The Three Natural Bridges lie in Wulong district, about three hours south of Chongqing, and they are the region's major natural sight. Two huge collapsed caves have left three limestone arches spanning a gorge one behind the other, and the surrounding landscape of sinkholes, cliffs and underground rivers forms part of the South China Karst inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007.
The bridges
You descend into the gorge - by a long staircase or by an elevator cut into the rock - and then walk along the floor beneath the arches. The first bridge is the largest, with a span of a few tens of metres and a height of over two hundred, and the scale is genuinely difficult to judge until a person walks into the frame. Water falls from the cliff tops after rain, the floor is damp and green, and there are small pavilions and a restored courtyard house in the gorge that was built as a film set. The three arches are close enough together to be seen in a single view from the far end, which is the photograph everyone takes.
Longshuixia
The neighbouring Longshuixia Gorge is a different experience: a narrow crack between two cliffs, with a stream running along the bottom and a boardwalk bolted to the rock. It is dark, cool and wet, with water dripping from above, and in places the gap is only a few metres wide while the walls rise far over your head. The walk takes about an hour and is easy apart from wet steps.
Practical information
Wulong is reached by high-speed train from Chongqing in about two hours, or by road in three, with shuttles from the station to the gorge entrance. Tickets cover the bridge area and the gorge separately, and the internal transport and elevator are included or charged on entry depending on the package. The site is busy from mid-morning; arrive early, and expect a lot of stairs. Waterproof shoes and a light rain jacket are essential.
Also in Wulong
Furong Cave, a large limestone cave with dramatic formations, and the Wulong fairy mountain grassland are both nearby, and Xiannü Mountain has skiing in winter. Two days in the district is a reasonable allocation.
