When talking about autumn, the most unavoidable sights are the red maple leaves, the golden poplars, ginkgo trees, and metasequoia trees...
The places I can’t leave out are Kanas in Xinjiang, Ejina Banner in Inner Mongolia, Tengchong in Yunnan, etc.
Among the many autumn colors, this place is often easily forgotten
It is the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River!
When it comes to the Three Gorges, many people don’t know when to visit, what to do, and how to play. Let’s take a look together!

Major cities in the Three Gorges region
The Three Gorges start from Nanjinguan in the east and end at Fengjie in the west; they are Xiling Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Qutang Gorge.
The Three Gorges has its own unique scenery throughout the year. The most suitable time is from mid-November to mid-January, when the temperature is not high and the red leaves are in full bloom for three months. It is a unique experience to experience the beauty of the Three Gorges on foot. From June to October, you can take a cruise and feel the lush greenery of the Three Gorges.
Because the Three Gorges Basin is full of mountains, transportation is not very convenient.
Recommended travel options: group tours, self-driving, or cruises (services will be suspended from November to April of the following year)
The main transportation hub cities of the Three Gorges are:
1. Yichang
High-speed railway station - Yichang East Station
Airport——Three Gorges Airport
There are many flights, and it is relatively convenient to travel all over the country. Alternatively, you can transfer in Wuhan, which is about 2.5 hours away from Yichang by high-speed rail.

2. Wushan County & Fengjie County
The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway passes through here
There are Wushan Station and Fengjie Station, which is more convenient for friends from Chongqing and Henan.
There is an airport approximately halfway between the two counties, and direct flights are available to some areas.

Among the Three Gorges, the editor feels that Wu Gorge is relatively more interesting to visit, and there are relatively more places where red leaves can be seen.

Wenfeng Temple
At the newly entered red leaf viewing area, a ridge trail offers a panoramic view of Wu Gorge while admiring the red leaves along the way. Walking up to the water tower on the mountainside, you'll see layers of red leaves.

Goddess Heavenly Road
Here, guests who are either relaxing or outdoors can enjoy the red leaves of the Three Gorges.
Friends who don’t like hiking can take the scenic shuttle bus to travel back and forth between the viewing platforms in the scenic area and overlook the Goddess Peak and Goddess Creek.
Friends who like hiking can descend along the Yaotai Ridge Trail to the river surface and come to the bluestone signal tower. The trail is covered with red leaves along the way.


Goddess Creek
Take a boat trip into Shennv Creek and admire the five peaks of Wushan: Cuiping, Feifeng, Qiyun, Shengshang, and Jingtan. The red color sits amidst the majestic scenery on either side, creating a breathtaking scene.

The most famous places in Qutang Gorge are: Baidi City and the summit of the Three Gorges
Playing here requires some physical effort~

Top of the Three Gorges
Because the peak here looks like a peach, it is also called Taozi Mountain. The walk from Taozi Mountain to Baidi City is about 10km, with a total descent of nearly 1000m.
The 10 kilometers are divided into a 4-kilometer-long Poetic Plank Road and a 6-kilometer-long Dangerous Stone Bird Path. You can tell the difference just by listening to the names.
If you're in good physical condition and want to make a day trip, we recommend setting aside at least 10 hours. For a more independent itinerary, we recommend walking down the scenic plank road and strolling along the stone path through the red leaves. There are various viewing platforms along the way, offering views of Taozi Mountain and Kuimen.

Baidi City
This is a place that almost all tourists who visit the Three Gorges cannot avoid. The story of Liu Bei entrusting his son to others happened here. From here you can overlook Kuimen.

In addition to the red leaves, there are other wonderful things here
Three Gorges Dam
"High gorges give rise to flat lakes" and this is a national treasure. Don't miss it when you come to Hubei.
The sluice gates are usually opened to release water in April and May, but not every day, so if you want to see the flood discharge, you need some luck!

Wuxiakou
Badong County is the starting point of Wu Gorge, but the entrance to Wu Gorge is relatively unknown.
In autumn and winter, it is easy to see the sea of clouds at the mouth of Wuxia in the morning. When the weather is good, the sunset here reflects the golden Yangtze River.



Three Gorges People
Xiling Gorge seems to have a relatively low presence among the Three Gorges. In addition to enjoying the scenery of Xiling Gorge, people living in the Three Gorges can also see the lifestyle of the fishermen in the past.

A Guide to Autumn Scenery in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River
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