Atlas of China
Wulong Karst 武隆喀斯特Wǔlóng Kāsītè
Three colossal natural bridges, a sinkhole canyon and a cave in the hills of Wulong
- Best time
- Apr–May, Sep–Nov
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
- Days to budget
- 2 days
- Stay in
- Wulong
- Region
- Chongqing
- Type
- Nature
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area, UNESCO World Heritage
Why go to Wulong Karst
Wulong's limestone landscape is part of the South China Karst World Heritage Site and is visited at three main places. The Three Natural Bridges are huge limestone arches linked by deep sinkholes and a river canyon, Furong Cave is a long cave of formations, and Fairy Mountain is a cool highland of forest and meadow. Together they make the best nature trip from Chongqing.
The story
The Three Natural Bridges, named Tianlong, Qinglong and Heilong, are the nucleus of a conservation area of about 22 sq km, where the Yangshui River runs through a canyon with two huge sinkholes between the arches. The landscape has appeared on screen, including in Zhang Yimou's film Curse of the Golden Flower, which helped make Wulong known beyond Chongqing.
What to see at Wulong Karst
- Tianlong Bridge 天龙桥: The first of the three bridges, about 235 m high, has two arched openings; at the bottom of the sinkhole beneath it stands the rebuilt Tianfu Guanyi, a Tang-era post station on the old official road.
- Qinglong Bridge 青龙桥: The highest of the three at about 281 m, named for the rainbow that forms in the spray when waterfalls spill over it after rain.
- Heilong Bridge 黑龙桥: The widest of the three, its dark, deep arch hung with small springs along the northern wall.
- Longshui Gorge 龙水峡地缝: A narrow fissure canyon close to the bridges, walked on a path beside a stream and past a waterfall.
- Furong Cave 芙蓉洞: A limestone cave found in 1993 and open to visitors since 1994, nearly 3 km long, with more than 70 kinds of cave deposit, including a rock waterfall about 15 m wide and palm-shaped stalagmites.
- Fairy Mountain 仙女山: A highland national forest park of forest and open grassland, cool in summer, and used for skiing and snow-viewing in winter.
How to visit Wulong Karst
Start at the Fairy Mountain visitor centre, from where shuttle buses run to the Three Natural Bridges; Longshui Gorge is a short bus ride from the bridges' exit. Spend half a day on the bridges and the gorge and a second half-day on Fairy Mountain's meadows. Furong Cave, at Jiangkou, is best on a separate day, with a cableway serving the cave.
How to get to Wulong Karst
Since June 2025 the Chongqing–Xiamen high-speed line puts Wulong South station about 35 minutes from Chongqing East; from there, buses and taxis go to Fairy Mountain (roughly 40–50 minutes) and Furong Cave (about 30 minutes). The older Wulong station in town is on the Chongqing–Huaihua line, with buses on to the sights, and driving from central Chongqing takes about 2 hours.
Where to stay
Stay on Fairy Mountain, where hotels and home inns sit close to the Three Natural Bridges and are cool in summer. Wulong town is handy for buses and trains, and Jiangkou is the closest base for Furong Cave.
What to eat
- Bowl mutton 碗碗羊肉: Tender braised goat served in bowls with a rich broth, the dish Wulong is best known for.
- Yangjiao dried tofu 羊角豆干: Firm, savoury tofu snacks from the town of Yangjiao, sold as a snack and as a gift.
- Jiangkou fish 江口鱼: River fish from the Furong River, cooked in a clear chilli-and-pickled-pepper broth around Jiangkou, near Furong Cave.
Tips for visiting Wulong Karst
- Plan Furong Cave as its own half-day: it is at Jiangkou, about 20 km from Wulong town and away from the Fairy Mountain–Three Natural Bridges area, so arrange a taxi or tour car.
- Fairy Mountain is much cooler than Chongqing (its annual average is about 21°C) and weather can turn quickly, so bring a warm layer even in summer.
- The main sights are open every day of the week with no weekly closing day; book ahead for public holidays and the July–August escape-the-heat season.
Nearby
- Hongyadong & Chongqing Night Views 洪崖洞 120 km
A cliffside stack of stilt houses glowing gold over the river every night
Also within 30 km: Longshuixia Fissure Gorge 龙水峡地缝 (under 10 km), Guiyuan Town (Jingzhu Village), Fairy Mountain 归原小镇 (under 10 km), Nantian Lake 南天湖 (20 km), Wulingshan National Forest Park, Fuling 武陵山国家森林公园 (20 km), Wulingshan Great Rift Valley 武陵山大裂谷 (20 km), Furong River Scenic Area 芙蓉江 (20 km).
On the map
Open Wulong Karst on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Wulong Karst on the map