The Wulong Karst Tourism Area is located in the lower reaches of the Wujiang River, in the southeast of Chongqing Municipality. It is a National Tourist Resort, a National Eco-Tourism Demonstration Area, a China Forest Tourism Demonstration Area, and has been rated as a "China Forest Oxygen Bar." It is inscribed on the World Heritage List and is a National 5A-Level Scenic Area. Centered on Wulong urban area, the tourism area radiates outward to its various scenic spots. It has a subtropical monsoon humid climate with distinct vertical climate variations, an annual average temperature of 17.4°C, and an anion content of over 5,000 per cubic centimeter. The main attractions within the area include Mount Fairy (Xiannüshan), the Three Natural Bridges, Longshui Gorge Rift, Furong Cave, and Furong River, as well as the large-scale landscape-and-water live performance Impression Wulong.
History and Culture
In May 1993, five villagers from Jiangkou Town discovered Furong Cave. On May 1, 1994, Furong Cave was officially opened to the public. Between 1994 and 2001, five premium scenic areas—Furong Cave, Mount Fairy, the Three Natural Bridges, and Longshui Gorge Rift—were successively developed. On June 27, 2007, the Chongqing Wulong Karst landscape was successfully inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. The Wulong Karst Tourism Area has followed a path of development alongside protection, enacting the Measures for the Protection of the Chongqing Wulong Karst World Natural Heritage, establishing a joint meeting system, forming a joint law enforcement team, and issuing special Joint Management Operation Rules to ensure the naturalness, authenticity, and integrity of the Wulong Karst. At the same time, Wulong has published the country’s first world natural heritage science textbook, Wulong Karst and World Heritage, which is incorporated into local primary and secondary school curricula to raise public awareness of world natural heritage protection.
Major Attractions
Mount Fairy National Forest Park
Mount Fairy National Forest Park is a National 5A-Level Scenic Area, covering a total area of 8,910 hectares, with an average elevation of 1,900 meters and a highest peak of 2,033 meters. Renowned for its charming alpine grasslands (unique to the south of the Yangtze River), rare forest snowscapes (rare in southern China), and lush, beautiful jungle vistas, it is known as the "Switzerland of the East" and enjoys the reputation of "Summer Palace of the Mountain City." The park offers over 20 recreational activities, including sightseeing trams, horse riding, skiing, and racing, as well as branded events such as the "Mount Fairy Grassland Camping International Music Season" and the "International Mountain Outdoor Sports Open."
Three Natural Bridges
The Three Natural Bridges are the core area of the World Natural Heritage site, a National 5A-Level Scenic Area, and a National Geopark. They are a rare geological wonder and an ecological tourism zone in China. The three majestic stone arch bridges—Tianlong Bridge, Qinglong Bridge, and Heilong Bridge—are the largest group of natural bridges in Asia. With an average height of over 300 meters and spans over 500 meters, the fact that three such massive natural stone bridges exist within a 1-kilometer distance is unique in the world. This location served as the exclusive filming site for internationally renowned director Zhang Yimou’s film Curse of the Golden Flower and the only natural landscape filming site for Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Longshui Gorge Rift
Longshui Gorge Rift is a core area of the World Natural Heritage site, a National Geopark, and a National 4A-Level Scenic Area. The gorge is 5 kilometers long and 200–500 meters deep, consisting of three sections: an entrance rift, a middle cave passage, and an exit gorge. As its name suggests, the rift resembles a deep fissure in the earth; the narrowest point at the bottom is only 1 meter wide, and the widest is less than 10 meters, with a height difference of over 350 meters between the rift mouth and the bottom. The scenery is delicate and beautiful, characterized by steep cliffs, pristine vegetation, cascading waterfalls, and rushing streams with deep pools.
Furong Cave
Furong Cave is a core scenic area of the World Natural Heritage site, a National 5A-Level Scenic Area, and a National Geopark. It is 2,700 meters long and is renowned for its numerous vertical shafts, complete and varied cave sediment types, perfect forms, and pure quality. Its vertical shafts are the largest cluster discovered to date in China and abroad. The cave is filled with a dazzling array of secondary chemical deposits, covering almost all types of stalactite formations. It has been praised as "a magnificent underground art palace and a richly contented cave science museum," rated by Chinese National Geography as "China's Most Beautiful Cave," and called by visitors "the number one cave under heaven."
Furong River
Furong River is a National Scenic Area and a National 4A-Level Scenic Area. It originates in Suiyang County, Guizhou Province, and is the largest tributary in the lower reaches of the thousand-li Wujiang River, with a total length of 243 kilometers (35 kilometers within Wulong District). It is best known for its mountain peaks, river, and gorge scenery; the entire gorge is majestic and winding.
Impression Wulong
Impression Wulong is a live concert production with Zhang Yimou as art consultant and Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue as chief directors (the "Iron Triangle" of impression series). Over 100 featured actors perform live with genuine emotion. Centered on the fading "work songs" (haozi), the 70-minute show allows audiences to personally experience the magnificent natural landscape of the World Heritage site and the unique local customs of the Bashu region. The theater is located in Taoyuan Grand Canyon, Wulong County, about 9 kilometers from Mount Fairy Town. The canyon is U-shaped, with a height difference of 180 meters—distant mountains mysterious, near peaks majestic, and ravines serene. The theater site not only protects the ecology but also provides an excellent performance space. The venue has about 2,700 seats, with the stage extending into the audience and the audience blending into the stage, enabling close contact between performers and viewers. Impression Wulong revives the long-lost "work songs" in this tranquil valley.
Suggested Itinerary：
A common two-day route is as follows:
Day 1: Mount Fairy National Forest Park – Three Natural Bridges – Impression Wulong
Morning: Visit Mount Fairy National Forest Park, known as the "Summer Palace of the Mountain City." Take the European-style sightseeing tram through the forest. Afternoon: Head to the Three Natural Bridges, Asia's largest group of natural bridges, to admire the unique karst wonder of "three mountains produce three bridges, three bridges enclose two depressions." Evening: Stay overnight in the Mount Fairy National Tourist Resort and watch the large-scale live performance Impression Wulong to experience the magical charm of the intangible cultural heritage—the Sichuan River work songs.
Day 2: Longshui Gorge Rift – Furong Cave – Furong River
Second day: Visit the "most beautiful rift on earth"—Longshui Gorge Rift—to see natural hazards and breathtaking scenery. Then explore the "underground art palace"—Furong Cave—wandering among various formations. After the cave tour, take a boat cruise on Furong River to enjoy the picturesque landscape.
Travel Tips：
Plan your itinerary in advance, choosing attractions according to your time and interests, and arrange the order reasonably.
Check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing and gear; for example, at Mount Fairy, prepare warm clothes and rain gear as weather can be changeable.
Follow scenic area rules, protect the environment, and do not damage natural landscapes or public facilities.
If time permits, consider staying overnight in the resort area to enjoy a leisurely vacation and better appreciate the scenery.
Important Notes：
Some sections of the scenic area have complex terrain; walk carefully and follow signs and guide instructions.
In summer, take sun protection and mosquito repellent measures; in winter, watch out for slippery surfaces, especially in snowy areas like Mount Fairy.
When using transportation, keep your belongings safe, note vehicle numbers and seat numbers, and board in order with spaced seating.
For the Impression Wulong performance, arrive early, follow performance etiquette, and avoid moving around or making noise.
Transportation：
Self-driving: From downtown Chongqing, take the G65 Yu-Xiang Expressway (or G69 Yin-Bai Expressway) to Wulong Service Area (or Wulong West), then proceed to the scenic areas.
Train: Take a train from Chongqing North Station to Wulong Railway Station, then transfer to local transport to the scenic areas.
Bus: Take a bus from Chongqing Sikuaiqiao Bus Terminal to Wulong Bus Station, then transfer to vehicles heading to the scenic areas.
Plane: Flights from various cities can arrive at Mount Fairy Airport, then transfer to the scenic areas.
Opening Hours：
The general opening hours for the scenic areas in Wulong Karst Tourism Area are as follows:
Mount Fairy: 24-hour entry; activity hours: May 1–31: 8:30–17:00; June 1–August 31: 8:00–17:00; September 1–April 30: 8:30–16:30.
Three Natural Bridges: May 1–31: 8:30–17:00; June 1–August 31: 8:00–17:00; September 1–April 30: 8:30–16:30.
Longshui Gorge Rift: May 1–31: 8:30–17:00; June 1–August 31: 8:00–17:00; September 1–April 30: 8:30–16:30.
Furong Cave: May 1–31: 8:30–17:00; June 1–August 31: 8:00–17:00; September 1–April 30: 8:30–16:30.
Furong River: May 1–31: 8:30–17:00; June 1–August 31: 8:00–17:00; September 1–April 30: 8:30–16:30.
The large-scale live performance Impression Wulong runs about 70 minutes; show schedules vary by season and visitor numbers; it is advisable to check and book tickets in advance.
Ticket Prices：
Ticket prices for each scenic area in Wulong Karst Tourism Area are as follows:
Three Natural Bridges: Peak season 70 RMB/person, off-season 40 RMB/person.
Mount Fairy: Peak season 50 RMB/person, off-season 50 RMB/person.
Furong Cave: Peak season 80 RMB/person, off-season 65 RMB/person.
Furong River: Boat ticket 100 RMB/person.
Longshui Gorge Rift: Peak season 55 RMB/person, off-season 35 RMB/person.
Promotional offers may be available during different periods; for example, before June 30, 2024, individual visitors can get free admission to the main entrance of Furong Cave with their ID card; visitors born in 1994 can enjoy free admission to Furong Cave (including ticket and round-trip cable car) with their ID card, etc.