White Emperor City in Fengjie, Chongqing, is located at the entrance to Qutang Gorge. After the filling of the Three Gorges Dam reservoir, White Emperor City became separated from the north bank and turned into an island.
Qutang Gorge is the first gorge of the Yangtze River Three Gorges, and Qutang Pass at its entrance is also known as “Kuimen.”
On the north bank of Qutang Gorge lies Chijia Mountain, whose main peak is the Summit of the Three Gorges.
Further Reading: [Recommended Chongqing Attractions] 12 Hidden Gem Spots in Chongqing Worth Visiting
White Emperor City and Qutang Gorge at the foot of the mountain are one scenic area (5A), while the Summit of the Three Gorges on the mountain is another scenic area (4A). The two scenic areas are connected.
Transportation to White Emperor City Scenic Area
For Fengjie, you can take a high-speed train to Fengjie High-Speed Railway Station or fly to Wushan Airport, both of which are not far from the county seat and the scenic area.
There is a Fengjie tourist shuttle line running between the high-speed rail station and the airport:
[Fengjie High-Speed Railway Station - White Emperor City - Summit of the Three Gorges - Wushan Airport]
It departs from the high-speed rail station at 10:00 a.m. and from Wushan Airport at 3:00 p.m. There is only one trip per day.
White Emperor City Scenic Area is more than 10 kilometers from Fengjie County. There are public buses, and taking a taxi is also convenient.
The Summit of the Three Gorges Scenic Area is up in the mountains, 24 kilometers from White Emperor City.
You can wait outside White Emperor City for the 10:00 a.m. direct shuttle bus up the mountain, then wait for the 3:00 p.m. bus back down in the afternoon. If you miss it, you will usually have to take a taxi. Taxi drivers generally ask for an extra surcharge for uphill rides, which is not very convenient.
If you are driving, you can also follow the route shown in the image above.
White Emperor City Attractions
White Emperor City & Qutang Gorge Scenic Area
Admission: 100 RMB; off-season 60 RMB (November-February); half price for visitors aged 60 and above; free admission for visitors aged 65 and above; free admission for visitors from Shandong.
✅️Ticket Booking: Trip
The ferry crossing within the scenic area is free.
The shuttle ferry runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with one departure every half hour.
Admission + Qutang Gorge cruise: 100 RMB in the off-season, 140 RMB in the peak season.
Parking fee: 10 RMB per visit.
White Emperor Temple was first built during the Han Dynasty and was originally called “Ziwu Pavilion.” After Liu Bei entrusted his son here during the Three Kingdoms period, later generations renamed it “White Emperor Temple.” Built against the mountain, the temple is grand and majestic and is one of the famous attractions of the Yangtze River Three Gorges. It enshrines statues of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, and other figures from the Three Kingdoms period.
White Emperor Temple is not only a historical site, but also the setting for important events in the Chinese literary classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Attractions such as White Emperor City and the Pavilion of Entrusting the Orphan are closely connected to the stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The natural scenery of White Emperor Temple is also exceptionally beautiful. Looking out from White Emperor Temple, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Yangtze River Three Gorges.
Kuimen was an important passage in ancient Bashu and also a strategic military stronghold contested by all sides. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, successive dynasties placed great importance on the military defense of Kuimen. In 208 AD, on the eve of the famous Battle of Red Cliffs during the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao led a large army advancing by land and water to attack Jingzhou. Liu Bei and Sun Quan’s allied forces crushed Cao Cao’s army at Red Cliffs, and Kuimen was one of the key battlefields in that campaign.
Kuimen not only had important military value, but is also an area of exceptionally beautiful natural scenery. The peaks on both sides of Kuimen are striking and steep, the river runs swiftly, and the landscape is magnificent. Poets and scholars throughout the ages greatly admired Kuimen and left behind many famous verses about it.
Summit of the Three Gorges Scenic Area
Admission: 50 RMB including the scenic-area shuttle bus. Cable car: uphill 50 RMB, downhill 40 RMB, round trip 80 RMB.
✅️Ticket Booking: Trip
If you take the cable car, you do not need to buy the scenic-area shuttle bus ticket. The lower cable-car station (Shimiao Village Visitor Center) is still on the mountain (see transportation map).
If you miss the 3:00 p.m. bus down the mountain, you will usually have to take a taxi.
Hiking Routes
There is a hiking trail from Chijia Tower in White Emperor City to the Summit of the Three Gorges, with a total length of 10 kilometers. You can choose to hike only part of it based on your own situation.
Below are 4 hiking route options.
Route 1: White Emperor City to the viewing platforms and back, 3-4 km
[White Emperor City - Ferry - Chijia Tower - Viewing Platform No. 1 - Viewing Platform No. 2 - Viewing Platform No. 3 - Return the same way]
Take the free ferry across the river from White Emperor City. After getting off, you can go to Chijia Tower to see monkeys, then walk a section uphill along the trail and return. There are 3 viewing platforms within 2 kilometers.
Hiking intensity: Flexible / self-arranged
Visiting time: 2-3 hours
Route 2: Downhill from Aokou along the poetic plank path to White Emperor City, 4 km
[Aokou - Shuijingwan, turn right - Viewing Platform No. 4 (or Daxiaodong) - Viewing Platform No. 3 - Chijia Tower - Ancient Cannon Battery - Ferry - White Emperor City]
Take a vehicle to Aokou, or after visiting the Summit of the Three Gorges scenic area uphill, get off at Aokou Viewing Platform on the way down.
From Aokou, walk about 200 meters down the road, then turn left onto the trail. In about 10 minutes, you will reach Shuijingwan and connect to the main trail. Turning right takes you downhill toward White Emperor City.
Hiking intensity: Moderate
Visiting time: 2-3 hours
Route 3: Uphill from Aokou along the perilous cliffside bird trail to the Summit of the Three Gorges, 6 km
[Aokou - Shuijingwan, turn left - Yinlong Bay - Jiguliang - Sixty-Six Switchbacks - Laowuji - Jianjianshi - Duiwozi - Xingshuwan - Huangyan Ridge - Kamen - Summit of the Three Gorges]
Take a vehicle to Aokou Viewing Platform. After sightseeing, walk 200 meters downhill along the road to enter the trail. In about 10 minutes, reach Shuijingwan and connect to the main trail. Turning left is the uphill direction toward the Summit of the Three Gorges, via Shuijingwan Viewing Platform. Refer to Route 4.
Hiking intensity: Very demanding
Hiking time: 3-5 hours
Route 4: Full 10 km challenge from White Emperor City to the Summit of the Three Gorges
[White Emperor City - Ferry - Chijia Tower - Viewing Platform No. 1 - Viewing Platform No. 2 - Viewing Platform No. 3 - Viewing Platform No. 4 (or Daxiaodong) - Xiaodong Gully - Shuijingwan Viewing Platform - Yinlong Trench - Jiguliang - Sixty-Six Switchbacks - Laowuji - Jianjianshi - Duiwozi - Xingshuwan - Huangyan Ridge - Kamen - Summit of the Three Gorges]
The entire trail is a gravel stone path with signposts along the way. There are no residents and no supply points anywhere on the route, so you need to prepare everything in advance.
Hiking intensity: Extremely demanding
Hiking time: 4-6 hours one way, 9-10 hours round trip.
The first 5 kilometers are relatively gentle and take about an hour and a half to complete.
The second half is almost entirely uphill, which is the perilous cliffside bird trail, climbing more than 1,000 meters over 5 kilometers. Most people may need more than 3 hours.
Perilous Cliffside Bird Trail
From Chijia Tower to Jiguliang, you have already completed half the route (5 kilometers), but the real challenge is only just beginning.
If the first half already feels very strenuous, it is not recommended to continue with the second half. There is a simple viewing platform at Jiguliang where you can rest and enjoy the view.
Above Jiguliang lies the 66 Switchbacks.
After walking 7 kilometers, you can already clearly see the Summit of the Three Gorges ahead.
Once you reach Huangyan Ridge, there is only a little over one kilometer left.
After crossing Huangyan Ridge comes Kamen, and then the Summit of the Three Gorges. This last kilometer is the hardest section to climb, where you will likely need to stop and rest every few steps.
Keep going — victory is right in front of you!
If the full uphill climb takes more than 4 hours, it is not recommended to hike back down. You can leave the scenic area and take a bus or taxi.
Hiking to the Summit of the Three Gorges involves a long distance and steep slopes, especially in the second half, so be sure to proceed with caution!
For the vast majority of visitors, Route 1 is recommended.
White Emperor City Food
Fengjie County is located in the Three Gorges reservoir area and is rich in various river delicacies and wild vegetables. White Emperor City’s specialty foods include:
The Three Delicacies of the Yangtze River
Including Yangtze saury, Yangtze shad, Yangtze sturgeon, and more.
Wild Vegetables
Including bracken, bamboo shoots, houttuynia cordata, and more.
Fengjie Navel Oranges
The flesh is crisp, tender, and juicy, with a delicious balance of sweetness and tartness.
