Historical Heritage

The Three Gorges and its surrounding areas are one of the cradles of Chinese nationality and the birthplace of ancient Ba-Chu culture, various cultural relics from different dynasties with distinct characteristics can be found in this area. It formed a treasure house in cultural relics and historic heritage from the New Stone Era to modern times that lasted for more than 5000 years.

In the TGP reservoir region, the discovered historic relics and cultural heritage total 108 places, including one of the nation's protected key units, 5 provincial protected key units and 10 local protected units. The remains of the famous "Daxi Culture" is the one reflecting the transformation of the history in the Yangtze River basin from the matriarchal society to the patriarchal society, which is featured by fishing and hunting, and living in caves more than 5000 years ago. Most of the key relics got unearthed in 1958. Presently, places with historic interest or scenic beauty with distinctive features can still be found in the reservoir region. Among them the most famous ones are Liu Bei's tomb in Fengjie county; the Ba king's tomb in Fuling city, the Six Prince's tomb of Yong state in Yunyang county, including more than 10 ancient building complex left from the East Han through Ming and Qing dynasties. In addition, there are also Ghost Town in Fengdu county,Zhang Fei Temple in Zhongxian county, the Huangling Temple in Yichang,Shibaozhai Stockade Tower and two Watchtowers built in Han Dynasty in Zhongxian county, etc...

There are some enchanting scenery in the region, including the ancient plank road built above the water surface on cliffs in Wushan county, the rock coffin and the ancient town in Dachang, the Autumn Wind Pavilion in Badong, the White Emperor City in Fengjie county, the Memorial House of Qu Yuan in Zigui County, the Native Place of Wang Zhaojun, the famous ancient beauty of Han Dynasty in Xingshan County, the king's tomb of Chu Dynasty in Zigui and the ancient battle field in Yiling of Yichang, etc..Besides, there are many valuable relics left by ancient famous persons and poets through ages. Forty-seven scripted tablets left from Sui to Qing dynasties have been collected in Baidicheng(the White Emperor City) in Fenjie County, in which poems, antithetical couplets, paintings and handwritings in various styles are a feast for your eyes. Among the tablets both of the Phoenix and the Bamboo are in unique style and very fascinating. So far, there are more than 40 stone inscriptions and tablets still laid inside and outside of Sanyou Cave.Ouyangxiu's inscription in Song Dynasty and Baijuyi's “Sanyou Cave Preface” inscription re-carved in Ming Dynasty have acquired high reputation. Also, there are some inscriptions about the record of low water and flood level of the Yangtze from Tang to Qing dynasties, in which Baiheliang Low-water Inscription, namely "the Rock Fish", is the nation's key protected relic.

Based on the location and elevation, impacts of the Project on the cultural relics and historic heritage in the TGP reservoir region and its surrounding areas can be grouped into the following five types: