Wulong Karst, in Chongqing’s Wulong District, is part of UNESCO’s South China Karst World Heritage site, listed for its giant sinkholes, natural bridges and caves. The headline sight is the Three Natural Bridges: three stone arches over the Yangshui River gorge, each more than 100 m in span and height, with two sinkholes between them. It was a filming location for Transformers: Age of Extinction and Curse of the Golden Flower. The Longshuixia Fissure gorge is next door. A day trip from Chongqing is possible, but a night in Xiannü town makes the day far easier.
What is Wulong Karst?
UNESCO inscribed the South China Karst in 2007, and Wulong is one of its areas, recognised for its giant dolines, natural bridges and caves. Locally the karst area covers the Three Natural Bridges, the Longshuixia Fissure, Furong Cave, the Houping giant doline and Fairy Mountain (Xiannü Shan); it became a national 5A scenic area in 2011. The visitor centre is in Xiannü town.
What to see
| Sight | What it is | How you visit |
|---|---|---|
| Three Natural Bridges | The Tianlong, Qinglong and Heilong arches over the Yangshui River gorge, with two sinkholes between them; the Tang-style inn from Curse of the Golden Flower stands in the gorge | Shuttle bus from the visitor centre, lift down into the sinkhole, then a walk along the gorge floor; uphill path or battery car to the exit |
| Longshuixia Fissure | A narrow gorge 200–500 m deep with waterfalls and a short cave section | About 2 km of walkway after a lift down; close to the bridges and easy to add the same day; bring rain gear |
| Furong Cave | A large limestone cave with formations | A separate ticket, sometimes sold with a ropeway |
| Fairy Mountain | Mountain grassland and forest by Xiannü town; China Daily notes winter snow | A separate ticket |
Film fans: China Daily lists Wulong as a shooting location for Transformers: Age of Extinction, and the Three Natural Bridges scenic area still displays figures from the film. The inn built for Zhang Yimou’s Curse of the Golden Flower stands in the sinkhole near Tianlong Bridge.
Tickets and opening hours
- What the Three Natural Bridges ticket covers: the standard admission currently includes the official shuttle bus and the Tianlong lift. The battery car at the exit and the glass viewing platform cost extra.
- Price: we could not find a current official price list. Buy through the official “武隆天生三桥” WeChat mini-program or at the visitor centre and check the price there; old prices still circulate online.
- Hours at the Three Natural Bridges: 08:00–17:00 in June–August, 08:30–17:00 in May and 08:30–16:30 from September to April; 07:30–17:00 over the National Day holiday. The Longshuixia Fissure opens 08:30–16:30.
- Concessions listed: children 6 and under or up to 1.2 m free, ages 6–18 and full-time students half price, ages 60–64 half price and 65 and over free, with ID. Ask whether a passport is accepted for the concession you need.
- Longshuixia Fissure, Furong Cave and Fairy Mountain each need their own ticket.
Getting there from Chongqing
Since June 2025 the Chongqing–Qianjiang high-speed line has run from Chongqing East through Wulong. A train ticket to Wulong is not a ticket to the bridges: you still need a road transfer to the visitor centre in Xiannü town, where the scenic-area shuttle starts. Check the exact Wulong station on your ticket and arrange the transfer before you go.
Day trip or overnight?
- Day trip: the Three Natural Bridges and the Longshuixia Fissure in one long day, if you start early and plan the train, transfer and return carefully.
- One night in Xiannü town: the bridges and fissure on day one, Fairy Mountain or Furong Cave on day two, without racing the last entry.
- Wulong takes a full day out of a Chongqing trip; with only two days in the city, skip it.
Wulong questions
Where is Wulong Karst?
In Wulong District, Chongqing Municipality, in south-west China. The visitor centre for the Three Natural Bridges is in Xiannü town.
Was Transformers filmed in Wulong?
Yes. China Daily lists Wulong Karst as a shooting location for Transformers: Age of Extinction. Curse of the Golden Flower was also filmed at the Three Natural Bridges.
What does the Three Natural Bridges ticket include?
The standard admission currently includes the official shuttle bus and the Tianlong lift down into the sinkhole. The exit battery car and the glass viewing platform are extra.
What are the opening hours?
The Three Natural Bridges open 08:00–17:00 in June–August, 08:30–17:00 in May and 08:30–16:30 from September to April, with last entry at closing time.
Can I visit Wulong as a day trip from Chongqing?
Yes, for the Three Natural Bridges and the Longshuixia Fissure, with an early high-speed train and a pre-arranged transfer to Xiannü town. A night there is easier and lets you add Fairy Mountain or Furong Cave.
Is Wulong a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Yes. It is one of the areas of the South China Karst World Heritage site, inscribed in 2007 for its giant sinkholes, natural bridges and caves.
Sources(6)
- South China Karst (Wulong Karst component)UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- Karst Landscape, Wulong: sights, 5A status and Transformers filmingChina Daily
- Three Natural Bridges: route, film sets, seasonal hours and concessionsTrip.com Group (Ctrip)
- Longshuixia Fissure: depth, walkway, lift and hoursTrip.com Group (Ctrip)
- Key high-speed rail link opens in south-west China (27 June 2025)China Daily, citing Xinhua
- Chongqing–Xiamen high-speed railway route through Wulong (April 2026)People’s Government of Hunan Province