At 4,000 miles the Yangtze is the longest in China and third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon and after the completion of the Three Gorges Dam navigable for about 1,200 miles. The river and its vast basin is generally reckoned to be the cradle of Chinese civilisation. The three gorges: the Qutang, the Xiling and the Wu are the most beautiful and impressive sections of the river.
Unfortunately because of the fog delay we joined the Viking Emerald at Sandouping (The site of the Three Gorges Dam), which is, about half way along the Xiling Gorge. We navigated the remainder of the Xiling Gorge overnight but before and after breakfast were able to enjoy the last section of the 25 mile Wu Gorge on our way to Wushan. The Wu is the middle of the Yangtze gorges and straddles the border between Sichuan and Hubei provinces. It certainly lived up to its reputation of deep valleys, forest covered mountains, rising mists and beautiful scenery.
The picture is of the Dragon Ridge in the Wu Gorge.
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