Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world, after the Nile in Africa and the Amazon in South America. The river is about 6,300 kilometers long and originates from the glaciers and snow-capped mountains of the "Roof of the World", the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and rushes into the East China Sea.

The river is a major transportation artery for China, connecting the interior with the coast. The river used as a waterway for commerce offer now the possibility to cruise at leisure. And now, river cruises several days long especially through the beautiful and scenic Three Gorges area are becoming popular as the tourism industry grows in China.

The Three Gorges, the most spectacular section of the Yangtze River, are filled with breathtaking sceneries. With Baidi City, Fengjie in Chongqing Municipality to the west end and Nanjin Pass of Yichang in the Hubei province at the east, the Three Gorges, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, total 192 km in length. The Qutang Gorge, known for its magnificence, is only 8 km long. Wu Gorge, 44 km long, is famed for its deep valley and quiet beauty. Among the twelve peaks, the Goddess Peak is the most exquisite. Xiling Gorge, extending 66 km in length and full of turbulent currents and whirlpools, is one of the most dangerous shoals.

Along the Three Gorges, there are broad valleys, where the climate is mild and the soil fertile. These valleys are the main cultivated areas in the Three Gorges, where the county towns of Wushan, Badong and Zigui are located. In the autumn when the orange ripens, its sweet fragrance drifts to the boats on the river.

In addition to their scenic beauty, the Three Gorges are rich in water resources. They are the most ideal section of the Yangtze for building large water conservancy projects for the comprehensive exploitation of the river. The deep gorges and steep mountains on the banks of the river present superabundant potentials for power generation. The Three Gorges Project, the world's largest hydroelectric project, will effectively controls the torrential flow on the upper reaches and free the middle and lower reaches from the threat of flood.