The Chalk Wall of Qutang Gorge refers to the wall located among the crumbling walls of Mt. Baiyan (White Salt Mountain, one of the two mountains of Kui Gate on the northern bank of the Yangtze River). The wall is over 1,094 yards long with many words carved into it. It is called the Chalk Wall as the wall is white in color, having been brushed with lime powder during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is also called Fen Bi Tang (The Hall having White Wall) because the wall is inscribed with tablets originating from different dynasties in various fonts. Thus, it resembles the wall of a hall hung with calligraphy works, hence the name.
The word carvings on the Chalk Wall date back from Song Dynasty. The largest word inscribed is two yards, and the smallest is only the size of a finger. When the cruise ship passes the mouth of Qutang Gorge, the words 'Kui Men' and 'Qu Tang' can be seen. These four words are written by celebrities of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) in li script (official script). Among the inscriptions, there is a large tablet of four yards high and eight yards wide. Over 980 characters are carved on the tablet. It is the work of Zhao Gongshuo, a calligraphist from the Southern Song Dynasty. The achievements and virtues of Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Xiaozong are described in the words.
Due to the Three Gorges Project, part of the carvings on the wall has been moved to a higher place to avoid the rising water. Therefore, visitors can still admire the legacy of the wall.
