Wulong

Wulong is relatively cool in summer, but it is best to bring a jacket for evenings and for time spent inside the gorges.

Wulong is famous for its World Natural Heritage karst landforms, with concentrated scenery including sinkholes, ground fissures, alpine grasslands, and caves. The average summer temperature is about 21°C, making it a good place for a cool summer trip. Below is a two-day itinerary for visiting the main areas in order.

• Three Natural Bridges: One of the largest natural bridge clusters in Asia, and a filming location for *Curse of the Golden Flower* and *Transformers: Age of Extinction*. You can take a sightseeing elevator down to the valley floor and view the three natural stone bridges along the route. The visit takes about 2–3 hours.
• Longshuixia Ground Fissure: A deep, narrow gorge where waterfalls, streams, and cliffside walkways intersect. The air is humid and feels cool. The full visit takes about 1.5–2 hours.
• Fairy Mountain: Home to 100,000 mu of alpine meadow, it is known as the “Little Switzerland of the East.” You can take the small sightseeing train to tour the great grassland and the Wave Road. It is suitable for walking, sightseeing, and taking photos.
• Furong Cave: One of the world’s three major caves, with an interior temperature of about 16.1°C year-round. Representative stalactite sights include the Coral Pool and Giant Screen Waterfall, and the cave is also cool in summer.
• Impression Wulong: A live outdoor performance in Taoyuan Grand Canyon. It focuses on the boatmen’s work songs of the Sichuan rivers and tracker culture, using the canyon setting and lighting to create its stage effects.

Itinerary Route

• Day 1: Dramatic Sinkholes and Ground Fissures
  • Morning: Take a high-speed train from Chongqing to Wulong South Station. The journey takes about 40 minutes. After arrival, transfer to the direct scenic-area shuttle to Fairy Mountain Tourist Center, costing about 16 yuan per person.
  • Noon: Have a simple meal around the tourist center, then take the scenic-area shuttle bus to the Three Natural Bridges.
  • Afternoon: Visit the Three Natural Bridges for about 2.5 hours, mainly to see the sinkhole valley floor and natural stone bridge scenery. Then transfer by shuttle bus to Longshuixia Ground Fissure and spend about 2 hours experiencing the gorge waterfalls and walkway scenery.
  • Evening: Return to Fairy Mountain Town to rest. If the timing works, you can watch the live performance *Impression Wulong*. Nights in the mountains are rather cold, so bringing a thick jacket is recommended.
• Day 2: Alpine Grasslands and Cave Exploration
  • Morning: Take a bus from the tourist center to Fairy Mountain Forest Park. After entering, you can take the small sightseeing train to visit the great grassland and Wave Road, costing 25 yuan per person.
  • Afternoon: Go to Furong Cave to see the underground cave scenery. The visit takes about 1.5 hours. You can also choose to take a boat on the Furong River and enjoy the karst forest on the water.
  • Dusk: Take a bus back to Wulong South Station, then return to Chongqing by high-speed train.

Transportation Guide

• High-speed rail (recommended): You can take a high-speed train from Chongqing East Station or Chongqing North Station to Wulong South Station. The journey takes about 40–50 minutes, with many departures and high overall efficiency.
• Coach: You can take a coach to Wulong from Chongqing Sigongli Transport Hub or Nanping Bus Station. The journey takes about 2–2.5 hours.
• Self-driving: From downtown Chongqing, drive via the Yuxiang Expressway (G65). The journey takes about 2.5 hours. The attractions are fairly spread out, so driving offers more flexibility, but pay attention to safety on mountain roads.
• Inside the scenic area: After exiting Wulong South Station, you can take the direct scenic-area shuttle to Fairy Mountain Tourist Center for 16 yuan per person. From the tourist center, you can transfer to internal scenic-area buses to reach the attractions.

Accommodation Recommendations

• Fairy Mountain Town (near the tourist center): A good base for visiting the core scenic areas. It is close to the transfer area for the Three Natural Bridges, Fairy Mountain, and Longshuixia Ground Fissure, with fairly complete dining and supermarket facilities, as well as many guesthouse and hotel options.
• Wulong Urban Area: Overall costs are relatively lower, dining options are richer, and value for money is better. It is about 20–30 minutes by car from the main attractions, making it suitable for budget travelers or self-driving visitors.
• Inside Fairy Mountain Scenic Area: Close to the grassland and forest, suitable for visitors who want to stay in the mountains and watch the sunrise and sea of clouds. Dining options are relatively limited, and prices are usually higher.

Must-Try Foods

• Fairy Mountain Roast Whole Lamb: Suitable for group meals. The skin is crisp and fragrant, the lamb is tender, and the grassland dining atmosphere is strong.
• Wulong Potato Chicken: Mainly chicken stewed with potatoes. The potatoes are soft, sticky, and flavorful, and the chicken is tender. It goes well with rice.
• Bowl Lamb: One local way of eating lamb. The soup is fresh and aromatic, without a strong gamey taste, and it is often served with a dipping sauce.
• Yangjiao Dried Tofu: A Wulong specialty with a chewy texture and many flavor options. It is also suitable as a souvenir.

Practical Tips

• What to wear: The Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia Ground Fissure have many steps, and some sections are wet, so comfortable non-slip sports shoes are recommended. Temperatures are lower in the gorges, inside caves, and at night, so bring a light jacket. Light-colored clothing is better for photos in natural scenery.
• What to carry: Sunscreen, a sun hat, a raincoat or umbrella, and a power bank are recommended. The mist from the waterfalls in the ground fissure can be heavy, and clothes can get wet easily.
• Ticket reservations: You can buy tickets or combined tickets for the Three Natural Bridges, Longshuixia Ground Fissure, and Fairy Mountain online in advance, which usually makes itinerary planning easier. In peak season, start early to reduce queuing time.
• Spending and transport reminders: Around the scenic area, do not easily trust roadside soliciting vehicles or low-priced tour groups. Try to use official or regular channels for ticket purchases and transport. Souvenirs inside the scenic area tend to be expensive, so compare prices before buying.
• Time management: The latest entry time for the Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia Ground Fissure is usually around 16:30. It is recommended to visit the Three Natural Bridges in the morning when the light is better, and arrange Longshuixia Ground Fissure in the afternoon when it feels cooler.