Plain (middle-lower Yangtze plain). Building the dam here blocks and controls floodwater from upstream, protecting millions of people and farmland.

In short, Xiling Gorge was the only perfect site for the world’s largest water conservancy project.