A Seriously Underrated Treasure! The Red Leaves of the Lesser Three Gorges Are as Beautiful as an Ink Painting

When people mention the Three Gorges red leaves, Wushan is the first place that comes to mind. But not far from Wushan, the Lesser Three Gorges in Wuxi, Chongqing (also known as Lingwudong Scenic Area), is a seriously underrated autumn foliage gem. Here, there are no crowds of tourists, only more pristine gorges, denser red leaves, and scenes that resemble long ink scrolls from the Song and Yuan dynasties.
"Itinerary Plan: 1-Day Ink-Colored Autumn Sketch Route"
This is a relaxed route focused on scenic appreciation and photography.
Morning: Depart from Wuxi County town and drive to the Lesser Three Gorges Scenic Area. Take a boat into the Daning River Lesser Three Gorges (Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge, Dicui Gorge). The boat glides on the water, with fiery red and brocade-like leaves of yellow hornbeam and Chinese tallow trees on the cliffs on both sides, creating a strong contrast with the emerald green river water.
Noon: Enjoy river delicacies such as Ning River fish at a farmhouse restaurant near the scenic area.
Afternoon: After disembarking, visit Lingwudong to see the karst cave wonders, then take a leisurely walk along the riverside trail to admire the autumn colors of the gorge from different angles, and return satisfied in the afternoon.
"Highlights Recommendation: Value Proposition Style"
"Very few people! This Wuxi Lesser Three Gorges has red leaves on a scale that rivals its famous neighbor, with an experience ten times better!" "Worth the boat ticket! Drifting on the emerald waves, seeing the mountains ablaze with red leaves is like traveling inside an ink painting!"
The commercial atmosphere here is light, allowing you to focus more on the natural beauty itself.
"Hidden Activities: Be a Person in the Painting for a Day"
✅ Find the Best Reflections: At calm spots on the river surface, look for perfect reflections of red leaves, mountains, and sky to capture symmetrical ink-style masterpieces.
✅ Listen to the Three Gorges Apes: Quiet your mind and you might hear the calls of monkeys from the mountains, experiencing the poetic mood of "the apes’ cries never cease on both banks."
✅ Explore Ancient Plank Road Ruins: On the cliffs of Bawu Gorge, stone holes from ancient plank roads remain, evoking the hardships of travel over thousands of years.
"Practical Information: Pre-Trip Checklist"
□ ID card, cash (farmhouse restaurants may have poor signal)
□ Camera, telephoto lens (to capture distant red leaves and mountain details)
□ Warm jacket (it’s windy on the boat), comfortable shoes
□ Snacks and water
□ A heart immersed in the ink painting atmosphere
"Food and Accommodation: Scene-Based Recommendations"
[One-Day Tour] It is recommended to stay in Wuxi County town, which has better conditions, a wide range of dining options, and specialties like Wuxi grilled fish and wild vegetables.
[In-Depth Experience] If you want to shoot misty river scenes in the morning, you can choose a guesthouse near the scenic area entrance, though conditions are relatively simple.
This seriously underrated treasure is waiting for you who understand it to discover.