Yangtze River Embankment Presenting Many Unanswered Questions.

There were a number of temples and pagodas built on the rocky cliffs, in the belief that they would prevent the fortunes and wealth of the country being carried away by the river. On the left could be seen an intriguing part of a fenced walkway, and I am surmising that this is the way to get to the pagoda. When you consider that all the construction materials would have had to be man-handled by coolies, it is a remarkable achievement that it was ever built.

Why were these houses built here, at the mouth of a gorge, where the only access appears to be from the river ? There were many such hamlets and townships and invariably, wherever it was possible, narrow terraces built in which to grow vegetables. Near the sloping bank of this hamlet, a sanpan was moored.

This part of the river bank was almost covered with terraces, mostly stone walled. Here again, the only access appeared to be from the mighty river itself.

Almost like a film set, with a lush green mountain backdrop ! A block of flats perched on the right appeared fairly modern, and on the sloping jetty leading to the water's edge stood a small tractor and trailer. It was an amazing scene.

One can only imagine what life must have been like for the family living in this isolated dwelling. Their subsistence most likely depended on what they could grow in their stone walled terraces, or what could be harvested from the surrounding mountains.

On the calmer stretch of the river below the dam, blocks of flats, factories and wharves had been built to the water's edge.

Another section of the industrious complex where I should imagine cars and bicycles were of no value ! During all my travels, I have never seen such a place again.

• Yangtze 1.. Quick Cruise, Chungking To Yichang
• Yangtze 2.. Night Stop For Provisions
• Yangtze 3.. Enter The Gorges