Scenery of the Xilingxia Gorge section of Yangtze River. [Photo: travel.sina.com.cn]

A cruise line which traverses the Three Gorges section of China's Yangtze River opened in late August this year. A six-deck passenger liner, capable of accommodating more than 400 people, sets sail regularly from Chongqing's Chaotianmen Dock, engaging tourists for four or five days of sightseeing before arriving at the upstream city of Yichang.

The following account is written by a reporter with Nanfang Daily, a metro newspaper based in Guangzhou, describing his experience on one of these cruises.

Voyage through the Three Gorges

With the sounding of a piercing steam whistle, the ship departed at half past ten in the morning. Most of the tourists gathered on the upper deck to enjoy the views along the river banks.

The first highlight of the voyage is Xiling Gorge, spanning 76 kilometers, the longest section among the Three Gorges. Due to the swollen water level, the mountains looked more gentle, not the sharp peaks we expected. The scenery of broad river surface mirroring the low-rise mountains still created a stir among tourists who took out their cameras and began taking pictures.

It took over three hours for the ship to pass five lock flights after Xiling Gorge and the passengers were relocated to a smaller boat to sail across the shallow water of Shenrong Stream. Then the cruise ship continued its journey through the next of the Three Gorges -- Wuxia Gorge.

Wuxia Gorge is known for its deep and narrow canyons. On both banks of the river stand a succession of towering mountains covered with deep green forests.

As the ship approaches Qutangxia Gorge, the river waterway becomes even narrower. Qutangxia Gorge is said to be the most slender and shortest section of the three gorges.