Natural Landscape and Historical Relics of White Emperor City

White Emperor City located in the north bank of Yangtze River, the mouth of Qutang Gorge in Fengjie County, Chongqing. It is famous tourist attraction in Three Gorges. It was named Ziyang City which was built by Gong Sun who set up a separatist regime in Shu area by force of arms in end of West Han Dynasty. White Emperor City is the best place to watch the grand scenery of Kweimen. Many great poets in history, like Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Liu Yuxi, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Fan Chengda and Lu You, ever visited White Emperor City and Kweimen; they left large amount of poems. So, White Emperor City got the reputation of "Poem City".

Natural Landscape of White Emperor City

White Emperor City is surrounded by water in three sides and the other side is depending on mountain. An isolated mountain towering up at here looks very dreary and desolate. The grand and steep mountains and water of Kweimen make it become more beautiful. To start from the mountain foot along the steps, if you want to reach the gate of White Emperor City, you must pass by about thousand steps where you can enjoy the grand and magnificent momentum of Kweimen. When you walk to the back of White Emperor Temple, you can see the twisted and beautiful Caotang River flowing into river from White Emperor Mountain foot.

Three Gorges Dam project caused the water level increase. White Emperor City was surrounded by water. It became a natural island; boats can come into the city directly. The appearance of one side depending on mountain, while other three sides surrounded by water; the back lean on high gorge while the front facing Yangtze River was totally changed. The water surrounded White Emperor City has become a paradise on earth, the scenery become more attractive and boats can directly into the city.

Historical Relics of White Emperor City

White Emperor City is depending on Kweimen in east side and next to the Eightfold Maze in west side; surrounded by water in three sides. It is key place of land and water, so it is the must get place in battle in history.

There are Mingliang Hall, Wuhou Temple, Guanxing (Observing Star) Pavilion and other Ming and Qing Dynasties Buildings in White Emperor Temple. Mingliang Hall was built in 12th year of Jiajing in Qing Dynasty (1533) which is main building in temple, with the statues of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in it. There sacrificed the statues of Zhuge Liang, his son and grandson in Wuhou Temple. It is said that the Guanxing Pavilion before temple is the place where Zhuge Liang observing stars at night. There are famous steles on the both sides of Mingliang Hall and Wuhou Temple. In the temple, there are culture relics exhibition rooms, poem history hall which are used to exhibit historical relics, painting and calligraphy. These ancient buildings and historical relics make White Emperor City more attractive. In White Emperor Temple, there are many poems steles and historical relics including famous bronze willow Bashu sword in East Zhou Dynasty, suspending coffin leavings in Han and Jing Dynasties, 73 steles, pottery and bronze money-spinner in Tang Dynasty and 1000 pieces of historical relics in history, 100 pieces of painting and calligraphy works by virtuosos. In east steles forest, Phoenix Stele and Bamboo Leaves Stele are the most outstanding for their unique features, which are treasures. In some halls, there are gilded statues of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.