Ox Liver and Horse Lung Gorge

Ox Liver and Horse Lung Gorge - Location

Ox Liver and Horse Lung Gorge is located at the upper reach of Xiling Gorge and 15 kilometers west to Xiangxi Stream, extending 4.5 kilometers. A lump of reddish brown shale suspended in the east, taking a shape of a bull's liver, and a dark brown rock in the west resembling a horse's lung, hence the name 'Ox Liver and Horse Lungs'.

Ox Liver and Horse Lung Gorge - Sceneries

On both banks of the gorge, there are numerous streams flowing through the grottoes of the cliff. There are also many high peaks covered with evergreen trees. There is a beautiful peak on south bank called Fairy Peak. It stands high looking like an elegant fairy. A small stream flows quietly beneath the Fairy Peak. It is Jiuwan Stream. It got its name because legend says that Qu Yuan used to plant Jiuwan Flowers here.

Ox Liver and Horse Lung Gorge – Name Origin

Over decades, all of amazing stalactite formations have formed along the cliff faces. Among them, there are a few shapes of rocks in olive-brown color and in the form of ox liver hanging from the cliff of the northern bank. And, not far away, there hangs another in the shape of a horse lung. So, obviously, the gorge is named the Ox Liver and Horse Lung Gorge.

Ox Liver and Horse Lung Gorge – Past and Present Days

For centuries, these two rocks have been admired by many visitors. However, during the Qing Dynasty when Guangxu Emperor was in his reign, the gorge was bombed by imperialist forces and the lower part of the rock with the shape of horse lung was destroyed.

Now, with the rising of the water storage of the Three Gorges Dam Project, the two historic rock formations have been submerged. Sadly, visitors will no longer be able to admire them but they may imagine the scene of 'a smooth lake rises in the narrow gorge'.