The Xiling Gorge Yangtze River | Tribe of the Three Gorges
The first thing to know about the Xiling Gorge, is that you have to go! This was one of the coolest stops on our trip through China, with gorgeous scenery and fun demonstrations into traditional cultural activities local to the area!
Specifically this guide will walk through a visit to the Tribe of the Three Gorges excursion within the Xiling Gorge on the Yangtze River.
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What is the Xiling Gorge?
The Xiling Gorge is a part of the renowned Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in China. This gorge is specifically located in the Hubei Province.
The Xiling Gorge, while largely untouched, still has some active ports and is a relatively frequented waterway. It is also home to the Tribe of the Three Gorges, which offers tourists insight into the Ba and Shu cultures that are local to the region.
What To Expect at the Xiling Gorge Tribe of the Three Gorges
When arriving at the Xiling Gorge you will first disembark onto a wooden platform. This wooden boardwalk will follow along the Yangtze River, wrapping along its coast between the water and the tree line.
From here you will be able to see some working ports and small boats coming to and from them, along with thoughtful wooden structures & designs as you walk along the path – including statues of See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil monkeys!
You will also be able to see some more traditionally styled boats that (I believe?) are mostly for show at this point, but I’m sure also are taken out to stretch their legs every once in a while. There are also many traditionally styled verandas scattered along the path that provide good view points of the river as you walk.
Following your group tour guide, you will begin to walk off of the wooden path and down a stream that feeds into the river from the gorges. The path back into the trees remains well maintained and is suitable for every fitness level.
Along this stream you will begin to see some of the tributes to the Ba and Shu cultures. Your guide will be able to give context to everything you pass, but I will do my best to share what I remember as well! We first stopped at a man playing a “Bawu,” which is a traditional wind instrument often made from bamboo. The Bawu sounded beautiful but my video unfortunately has people talking over it so you will have to go visit yourself to get a listen! 🙂
From there we moved on to stop where a man was sat in a bamboo structure up in the cliffs slightly above our group. He began calling out towards the river, and when he stopped, his calls were returned by someone on the other side in similar fashion. This demonstrated a communication style of those who lived in the cliff ridden offshoots of the gorges.
We also passed by a woman showcasing a traditional stream boat in cultural garb:
Further along the tour we got to see wooden water turbines that used to be used to create energy naturally from the stream water feeding into the river!
Did I mention this is one of the coolest tours I did while in China? Because it was. There were also a couple of actors representing a cultural bride and groom, and later on in the tour they even put on a fake wedding with a volunteer from our tour group!
Needless to say but just as a reminder, while you walk between each of these cultural demonstrations you also get to take in the breathtaking beauty of the gorge around you! Here are just a few of the photos I took with my camera while on tour:
If you’re lucky you might even see some monkeys that are native to the area!
Tour Options to Visit the Xiling Gorge
This activity to explore the traditional cultures of the tribes local to the area is only offered as part of a tour, and I can’t recommend it enough! You can check availability of the tour for your dates through the services below:
- Tribe of the Three Gorges Excursion: Sanxia Family Scenic Resort Tour
How to Access the Xiling Gorge
The Tribe of the Three Gorges area within the Xiling Gorge is primarily accessed by boat – as this also offers you a chance to see the gorge up close during your ride!
To get here by boat or by bus, you will need to find a specifically dedicated tourist service (as that is the only reason to go to and from the area). Boats typically leave from the Huangbaihe Pier and buses typically leave from the city of Yichang.
Most often, this site is accessed as a day excursion on a multi-day river cruise down the Yangtze River. This is how we came across the activity, and the whole river cruise was a great experience – and a much more fun way to travel than by car! 🙂
- Yichang to Chongqing River Cruise: 4 Day 5 Night River Cruise (Upstream)
- Chongqing to Yichang River Cruise:Â 3 Day 4 Night River Cruise (Downstream)
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
