Small Cruise on Qing River

The Qing River is reputed as a bright pearl in the Yangtze River. As a tributary of the Yangtze River, it originates west of Hubei province and Lichuan City, flows through Enshi, Changyang, Badong city and at last discharges itself into the Yangtze River. The Qing River is so clear and bright, as it were a blue ribbon fluttering along more than 423 kilometers. The drainage area is the main residence of minority group - Tujia Minority. They have lived there for generations and create a varied ethnic culture and show an exotic folk custom. You are suggested to take a cruise to appreciate the charming scenery and Tujia People's life along the beautiful gallery of the Qing River. The cruise fee is about CNY130 including the entrance fees for all the sightseeing.

The cruise will start from Geheyan Dam Dock, in Changyang city. Firstly, you can take a bus from Yichang Long-distance Coach Station to Changyang from 6:30 to 19:00 every day. The bus will set out every 15 minutes, and the ticket fee is CNY17 on the highway. For more detailed bus information, you can call the Coach Station at 0717-6445314. The first to appear when the cruise starts is Baidao Lake (with hundreds of Islands). Once there were a lot of hills along the Qing River, but when the Geheyan Dam was set up, the water level rose by tens of meters. Then the hills were transformed into many small islands. So it is called Hundreds of Islands Lake.

As the cruise ship sails, you can visit Inverted Image Valley, Pinghu Lake, Bai Garden Island, Wulozhongli Mountain, Tianzhu Mountain, Baren Cave etc. Among these, the Wulozhongli Mountain and Tianzhu Mountain are the highlights.

Wulozhongli Mountain consists of Mt. Wulo and Mt. Zhongli conjoined together. This mountain is not high up to 400 meters, but it is rather cliffy. It is recorded that this mountain was the birthplace of the ancestor of the Tujia, Ba People. There you can still find the relics and sites of Ba people, especially the ancestor worship sites like the Chi Cave, King Xiang Temple, Deji Pavilion, God Rock Stage etc. That is why Wulozhongli Mountain is regarded as a holy place for Tujia People in Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan provinces. Every year, pilgrims flood into there in an endless stream.

Tianzhu Mountain is located on the North bank of the Qing River, 34 kilometers away from Changyang. It is a holy Taoist Mountain and has been one of the Caves in 36 Caves and 72 blessing places in Taoism from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). With a height of 1445 meters, Tianzhu Mountain stands there with much grand ancient architecture. In the plain mountain peak, a spring spurts out and the water streams all year round. The most spectacular view is the tripartite confrontation of peaks. The three peaks are all as high as 130 meters and apart within 4 meters. Two bridges span between them, like tower columns support the heaven.

End of this one day small cruise. Take the bus back to Yichang city.