Wulong Karst National Geology Park, about 150 kilometers from downtown Chongqing, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It is known to the world as a filming location of the famous movie Transformers 4: Age of Extinction.
It houses some of the most stunning karst landscape in South China, such as naturally-formed bridges and sinkholes, verdant gorges, emerald rivers and cascading waterfalls. Its dramatic scenery has made it one of the most popular nature destinations for travelers travel to Chongqing.
Read on to discover its major scenic areas and ticket information, transportation options and a recommended itinerary.
Fast Facts of Wulong Karst Geological Park
- Location: 32, Yinxing Avenue, Wulong District, Chongqing City
- Time Needed: 1-2days
- Highlights: Supersized natural bridge group, dazzling underground karst cave, naturally-formed karst fissure gorges and sinkholes, alpine grassland…
- Suited to: Photographers, nature lovers, families
Content Preview
- Why Visit
- Ticket and Opening Hours
- What to See
- Practival Travel Information
- How to Plan a Tour
- Wulong Karst Geopark vs Yunnan Stone Forest vs Guilin Karst Landscapes
- Travel with China Xian Tour
- FAQs
Why Visit Wulong Karst National Geology Park – Best Highlights
- Stunning karst wonder on the surface: The Three Natural Bridges in Wulong are the largest bridge cluster in Asia. All these three natural stone arch bridges are over 100 meters thick and over 200 meters high.
- Splendid underground art palace: The Furong Cave is renowned as a splendid underground art palace and a cave science museum with rich content. There are about 300 scenic spots, covering almost all the sedimentation types.
- Abundant experience: Besides the steep karst landform, tourists can also wander or ride a horse on the vast alpine meadow in Fairy Mountain and take a boat for sightseeing on Furong River.
- Profound culture: The large-scale live performance Impression Wulong recreates the Chuanjiang haozi (labour songs) and the culture of the boatmen, which are about to disappear. You can also experience the folk customs of Tujia Nationality in the nearby villages.
Venture from Chongqing to Wulong Karst National Park to explore the Three Natural Bridges, deep sinkholes, and waterfalls before unwinding at Fairy Mountain's alpine meadows.
Ticket and Opening Hours for Main Scenic Spots in Wulong Karst Geopark
Attractions |
Opening Hours |
Ticket Price |
What Included in the Ticket |
Three Natural Bridges |
May: 08:30 – 17:00
Jun. – Aug.: 08:00 – 17:00 Sep. – Apr.: 08:30 – 16:30 |
March – October: CNY 125/USD 17
November – February: CNY 95/USD 13 |
Sightseeing elevator
Round-trip travel bus between the Tourist Center and the Three Natural Bridges. |
Longshuixia Fissure Gorge |
May: 08:30 – 17:00
Jun. – Aug.: 08:00 – 17:00 Sep. – Apr.: 08:30 – 16:30 |
March – October: CNY 105/USD 14
November – February: CNY 85/USD 12 |
Sightseeing elevator
Round-trip travel bus between the Tourist Center and Longshuixia Gorge. |
Furong Cave |
May: 08:30 – 17:00
Jun. – Aug.: 08:00 – 17:00 Sep. – Apr.: 08:30 – 16:30 |
March – October: CNY 150/USD 21
November – February: CNY 135/USD 19 |
Round-trip cableway between the Tourist Center and the Furong Cave. |
Fairy Mountain |
24-hour access
Opening hours of entertainment facilities are same as above |
Entrance Ticket: CNY 50/USD 7
Sightseeing Train: CNY 25/USD 3 |
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Tips: There are also various combined tickets available, covering 2 – 6 main scenic spots and the fee for the shuttle bus. The total price is usually about 30% cheaper than the separate ticket.
What to See in China Wulong Karst Scenic Area
1. Three Natural Bridges – Marvel at the Nature’s Uncanny Workmanship
The Three Natural Bridges is the highlight of China Wulong Karst Geological Park and is the largest natural bridge group in Asia. It consists of Heavenly Dragon (Tianlong) Bridge, Green Dragon (Qinglong) Bridge and Black Dragon (Heilong) Bridge. They stretch across the lush, deep valley and form two giant sinkholes, Tianlong Pit and Eagle Pit, in between.
Take the sightseeing elevator down to the valley floor and start the exploration. Walk along the path against the cliffs and the Tianlong Bridge will soon come into view. The 235-meter-high bridge is like the grand gate spanning across vertical cliffs.
Next comes Qinglong Bridge, the tallest one with a vertical drop of 280 meters. The last one is the Heilong Bridge, which is named for its shadowy and dragon-like appearance. Here, four streams of water trickle down from the arch, just like pearl curtains.
2. Longshuixia Fissure Gorge – Feel the Heartbeat of the Earth
As an important part of the Wulong Karst Scenic Area, Longshuixia Gorge is praised as “the most beautiful fissure on earth”. It stretches 5 kilometers in length, with depths ranging from 200 to 500 meters. The valley presents a typical karst landscape formed by a violent orogenic movement hundreds of thousands of years ago.
The starting point of Longshuixia is 80 meters below ground level and can be accessed by a sightseeing elevator. Once you get out of the elevator, you will be greeted by a waterfall falling over a high and broad cliff. Then go down the winding plank road along the underground river, and you will enjoy every minute exploring the wonderful karst scenery consisting of cascading waterfalls, limpid streams, vertical cliffs, and lush primitive plants.
3. Furong Cave – Explore the Mysterious Underground World of Stalactites
Furong Cave is like a dazzling underground art palace nestled by the turbulent Furong River inside Wulong Karst Geopark. It is the only cave in China that has been listed as one of the World Nature Heritage Sites, and houses almost all kinds of sediments formed more than 1.2 million years ago.
The Furong Cave spreads across 37,000 square meters. Inside the karst cave are a great variety of stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, stone curtains and stone flowers, all glistening in colorful lights. Some are like pines and cypresses, some like waterfalls, some like Buddha statues, some like pagodas… Just let your imagination fly and feast your eyes on a real-life fairytale world.
4. Fairy Mountain – Enjoy a Relaxing Time at the Natural Retreat
After exploring the bizarre Wulong karst landscape, you might want to have some leisurely time to get refreshed. The Fairy Mountain can be a lovely destination for you. The forest park is like a wonderful natural oxygen bar in the suburban area of Chongqing. It owns vast alpine grassland, verdant hills, seas of forests and wide snowfields, and is therefore hailed as the “No. 1 Pasture in Southern China”.
Besides the refreshing natural scenery, tourists can seek more fun by taking part in diverse recreational activities, including horse riding, archery, go-kart riding, grass skiing and paragliding.
5. Watch Impression Wulong – A Large-scale Live Performance
- Duration: 70 minutes
- Show Time: daily from 20:00 – 21:10
- Ticket Price: CNY 238 – 888/USD 33 – 122 (varies by seat)
Impression Wulong is a large-scale live performance set in a natural landscape and is directed by three famous Chinese directors. The theater is in the Peach Garden Grand Canyon surrounded by steep mountains with a height different over 200 meters. So it offers surround sound and splendid visual effect. And the spectator seats are built along the mountain.
Its main content is the national intangible cultural heritage Chuanjiang Haozi, a type of labor song from the Yangtze River region, and it also combines the intangible cultural heritages of Sichuan Province and Chongqing. Through the performance, you can know the folk custom of marriage, the life of boat trackers and culture of spicy hot pot.
Explore Wulong's Three Natural Bridges and Fairy Mountain's alpine meadows, then cruise the emerald Wujiang Gallery and discover Jiuli Ancient City's Miao cultural treasures.
Practival Travel Information about Wulong Karst National Geology Park
Best Time to Visit
It is highly recommended tourists pay a visit to Chongqing Wulong Karst Geological Park in spring (March – May) and autumn (September – November). The Chongqing weather is neither too hot nor too cold during this time, which is very comfortable for outdoor excursions. Meanwhile, gorges inside the scenic area are clothes in lush trees and shrubs, especially in spring, different kinds of flowers are in full bloom, adding beautiful splashes of color to the valley.
How to Get to Wulong Karst Scenic Area from Chongqing
By High-speed Train: Most Convenient
- Ticket Price: CNY 67 – 118/USD 9 – 16 for second-class seats
- Travel Time: about 35 minutes – 1.5 hours
- Train Stations: Chongqing North, Chongqing West, Chongqing East (major departure station), Wulong, Wulong South (major arrival station)
For visitors who intend to set out on a Wulong karst day tour, taking a train is the most convenient way. There are about 30 high-speed trains running between Chongqing and Wulong from about 07:20 – 21:00 every day.
Upon arrival, board a direct shuttle bus or taxi to the Tourist Center of Wulong Karst National Geological Park. A single ride from Wulong Station takes about 15 minutes, and from Wulong South Station about 40 minutes.
By Long-distance Bus
There are frequent long-distance buses leaving Sigongli Transport Hub for Wulong Bus Station from 07:30 to 19:40. The trip takes about 2 – 3 hours and the bus fare costs CNY 36/USD 5 per person.
Upon arrival, transfer to a direct bus to Fairy Town (Xiannu Zhen) at the bus station. A ride to the Tourist Center takes around 30 – 40 minutes and costs CNY 10/USD 1.
How to Get from One Attraction to Another inside the Park?
Because of the long travel distance between the attractions, the scenic area offers the shuttle bus. Usually, tourists can get on the bus at Wulong Tourist Reception Center with their entrance tickets.
Accommodation around Wulong
In the core scenic area, there are not only mid-to-high-end resort hotels with a price of CNY 800 – 1,500, but also special homestays with a cost of CNY 400 – 700 and economy hotels ranging from CNY 150 – 300. So you do not have to worry about the accommodation. But the hotel price is 30% – 50% higher during holidays, so it is advised to make a reservation 2 weeks in advance.
Top Recommended Hotels
- Galaxy Minyoun Xiannv Mountain Resort
- Location: No. 1, Yinxing Avenue, Xian’nvshan Town, Wulong District
- Feature: next to Tourist Center and in walking distance to the theater of Impression Wulong. You can appreciate the karst landform in the rooms.
- Price: CNY 800 – 1,200
- Zhuoya Boutique Hotel
- Location: Inside the Fairy Mountain National Forest Park
- Feature: It is far from the noisy area and offers extremely high privacy. You can enjoy a view of the grassland after opening the window. The log-style building blends into nature, so you will have a healing experience when living here.
- Price: CNY 1,800 – 2,700
Combine Wulong's spectacular karst natural bridges with a classic Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges, capped by the monumental Three Gorges Dam.
How to Plan a Chongqing Tour including Wulong
Usually, it is recommended to spend about 5 days to cover both places, with 3 days in Chongqing city and the remaining 1 – 2 days in Wulong scenic area.
The 5-day itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Chongqing Arrival
Day 2: Fairy Mountain National Forest Park – Three Natural Bridges
Day 3: Ciqikou Ancient Town – Watch the light rail passing through buildings at Liziba Station – Kuixing Tower – Qiansimen Bridge – Hongya Cave
Day 4: Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street – POP MART store – Eighteen Ladder – Baixiangju – Laojun Cave
Day 5: Chongqing Departure
Visit Wulong's Fairy Mountain alpine meadows and the karst wonder of Three Natural Bridges, then return to explore Chongqing's urban landmarks and vibrant nightlife.
Wulong Karst Geopark vs Yunnan Stone Forest vs Guilin Karst Landscapes
They all belong to the World Natural Heritage Site of “South China Karst”, while the representative types of landforms and sightseeing experience are quite different.
Wulong focuses on dramatic underground landscapes and vertical adventures, Guilin is famous for its peaceful river scenery, and Yunnan Stone Forest features unique rock formations.
Wulong Karst Geopark |
Yunnan Stone Forest |
Guilin Karst Landscapes |
|
Representative Landscapes |
Giant sinkholes, natural bridges, fissures, and caves |
Sword-shaped and pillar-shaped stone forests |
Peak forests, peak clusters, and the Lijiang River |
Vibe |
Grand, deep, vertical |
Majestic, dense, surreal |
Scenic, flowing, picturesque |
Sightseeing experience |
A vertical adventure, descend into sinkholes to gaze up at the towering natural bridge, hike in the deep canyon, or delve into caves |
Travel through the maze of stone pillars, offer a strong visual impact, experience Yi ethnic culture |
Take a bamboo rafting or Li River cruise to see the scenery on both banks unfolding before eyes gradually |
Best for |
Thrill-seekers |
Geology lovers, photographers, and those interested in Yi culture |
Leisure travelers, photographers, and families |
Related reading: Most Beautiful Karst Caves in China
Plan a Chongqing Tour including Wulong with China Xian Tour
If you are not satisfied with the above itinerary, China Xian Tour can also customize the trip according to your needs. Just contact our travel consultant and tell her the scenic spots you would like to add or remove, then we will plan a new route for you based on your likes. Also, we can assign a guide and a driver, and book the tickets and hotels for you in advance. So do not hesitate to contact us right now.
FAQs about Wulong Karst Park
What should I pack for a trip to Wulong?
The most important thing is to wear a pair of anti-slippery shoes, because there are many footpaths inside the scenic area. Located in the mountain area, the temperature in Wulong Park varies a lot, so a thin coat is also necessary. Besides, do not forget to take rain gear, water and some snacks.
Are there places to eat inside the park?
In the core scenic area, there are no or very few formal restaurants. So it would be better to have meals in the downtown area or Xiannvshan Town. Then pack some snacks with you during the tour.
Is the park wheelchair accessible?
In general, the karst landform in Wulong park consists of pits, chasms and gorges, so it is inevitable to go up and down steps and walk on long trails. Though some section is equipped with barrier-free facilities, it is also a big challenge for wheelchair users.
Can I visit Wulong on a day trip from Chongqing?
Yes, but the schedule may be tight. You can take the high-speed train from Chongqing to Wulong, and transfer to the tourist center by bus or taxi in the early morning. Then spend one day exploring the Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia Fissure Gorge. And return to Chongqing at night. This one-day trip may be exhausting, so it is more recommended to stay there for 2 days.
