How to Get from Chongqing to Wulong Karst by Public Transport (2026)

Quick Answer

Take a high-speed train from Chongqing East Station (重庆东站) to Wulong South Station (武隆南站) — just 38 minutes, ¥62–85 in second class. From Wulong South, a blue scenic shuttle bus takes you to the Fairy Mountain Visitor Center (仙女山镇游客中心) in about 30–45 minutes for ¥16. The visitor center is the central hub for all Wulong attractions: Three Natural Bridges, Longshuixia Fissure Gorge, and Fairy Mountain National Forest Park. Total one-way travel time is roughly 1.5 hours.

Wulong Karst (武隆喀斯特) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 140 km southeast of Chongqing. It encompasses three major attractions clustered around the town of Xiannvshan (仙女山镇, "Fairy Mountain Town"): the Three Natural Bridges (天生三桥) — featured in Transformers: Age of Extinction and Curse of the Golden Flower — the Longshuixia Fissure Gorge (龙水峡地缝), and Fairy Mountain National Forest Park (仙女山国家森林公园). All three share the same transport hub, making it easy to visit one or all in a day or two.

[!NOTE] This is a hub guide covering the Three Natural Bridges, Fairy Mountain, and the Wulong town logistics. These attractions share the same arrival station and visitor center — there is no need for separate transport articles for each sub-site.

Compare Your Options

Option 1 — High-Speed Train to Wulong South + Scenic Shuttle (Recommended)

Step-by-step

1. Get to Chongqing East Station (重庆东站). This is the newest and most convenient station for Wulong. It is connected to Chongqing's metro network. Allow extra time as the station is large.

2. Buy a ticket to Wulong South Station (武隆南站). This station opened in June 2025 with the Chongqing–Xiamen high-speed railway and transformed access to Wulong.

   • Travel time: 38–60 minutes (fastest trains take just 38 minutes)
   • Fare: ¥62–85 in second class; first class ~¥140; business class ~¥160–312
   • Frequency: Approximately 14 G/C-train departures daily from Chongqing East
   • First train: Around 07:12–07:17
   • Last train from Wulong South back to Chongqing East: Around 20:49–21:11
   • Book on 12306.cn or the app up to 15 days ahead. Bring your passport.

   [!TIP] Search for "武隆南" (Wulongnan) — not just "武隆." Wulong South is the high-speed rail station. Wulong Station (武隆站) is the older conventional station in a different location. Some trains also depart from Chongqing West (重庆西站) and Chongqing North (重庆北站), but these take longer (1h41–2h18) and cost more.

3. From Wulong South Station to the Fairy Mountain Visitor Center.

   • By blue scenic shuttle (recommended): Exit the station and follow the crowd to the front plaza, where dedicated blue tourist buses wait. They are timed to meet arriving trains and depart when full.
     • Fare: ¥16 per person (some sources report ¥16–25; pay by WeChat/Alipay QR code on board)
     • Duration: Approximately 30–45 minutes
     • Destination: Fairy Mountain Visitor Center (仙女山镇游客中心), the hub for all Wulong attractions
   • By taxi/DiDi: A taxi from Wulong South to the visitor center costs around ¥50–80 and takes 30–40 minutes.
   • Ignore private drivers approaching you inside the station — use the official shuttle or DiDi.

4. Arrive at the Fairy Mountain Visitor Center. This large complex has ticket counters, restrooms, restaurants, luggage storage (on the lower level), and — on level B2 — the boarding area for the eco-shuttle buses that take you into each scenic area.

Option 2 — Conventional Train to Wulong Station + Bus (Cheapest)

If high-speed train tickets are sold out or you are on a tight budget:

1. Take a K-train from Chongqing North Station (重庆北站) to Wulong Station (武隆站).

   • Travel time: 2–2.5 hours (some trains take up to 2h45)
   • Fare: ¥24.5 for a hard seat; hard sleeper ~¥70
   • Frequency: Approximately 7–8 K-trains daily
   • Chongqing North is accessible via Metro Lines 3, 4, 10, and the Ring Railway.

2. From Wulong Station to the visitor center. Go to the station's B1 level, where blue large buses wait.

   • Fare: ¥10 per person
   • Duration: Approximately 30–40 minutes
   • Payment: WeChat/Alipay QR code on board

3. Arrive at the Fairy Mountain Visitor Center and proceed to B2 for scenic area shuttles.

[!IMPORTANT] Wulong Station (the old conventional station) is located closer to Wulong town and has better local bus connections than Wulong South. However, the train journey is significantly longer (2+ hours vs. 38 minutes). For most visitors, the high-speed option is well worth the extra cost.

The Wulong Karst Attractions

Once you reach the Fairy Mountain Visitor Center, all three major attractions are accessible via eco-shuttle buses from the B2 level. Bus fares are included in your scenic area ticket.

Three Natural Bridges (天生三桥)

This is Wulong's flagship attraction — three massive natural stone bridges (Tianlong, Qinglong, and Heilong) spanning a deep karst gorge, each over 100 meters tall. A glass elevator descends into the valley floor, and a well-paved walking trail leads through the gorge past the Tang-dynasty-style Tianfu Post Station (天福官驿), a filming location for Curse of the Golden Flower.

• Ticket: ¥125 (peak season) / ¥95 (off-season); includes the eco-shuttle bus from the visitor center
• Eco-bus from visitor center: About 10–20 minutes
• Visit time: 2–3 hours
• Route: One-way, no backtracking. Start with the elevator down → Tianlong Bridge → Tianfu Post Station → Qinglong Bridge → Heilong Bridge → exit
• At the exit: A shuttle bus connects directly to Longshuixia Fissure Gorge (if combining both in one day), or back to the visitor center

[!TIP] The Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia Fissure are commonly visited together. After finishing the bridges, follow signs for the "地缝" (fissure) transfer bus at the exit — it is included in your ticket if you bought the combined ticket.

Longshuixia Fissure Gorge (龙水峡地缝)

A narrow, dramatic gorge with waterfalls, deep pools, and towering karst walls. The walking trail is about 2.3 km and takes 1–2 hours. It is typically visited immediately after the Three Natural Bridges.

• Ticket: ¥105–115 (often sold as a combined ticket with the Three Natural Bridges)
• Transfer: Shuttle bus from the Three Natural Bridges exit (about 15 minutes)
• Visit time: 1–2 hours
• Bring water and snacks — food options inside are limited.

Fairy Mountain National Forest Park (仙女山国家森林公园)

A high-altitude grassland plateau at around 2,000 m, known as the "Switzerland of Chongqing." It features vast meadows, grazing horses and cattle, forest trails, and a scenic "Wave Road." It is dramatically different from the gorge landscape and offers a cool escape from Chongqing's summer heat.

• Ticket: ¥50 per person
• Eco-bus from visitor center: About 30 minutes to the mountain base
• Inside the park: A sightseeing "little train" (小火车) takes visitors across the grasslands to highlights like the Grand Grassland (大草原)
• Visit time: 2–4 hours; allow half a day for a relaxed visit

[!TIP] If you only have one day, prioritize the Three Natural Bridges + Longshuixia Fissure. Fairy Mountain needs at least half a day and is best saved for a second day or an overnight stay in Xiannvshan Town.

How to Get Back

• From the visitor center to Wulong South Station: Blue shuttle buses run from the visitor center back to Wulong South until approximately 18:00. The fare is ¥16, paid on board.
• From the visitor center to Wulong Station: Shuttle buses to the conventional station also run until around 18:00, fare ¥10.
• Last high-speed train: The last G-train from Wulong South to Chongqing East departs around 20:49–21:11. However, you should aim to be back at Wulong South by 19:30 at the latest to allow for ticket checks and boarding.
• Last conventional train: K-trains from Wulong to Chongqing North run until around 19:30–20:00.

[!WARNING] If you are taking the high-speed train back, plan to leave the scenic areas by 16:30–17:00. The shuttle bus from the visitor center to Wulong South takes 30–45 minutes, and buses depart only when full — there can be a wait during peak season. Arriving at the station with less than 30 minutes before departure is risky.

Chinese Names You May Need

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Booking to the wrong Wulong station. Search for "武隆南" (Wulong South) for the high-speed train (38 min). "武隆" without "南" is the older conventional station served by slow K-trains (2+ hours). Both can get you to the visitor center, but the time difference is substantial.

2. Thinking Wulong South is walking distance to the scenic area. Wulong South Station is 30–45 minutes by shuttle bus from the Fairy Mountain Visitor Center. Budget this extra time when planning your train schedule. There are no scenic areas at the train station itself.

3. Missing the last shuttle back to the station. Scenic shuttle buses from the visitor center to the train stations stop running around 18:00. If you are still inside a scenic area after that, you may need a taxi (more expensive and harder to find). Start heading back by 16:30–17:00.

4. Trying to fit all three attractions in one day. The Three Natural Bridges + Longshuixia Gorge alone take 4–5 hours including transfers. Adding Fairy Mountain requires at least another 3–4 hours. For a relaxed visit, plan two days and stay overnight in Xiannvshan Town.

5. Trusting touts at the station exit. Private drivers may approach you claiming the shuttle bus has stopped running or that taxis are unavailable. The official blue shuttle buses meet every arriving train and are clearly marked. Use them or call a DiDi.

6. Not buying tickets in advance during peak season. Wulong is extremely popular during Chinese holidays (National Day, Spring Festival), summer vacation (July–August), and autumn foliage season (October–November). Book your train tickets on 12306 as early as possible (15 days ahead) and scenic area tickets through the official Wulong Karst WeChat account or Trip.com.

7. Underestimating walking and stairs. All three attractions involve significant walking on uneven surfaces and stairs. Wear comfortable, non-slip shoes. The gorge trails can be wet and slippery, especially after rain.

Before You Go

• Three Natural Bridges: ¥125 peak / ¥95 off-season; eco-bus included
• Longshuixia Fissure Gorge: ¥105–115; combined tickets with the bridges available
• Fairy Mountain: ¥50 per person; internal sightseeing train extra
• Opening hours: Generally 08:30/09:00–17:00 (last entry varies by season); check the official WeChat account for current hours
• Recommended visit duration: 1 day for bridges + gorge; 2 days for all three attractions
• Best time to visit: April–June for comfortable weather; October for autumn colors; December–February for occasional snow on Fairy Mountain
• Luggage storage: Available at the Fairy Mountain Visitor Center (lower level)
• Food: Limited options inside the gorges; bring snacks and water. Xiannvshan Town has restaurants near the visitor center.
• There is currently no Crowd Forecast for Wulong on China Local Help.

Still Not Sure How to Get There?

Our Chongqing-based team can help with train tickets, scenic area reservations, overnight accommodation in Xiannvshan Town, and private day-trip or two-day arrangements including transport and a guide. Contact us or message us on WhatsApp.

Related Guides

• Chongqing Travel Guide — full city guide
• Chongqing to Dazu Rock Carvings by Public Transport — another UNESCO day trip
• Chongqing to Fengdu Ghost City by Public Transport — cultural day trip by train
• 12306 High-Speed Rail Guide — booking Chinese train tickets as a foreigner

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Train schedules and fares are based on 12306.cn, Ctrip/Trip.com listings, chinatrain12306.com, and the Japanese-language detailed transfer guide at invest.kenchiqoo.net (updated August 2026). Scenic area ticket prices and shuttle information are sourced from the official Wulong Karst tourism accounts and 2026 visitor reports. Times and fares may change — always check 12306 for your travel date.

Last verified: August 2026