Head to the city of Wushan, grab a raft, and jostle your way through a lesson in Chinese mythology. Rent a boat to take you through the Wu Xia (Witches) Gorge, which straddles the border between Sichuan and Hubei provinces. As you jostle down the 25-mile stretch of the Yangtze River (also navigable from the deck of a cruise ship) en route to the town of Peishi, you'll pass 12 peaks partially hidden by swirling clouds—each of which represents a story in ancient Chinese mythology.

Interested parties should act fast. By 2010, China's Three Gorges Dam will flood 570,000 acres of farmland along with this, the most beautiful stretch of the Yangtzi River, near Wushan.

Drop the books and drift down the Yangzte

Trip Facts
Difficulty rating: Easy to Moderate
When to go: As soon as possible