popular saying goes like this: Changjiang is perilous at the Three Gorges and Xilingxia Gorge is the most perilous of all. The shoals take up four fifths of
the whole river surface and the rush of water is very rapid and turbulent.
It used to be very dangerous to sail in this section of the river. However,
after the founding of new China, much has been done to improve the watercourse
at Xilingxia Gorge. With the completion of the Gezhouba Dam Project the water
level has been raised somewhat. So the navigation on this area has become
much safer than before. Xilingxia Gorge is cut into many small gorges, more remarkable of which are the Gorge of Book on the Art of War,the Horse-lung and Ox-liver Gorge,and the Gorge of Shadow Play. Named according to their natural formations, they resemble either human beings, or animals, or plants, all in different shapes and postures. These rock statues, though immovable by nature, seems to be moving and changing constantly when viewed from different angles. Among the cultural relics is the "Huangling Temple",which was first built during the Three Kingdoms period and then reconstructed during the Tang Dynasty. Besides these unique natural landscapes, Xilingxia is special for the damsite of the gigantic Three Gorges Project which will be located in Zhongbao Isle with an area of 1.5 square kms. The majestic hydro-electrical dam will be built cutting through the island and spanning across the great river.
