PLACE GUIDE

Mini Three Gorges 小小三峡

Xiaoxiao Sanxia

The Mini Three Gorges are the Sancheng, Qinwang and Changtan gorges on the lower Madu River, a tributary of the Daning.

Tourist boat with passengers cruising through the narrow limestone gorge of the Smaller Three Gorges
Tour boat cruising the Smaller Three Gorges gorge near Wushan · 巫山小小三峡峡谷游船 Source-recorded photograph date: 2014-08-24 15:42:02. · Yoshi Canopus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.

Explore the region

Chongqing · 重庆市 →Wushan County · 巫山县 →

About Mini Three Gorges

They are distinct from the larger Little Three Gorges on the Daning, although excursions commonly connect the two. The narrower tributary section is experienced from small boats between wooded cliffs; a documented visit describes changing boats at a transfer wharf. Plan this as a water journey with the operator's route, rather than searching for three roadside entrances or expecting a continuous walking trail beside the gorge.

What to look for

  • Sancheng, Qinwang and Changtan: the three named Madu River sections give the Mini Three Gorges their collective name.
  • The small-boat passage: the enclosed channel and wooded cliffs create a different scale of river scenery from the wider Daning excursion.

Location & getting there

Getting to Mini Three Gorges

Start with the Wushan visitor reception centre on Binjiang Road for the Little Three Gorges–Mini Three Gorges boat excursion. Confirm that the selected sailing includes the Madu River section.

  • The Mini Three Gorges section involves the operator's boat-transfer arrangements; ask where and when to change boats rather than trying to reach the gorge map point by road.
General visit reminders

Allow room for the terrain and weather when choosing your route. Check the operator’s current trail, shuttle and cableway notices where applicable, and confirm the return connection before setting out. A broad landscape pin does not identify every trailhead or access point.

Combine your visit

Suggested sequence for this visit:

  1. Sancheng Gorge

    Observe this named part of the Mini Three Gorges from the boat route.

  2. Qinwang Gorge

    Look at the confined tributary landscape in this section.

  3. Changtan Gorge

    Include this named gorge as covered by the selected sailing.

These are gorge sections to observe from the boat, not landing or walking stops. The operator determines the sailing direction, turnaround and transfer sequence; no timetable or full-route guarantee is implied.

Mountains & forests · 山岳／森林 →

Find Mini Three Gorges

小小三峡 · 巫山

Amap · 高德地图Approximate pin · 近似位置Apple Maps · 苹果地图

The pin marks the area, not the entrance.

More places nearby

Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.

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Sources & visit information

The sources below support the place-specific description and arrival information. Suggested combinations are editorial planning ideas; confirm current opening, entry arrangements and transport services for your date.

China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-10-07