"Three Gorges" (Sān Xiá) refers to the famous stretch of the Yangtze River in central China where the river passes through three dramatic, narrow gorges: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. The characters break down literally as 三 (sān), meaning "three," and 峡 (xiá), meaning "gorge" or "ravine"—a deep valley with steep sides, typically formed by a river cutting through mountains. Together, they form a proper noun denoting this specific geographical region.

The Three Gorges is renowned for its breathtaking natural scenery, rich cultural history, and the massive Three Gorges Dam—the world’s largest hydroelectric power station. It appears frequently in travel writing, geography textbooks, environmental discussions, and news reports about infrastructure or ecological impact. While it names a physical location, it’s also used metonymically to refer to the broader area, its ecosystems, or the dam project itself.