Three natural bridges,limestonecathedrals.
A UNESCO World Heritage landscape two hours east of Chongqing, caves, sinkholes, vertical karst.
Wulong Karst is one of three core components of the South China Karst UNESCO inscription, a hundred-kilometre belt of natural limestone bridges, sinkholes, vertical caves and underground rivers. The Three Natural Bridges site is the headline, three arches in a row, each more than two hundred metres tall, with a Tang-era staging-post village preserved between them. Two hours east of Chongqing on the expressway, and almost completely missed by AU operators.
The karst,
from above, from inside, from below.
Three Natural Bridges, descent
Down to the floor.
Lifts down a vertical shaft to the river-cut canyon floor between the bridges. The Tang-era courier station, restored, with the original stone road still visible. Two hours unhurried; an hour if you're moving.
Furong Cave
Six football fields underground.
An hour east of the bridges, one of the world's most-decorated limestone caves, with curtain stalactites and a flooded chamber the size of six football pitches. Optional add-on; not for everyone, but visually astonishing.
Longshuixia rim
The vertical sinkhole.
Two-hundred-and-thirty-metre vertical sinkhole, a single rope-lift, glass-floor walkway, the river still cutting at the bottom. Forty minutes; the photograph that ends most Wulong itineraries.
The southwest,
via Chongqing, owned ground extends here.
- Our Chongqing transfer takes you out and back in our own vehicle, not a tourist day-bus. Door to door, two hours each way.
- Pre-booked entry at the bridges visitor centre, the lift queue can run an hour mid-morning; we hold the slot before opening.
- Our guide knows which caves are flooded in which season, Furong is best after September; Longshuixia is best in spring melt.
- Lunch is at a named Tujia minority house restaurant in the Wulong village, not a karst-park canteen. Eight years' relationship.
A long day from Chongqing,
or an overnight if you want depth.
Two ways to run this. Day-trip from Chongqing, out at 7, bridges at 9:30, cave or sinkhole at noon, back to Chongqing by 6. Or stay overnight in the Wulong village house we use, which lets you do all three sites without rush. We make the call with you based on your pace and your wider trip.
The cluster
around the river, all within easy reach.
Chongqing
Two hours west, your base. The Wulong day fits into a two-night Chongqing stay cleanly.
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The Yangtze Three Gorges
Cruise embarks in Chongqing. Wulong on the day before the ship, the cruise straight after.
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The Chengdu Pandas
Three hours west of Chongqing. A panda morning fits into the same southwest week.
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Your southwest,
sketched,
by reply tomorrow.
Tell us your dates and how many days you have for Chongqing-and-around. We'll send a draft, Wulong run as day-trip or overnight, the cruise or the pandas folded around it, and an all-inclusive price. No deposit, no obligation.
From US$360/day on a private 5-seater with driver.
Rolled into your journey quote.