Chongqing Three Gorges Selecting and Preserving Relics

Author: Li Yanyi (Editor)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Unlike most Yangtze Three Gorges picture books on the market, this collection does not focus on introducing the scenic beauty of the Three Gorges. It also strives to minimize the inclusion of widely circulated but lack factual basis ghost stories. This is a compilation of true historical stories from the Three Gorges Reservoir area. We attempt to review the thousands of years of human history in the reservoir area with a serious attitude, presenting the rough trajectory of its cultural development to readers. Many events from the well-known Chinese literary classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms take place in the reservoir area. These vivid stories and the suspenseful legends of the Ba people have added an enchanting charm to the Yangtze Three Gorges and the Three Gorges Reservoir area. However, it is precisely this identification that has led to a distorted perception of the Three Gorges Reservoir area by the world. The literary Three Gorges and the ghostly Three Gorges have replaced the historical Three Gorges and the authentic Three Gorges. This should not have happened. If this collection can help people re-examine the Three Gorges Reservoir area, we will feel immensely gratified. Another factor prompting us to publish this collection is the implementation of the Three Gorges Project's water storage in June 2003. This is a historic moment. The century-old dream of the Chinese nation has come true. It holds milestone significance in China's modernization process; it has also brought a series of transformative changes to the social, cultural, economic, and even geographical aspects of the Yangtze Three Gorges and the entire Three Gorges Reservoir area. We, as a group, have all drunk water from the Three Gorges, some of whom have even trekked through the gorges, slept on wooden beds in the mountain villagers' homes, and tasted the wild vegetable rice served by the warm-hearted mountain villagers. The ancient customs and serene tranquility of the deep forests in the gorges, far from the hustle and bustle of the world, have deeply moved our hearts and given us life insights, somewhat altering our principles. As the waters of the gorges gradually rise and the once familiar mountains and rocks fade beneath the water, this collection etches our love and nostalgia for the Three Gorges deep in our hearts. Of course, the Three Gorges Reservoir area has a long history and profound cultural heritage, with countless interesting stories. It cannot be fully encompassed in a mere two hundred pages, so this collection is merely a "supplement" and "selection." Nevertheless, we have made every effort to "edit" and present to readers those segments of the reservoir area's history that we believe are both brilliant and little-known. The Three Gorges, eternal.