China expects to invest 48 million yuan (nearly US$6 million) to rebuild facilities and revive tourism in the Small Three Gorges in Daning River, a tributary of Yangtze.

The Small Three Gorges extends for 50 kilometers in the lower reaches of Daning River, which consists of Longmen Gorge, Bawu Gorge and Dicui Gorge, covering an area of 12 square kilometers.

With the rising of the water level in the Three Gorges Dam, many traditional tourism facilities in the Small Three Gorges have become useless.

The new investment will be used to rebuild some necessary tourism facilities and a service center for drift, said Shi Shilong, head of Wushan County.

Shi said when these new facilities are in service, they will bring an additional income of 30 million yuan (US$3.7 million)to the county every year and offer job chances to more than 3,000 people.

According to Shi, a dock project of the Small Three Gorges, the Dachang Dock, has started construction and is expected to receive one million tourists upon completion.

With the honor of the "Wonder of China" and "marvellous spectacle," the Small Three Gorges was listed among the top 40 tourist attractions in China in 1991. 

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2005)