Xiling Gorge is one of “Three Gorges of the Yangtze River”, the other two are Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge.

With a length of 120 kilometers, it originates at Guandukou, Badong County, Hubei Province in the west and reaches Nanjinguan, Yichang City, Hubei Province in the east.

Xiling Gorge is famous for its winding navigation route and soul-stirring sailing in history and noted for being “Perilous” and “Queer” because of its cragged rocks, mighty waters and dangerous beaches. The whole gorge is made up of peaks, canyons, dangerous shoals and reefs with gorges rising one upon another, larger ones shielding smaller ones, and with beaches linked with each other and smaller ones protruding into larger ones. Additionally, the gorge has the well known “Three Beaches”, namely Xie Shoal, Qing Shoal and Kongling Shoal, and the “Four Gorges”, namely Lamp Shadow Gorge, Yellow Ox Gorge, Cattle's Live and Horse's Lung Gorge, and Tactics Book and Valuable Sword Gorge.