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On the western precipice of the Dragon Gate Gorge (the first Gorge of the
Three Little Gorges), 49 feet above the water level, are two horizontal lines
of square holes. They are all that remains of the ancient plank road along
the Daning River. Over 249 miles long, the Daning River section of the plank
road is one of the longest anywhere.
The holes chiseled into the precipice are mostly square, eight inches wide, and
12 inches deep. They are spaced 51-79 inches from each other. The holes are arranged
in two lines. The top line was used to anchor the support beams for the roadway
itself. The lower holes were used to hold diagonal beams to provide extra support
for the roadway.
In fact, this plank road not only runs along the Daning River. It extends to
Zhenping County in Shaanxi, Xi County in Hubei, and Chengkou County in Chongqing.
According to legend, the road was constructed in year 64 of Han Dynasty (206
BC-220) for transporting salt water from Nichang Town (an ancient salt producing
town) to Wushan and other places. Also, according to legend, the road was used
during war. However, exactly when it was built and what its original purpose
was is still disputed by historians.
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