At just 8 kilometers long, Qutang Gorge (Qutang Xia) is the shortest of all Three Gorges but don't let that put you off—it's also the narrowest and the deepest (1200-meters down and just 150-meters at its widest point), which makes for some very dramatic scenery. At its western end is the Kui Gate (Kui Men), a narrow bottleneck through two precipitous cliffs that makes for an exhilarating ride as the powerful waters rush through.

On the southern river bank by the Kui Gate is a stretch of white chalk wall known as Fen Bi Tang, that famous calligraphers dating back to the Song Dynasty simply couldn't resist. Thousands of characters, some up to 1.7-meters wide are carved into it, representing many different calligraphic periods and styles.

All along the gorge, from the ancient town of Baidi Cheng to Daixi, can be seen traces of ancient walkways carved into the rock face. These paths have their origins in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) but were maintained and improved upon right into the 20th century, their purpose to allow goods to be transported by foot. Similar pathways, now underwater, were used for "haulers." Teams of men harnessed together, their grueling task was that of a human tugboat, pulling vessels upstream against the powerful current.

Another sight to note is the Mengliang Staircase, a zig-zag series of holes 1-meter apart carved in the rock into which poles were inserted to create a walkway navigating up the cliffside. There are also numerous oddly-shaped rocks, stalactites and cave formations, each with a story to tell such as Hanging Monk Rock, Drinking Phoenix Spring and Rhinoceros Viewing the Moon.