1984 Trip on Yangzi - Chongqing to Shanghai

7. Yangzi River between Fengzie and Yinchang

The Yangzi (Yangtze) River, the third longest in the world, was an angry river -- unpredictable in its currents and depth, and potentially dangerous to navigate. Of all its turbulent 3,964 miles, the Yangzi's most demanding course used to be through the three great gorges that lie between the towns of Fengzie and Yinchang. In former times, a large boat pushing upstream here often needed hundreds of coolies to haul it along from the banks, and the crews of small craft can still be seen pulling their boats against the strong currents today.