Wulong

World Natural Heritage karst sinkholes and ground rifts, the Three Natural Bridges where Transformers was filmed, and the Fairy Mountain grassland: the cool back garden of Chongqing's residents.

Wulong is in southeastern Chongqing, on the lower Wujiang River, about 170 km from downtown Chongqing, and is one of the sites of the World Natural Heritage property 'South China Karst'. Wulong's karst consists of three parts: the Three Natural Bridges (a sinkhole and natural stone bridges), Furong Cave (a limestone cave) and the Houping Tiankeng cluster (erosional sinkholes), with the Longshui Gorge ground rift as a companion attraction. Fairy Mountain, north of town, stands at about 2,000 m, and its alpine grassland and sea of forest make it the summer escape and snow-play back garden for Chongqing residents; Baima Mountain to the south is quiet and uncrowded; the Wujiang and Furong rivers run through the town, with beautiful gorge scenery.

Climate: humid subtropical; summers in town are hot, while Fairy Mountain is cool and pleasant; it may snow on the mountain in winter. The best season is Apr–Oct, with Jul–Aug good for escaping the heat and Dec–Feb for skiing on Fairy Mountain.

Getting there: take a high-speed or EMU train from Chongqing North or Chongqing West station to Wulong station (about 1 hour), where direct shuttles outside the station go to Fairy Mountain town and the Three Natural Bridges; you can also drive on the G65 Baotou–Maoming Expressway. The main sightseeing area centers on Fairy Mountain town (the Three Natural Bridges, Longshui Gorge, Fairy Mountain grassland and Lanba are all around it), while Furong Cave and the Furong River are around Jiangkou, southeast of town.

Suggested time: 2 days (the Three Natural Bridges and the ground rift on one day, Fairy Mountain and Furong Cave on the other), with Impression Wulong to see in the evening.

Notes: the sights involve a lot of ticket purchases and transfers, so buy a combination ticket on the official 'Wulong Tourism' mini-program; gorge walkways are slippery, so wear non-slip shoes; accommodation is tight during the summer holidays and Spring Festival, so book ahead.

Top sights

• Wulong Three Natural Bridges – The world's largest group of natural stone bridges, a canyon linking three sinkholes that served as filming locations for Transformers: Age…
• Xiannüshan National Forest Park – A high-altitude forest and grassland at about 2,000 m, dubbed the “Switzerland of the East,” and the top choice for Chongqing residents to…
• Furong Cave – Part of the World Heritage site “South China Karst,” with rich secondary chemical formations such as stalagmites, stalactites, and crystal…
• Xiannüshan Ski Resort – The best-known natural-and-artificial snow resort near Chongqing, mainly with beginner and intermediate slopes. It is a popular snow destin…
• Longshuixia Canyon – A karst fissure canyon 200–300 meters deep, only a few meters wide at its narrowest point. Walkways run beside waterfalls and deep pools, a…
• Furong River – Emerald river waters at the foot of Furong Cave, flanked by sheer cliffs, bamboo groves and wild monkeys. Boat trips offer views of the gor…
• Wu River Gallery (Wulong Section) – The Wulong section of the Wu River’s hundred-li gorge, where high cliffs flank the river and the green water flows like a ribbon. It is an…
• Lanba International Land Art Resort – A forest art park at the foot of Xiannüshan, where land art installations by Chinese and international artists are scattered across the gro…
• Baima Mountain – A national nature reserve south of Wulong city, with alpine meadows, primeval forest and sea-of-clouds sunrises. It is a quieter summer ret…
• Impression Wulong – An open-air live performance in Taoyuan Grand Canyon near Xiannüshan Town. It tells the story of Wu River trackers and canyon villagers thr…
• Houping Tiankeng (Qingkou Cluster) – A rare group of erosion-type sinkholes, listed with Tiansheng Three Bridges and Furong Cave as part of the UNESCO “South China Karst” World…
• Guiyuan Town (Jingzhu Village) – A literary village reshaped from Jingzhu Village at the foot of Xiannüshan, with a cliff-side glass library, flower fields and intangible h…
• Tianchi Qingyuan (Flying Kiss), Baima Mountain – A cliff-edge attraction on Wangxian Cliff of Baima Mountain. Twin “Flying Kiss” towers rise above the Wu River gorge, more than a kilometer…

Itineraries

• Chongqing Downtown, Dazu & Wulong Classic – Spend two days exploring the mountain city's night views and monorail wonders, one day visiting the Dazu Rock Carvings…
• Southeast Chongqing, Wujiang River & Tujia Ancient Towns – A self-drive route connecting Wulong, Pengsu, Gongtan, Youyang, and Qianjiang to experience karst landscapes, the Wujia…
• Chongqing Downtown, Dazu Rock Carvings & Wulong in – Three relaxed days in downtown Chongqing, plus a day trip to the Dazu Rock Carvings and an overnight stay at Wulong's T…
• Chengdu, Chongqing, Wulong & Zhangjiajie 7-Day Connection – Connect panda-filled Chengdu, the mountain city of Chongqing, Wulong's sinkholes, and Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars b…