By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

Visitors can choose free independent travel to the Three Gorges by driving there, as well as enjoying the tourist attractions along the journey. Time of this way to the Three Gorges is relatively free, and visitors can pick some of the attractions they are interested in to visit. Two routes below are recommended:

• Chongqing → Changshou → Fuling → Fengdu → Shizhu → Lichuan → Enshi → Badong → Yichang (→ Zigui/ Xingshan/Shennongjia)
• Chongqing → Changshou → Dianjiang → Liangping → Wenzhou (→ counties around Wanzhou)

Famous Tourist Attractions along the Routes:

Changshou Ancient Town:

The panorama of Changshou Ancient Town

Located at the Changshou District, which is 40km away from eastern Chongqing. The ancient town is the complex with travel, entertainment, culture exhibition, etc. Focusing on Changshou culture, the ancient town shows culture, humanities, and civilizations to visitors.

The Underwater Museum of White Crane Ridge:

The museum is located on the Yangtze River in the Three Gorges area in Fuling District, nearby the Three Gorges Dam. It was opened to the public on 18 May 2009. The construction of the museum began in 2002 and had cost around USD 28 million. The primary architect was Ge Xiurun of the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Wanzhou Grand Waterfall:

The Wanzhou Grand Fall in Wanzhou county

Located 30 km away to the downtown Wanzhou District, Wanzhou Grand Waterfall is the central scenic spot, becoming the No.1 (the widest) waterfall in Asia. It covers 9739.5m², with 151m wide and 64.5m high. The waterfall serves 2 exciting highlights to visitors: the extraordinary rainbow on a clear day, and the 360°panorama sight viewing. Go see the spectator view of grand fall, there is Qinglong Cave behind the waterfall with the extraordinary natural wall.

Fengdu Ghost City:

 It is a collection buildings of monasteries, temples, and shrines overlooking the river. The mythic temple of the underworld is the prototype of the complex, showing the culture of the afterlife to visitors.

Enshi Grand Canyon:

Enshi Grand Canyon is located in the Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It is bordered by Yangtze Three Gorges in the north, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the south and the neighborhood of Yichang city in the east. Its cliffs stretch as hundreds of miles (China Daily).

Shuangguitang:

The panorama of Shuangguitang in Liangping county

Shuangguitang also named as Fuguo Temple, located at Jindaigui village on the southwest Liangping District, it was built in Qing dynasty in 1653, which has 350 years history. Shuangguitang refers to two cassia trees in Chinese; it was renowned as the House of Southwest Buddhist.

Xituo Ancient Town:

Xituo Ancient Town, the town was developed due to ancient commerce; the Yunti Street in town is a starting point of Sichuan Salt Ancient Path, and the core architecture in town.

Three Gorges Dam:

It is an immense and monumental engineering project, built as the largest hydroelectric plant in the world. Visitors can step on the viewing platform, which is 185m high, to enjoy the generous and inspired flowing water.

Tips: Vehicle rental information can be found in EASY GO.