Longshuixia Gorge in Wulong: What Is the Fissure Walk Like?

A karst canyon near Baiguo town

The gorge lies 15 km from Wulong urban area, west of Baiguo town, and opened to visitors on 1 May 2002. It is a core area of the South China Karst World Heritage listing and part of Wulong National Geopark.

Wulong District's protection plan for the heritage site splits it into three parts, and Longshuixia Fissure sits inside the Three Natural Bridges area alongside the bridges themselves. Furong Cave and the Furong River basin form a second part, and the Houping erosional tiankeng area the third.

The canyon itself has three sections: an entrance fissure, a cave passage in the middle and a gorge at the exit.

Three Sections, One Route

The visitor route is about 2 km inside the 5 km gorge. It runs through three sections: an entrance fissure, a cave passage in the middle and a gorge at the exit. The tickets sold with the gorge bundle a transfer bus and a sightseeing elevator, so part of the height is covered by machine.

Along the way the Chongqing local chronicles office lists a cliff-cut plank walkway, a chain of nine shoals and eighteen pools, a tiny natural stone arch bridge and a waterfall. At the narrowest point the walls stand under 1 m apart, and at the widest they open to 20 m. The walls rise 200 to 500 m above the stream.

What to Expect Underfoot

One ticket seller warns that the gorge paths can be wet and slippery, with waterfall spray common, and advises rain protection and a light jacket even in summer. The tours give the walk 1.5 to 2 hours. One small-group tour describes the walking section as about 2 km and not suitable for people with vertigo.

Shoes with grip matter more than padding.

Canyon length versus walking route

The full canyon measures 5 km, with walls 200 to 500 m deep, a widest point of 20 m and a narrowest point under 1 m. The visitor route is about 2 km, according to a Wulong government note, and covers the entrance fissure, the cave passage and the exit gorge. The tour itineraries give the gorge 1.5 to 2 hours, and the 2-Day Wulong Tour: Bridges, Furong Cave, Boat and Show allows about 1.5 hours.

Stairs, wet surfaces and balance

One ticket seller describes Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia as considerable walking, stairs and uneven surfaces, and Fairy Mountain as the more relaxed choice. The gorge path can be wet and slippery from waterfall spray. The walking section is about 2 km, and one tour lists it as not suitable for people with vertigo.

A sightseeing elevator is part of the gorge ticket bundles, but it does not make the route step-free. If your knees dislike long stairs, take the flights slowly and give yourself the full 2 hours. Visitors with limited mobility will find the narrow, damp sections difficult.

Walk it or skip it

Walk it if you are comfortable on stairs and have 1.5 to 2 hours for the 2 km route. Skip it if you have vertigo or limited mobility, and pick Fairy Mountain as your second stop instead. The English-language small-group tour that visits the gorge also lists itself as not suitable for travellers over 70 or over 100 kg.

Ticket options side by side

The official Wulong list shows Longshuixia Fissure, a 4A scenic area, at $8.24 (¥55) in peak season and $5.25 (¥35) off season. A first-gate ticket does not cover the transfer bus or the elevator, which are separate charges.

For one confirmed price with the rides handled, the Three Natural Bridges or Longshuixia Gorge Ticket is $15 per person, valid one day, with the shuttle bus and elevator included. Wulong Tickets: Three Bridges, Fairy Mountain or Gorge is $27 per person, and its gorge option bundles admission, the transfer bus and the sightseeing elevator.

Opening hours

Longshuixia Fissure keeps the same hours as Three Natural Bridges: 8:30 to 17:00 in May, 8:00 to 17:00 from June to August and 8:30 to 16:30 from September to April. The official list gives opening hours, not a last-entry time, so confirm the last entry on the tourism area phone line, 4000235666. Arrive with at least 2 hours before closing for the 2 km route.

Bridges First, Then the Gorge

Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia Fissure sit in the same heritage area, 20 km and 15 km from Wulong urban area. The Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia Gorge Day Trip gives the bridges 2 hours, then a 15-minute drive, then 1.5 hours in the gorge, all within 11 hours from Chongqing. The tours put the bridges first and the gorge second.

Fairy Mountain is the alternative second stop, not a third one on the same day. On Three Natural Bridges with Longshuixia Gorge or Fairy Mountain you choose one of the two.

Tours That Pair the Two

The tours that pair the bridges and the gorge differ in price, length and what the price covers. The table lists them from the tour listings, per person.

Train, Car and the Last Leg

The Yuxia high-speed line stops at Wulong South station, and at its opening the fastest of five daily trains from Chongqing East took 34 minutes. Fares are on 12306. Longshuixia Fissure lies west of Baiguo town, 15 km from Wulong urban area, so the last leg is by road.

At the gate, the transfer bus and elevator are paid separately unless your ticket bundles them. Drivers can use the Banan to Wulong expressway section, 127 km with a toll of about $15.29 (¥102) for a small car, and an official report puts the drive from Chongqing at three to four hours in traffic. A guided day avoids every transfer: the Wulong Karst Private Day Tour with Tickets picks you up at your hotel and includes the gorge ticket.

Two very different halves of Wulong

The gorge is narrow and vertical, with walls 200 to 500 m deep. Fairy Mountain is a forest park whose big grassland lies at 1,950 m, with an average summer temperature of 22°C, and one ticket seller calls it the more relaxed experience. Three Natural Bridges with Longshuixia Gorge or Fairy Mountain makes you pick one of the two for $122 per person.

With two days, you can do both. The 2-Day Wulong Tour: Bridges, Furong Cave, Boat and Show costs $207 per person and covers Fairy Mountain, the bridges, the gorge, Furong Cave, the river boat and the evening show.